Read the Passage: Genesis 27

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 27

Deception of Isaac (27:1–29)

As this chapter begins, Isaac was 137 years old and losing his eyesight. Since Ishmael had passed away at this same age (cf. Gen. 25:17), Isaac likely believed that his own death was imminent. Therefore, Isaac desired to transfer the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant to his favorite son, Esau (cf. Gen. 25:28)—even though God had earlier declared that Isaac would be the inheritor of the covenant (cf. Gen. 25:23). Thus, Isaac directed Esau to hunt game and to prepare a meal, after which he’d receive the blessing. Rebekah, however, overhead these instructions and informed Jacob. Mother and son, then, conspired to deceive Isaac by having Jacob pretend to be Esau and usurp the blessing. This deceit was accomplished by Jacob wearing Esau’s clothes and disguising his appearance, and by Rebekah preparing Isaac’s favorite food. Note that Isaac would live 43 more years after these events (cf. Gen. 35:28).

Gen. 27:18–29 records Jacob’s actual deception of his father. Since Isaac surely knew that God had told Rebekah “the older [son, Esau] shall serve the younger [son, Jacob]” (Gen. 25:23), it is unclear why Isaac was so fixated on blessing Esau. Indeed, Isaac himself was Abraham’s younger son, and he had inherited the covenant rather than Ishmael. Furthermore, in light of God’s promise, it is unclear why Rebekah and Jacob felt the need to deceive Isaac in order to assist God. Nevertheless, this ruse was carried out as Jacob appeared before Isaac in his brother’s clothes and with his mother’s meal. It is fair to ask whether Isaac was subconsciously aware of the deception, as he questioned both the timing of Jacob’s appearance and the sound of Jacob’s voice. Yet, being satisfied with Jacob’s explanation in the moment, in Gen. 27:27–29 Isaac blessed Jacob, as if he were Esau, with the family covenantal blessing.

Despair of Esau (27:30–40)

Gen. 27:30–40 concludes the immediate narrative by detailing events once Esau returned from his hunting expedition. After preparing his game, Esau appeared before Isaac, prompting Isaac to realize what had transpired. It is noteworthy that once he understood what had happened, “Isaac trembled exceedingly” (Gen. 27:33). Since Isaac did not withdraw his blessing of Jacob, it seems likely that this trembling was caused by Isaac’s fear and realization of his own error of intending to bless Esau. It is understandable that Esau was frustrated with Jacob, and perhaps even upset with himself at having earlier disregarded his own birthright (cf. Heb. 12:17). Yet, Esau must have known that God’s had previously identified Isaac as the inheritor of the Abrahamic Covenant. Next, at Gen. 27:39–40, in God’s kindness Isaac also blessed Esau, although God’s promises to Esau were subservient to Isaac’s covenantal blessing.

Departure of Jacob (27:41–28:5)

In this passage we learn that Esau’s frustration with Jacob over his having obtained Esau’s birthright and the covenantal blessing was much more serious than a mere sibling rivalry. Indeed, at Gen. 27:41 Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” When Rebekah learned of Esau’s plan to murder Isaac, she realized the need for Isaac to flee. If Esau murdered Isaac, then he would forfeit his own life, leaving Isaac and Rebekah with no sons. Therefore, Rebekah instructed Isaac, “Flee to my brother Laban in Haran, and stay with him a few days until your brother’s fury turns away” (Gen. 27:43–44). Observe the consequences of Isaac’s deception, as the few days of his planned exile would eventually turn into twenty years, and he would never again see his mother after departing from the Promised Land.

The excuse that Rebekah used to justify Jacob’s flight to Haran was the unsuitability of a potential wife for Jacob among the Canaanites. Recall that 37 years earlier, Esau had taken two wives from among the Hittites, who “were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah” (Gen. 26:35). Then, in Gen. 28:1–5 Isaac called Jacob to himself, he blessed Jacob, and he charged him with visiting his mother’s family in order to find a wife. In Isaac’s earlier blessing of Jacob, in which he believed he was blessing Esau, Isaac had focused the blessing on material prosperity and the submission of other nations (cf. Gen. 27:27–29). Now, with a fuller understanding of God’s plan of covenant transferal, Isaac gave Jacob an extra blessing, as he wished him a multitude of descendants, as well as possession of the Promised Land (cf. Gen. 27:3–4). With this blessing, Jacob departed from the Promised Land.

Application Questions:

1. Is it ever acceptable for parents to have favorites or to show partiality among their children (cf. Gen. 25:27–28)?
2. Since God had earlier declared Jacob to be the inheritor of the covenant, was it wrong for Jacob to deceive Isaac?
3. What do you think would have happened if Rebekah and Jacob had not schemed to usurp Isaac’s blessing of Esau?
4. Since the Abrahamic Covenant was passed from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, why did God also bless Ishmael and Esau?
5. In what ways do we break the sixth commandment (cf. Exod. 20:13) apart from the act of murder (cf. Matt. 5:21–26)?