From Birthright To Blessing. Isaac's Blessing Over Jacob

2024.07.21. From birthright to blessing. Isaac’s Blessing over Jacob.

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA. GOD chose to show HIS Grace and Mercy through an imperfect family to bless those who will put their trust and faith in HIM.

SCRIPTURES: Genesis 27:1-46, Genesis 28:1-5, Romans 8:8, John 8:44, John 14:6, 1Corinthians 10:13, Psalms 36:1, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Hebrews 12:14-17

Everyone messes up.

The bible carries the story of a “The chosen family during an unrighteous season of great disfunction” (McClean)

Highlights GOD’s Grace and Mercy

Characters are relatable to us today. We can see ourselves in this, a connection to see who we are as sinners and who GOD chose to use.

We see warnings, lessons and consequences of bad choices.

We discover God’s will, and how He uses people like us to accomplish it.

This is the family that GOD chose for HIS Purposes and HIS Plan.

Highlight of Isaac’s Spirituality was when he allowed his father Abraham to bind him and place him on the alter.

Rebekah was a trusting woman Gen 24, waiting on a husband, and trusting the LORD

Gen 25, Isaac prayed for Rebekah to have children.

In this chapter, we see “a family that while starting well, finished poorly.” (McClean)

A lesson for all of us.

Isaac’s Blessing of [Esau] Jacob

Genesis 27:1 - 28:5 (NKJV)

1 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”

And he answered him, “Here I am.”

2 Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Isaac was 137 years old.

Ishmael died 14 years earlier Gen 25:17 when he was 137 years old.

At the same age, Isaac’s eyes are failing and he feels his death will be soon. But we know the truth is that he will live another 43 years to 180 years old Gen 35:28. Longer than his father Abraham as well as his son Jacob.

Isaac was 60 when he had the twins, Esau and Jacob.

At this time, Esau and Jacob are 77 years old. Not exactly children but living at home.

As Isaac is older, he seeks savory food. Living to satisfy his flesh. To get this food, he offers to give Esau the father’s blessing.

Gen 25:23, God revealed to Rebekah while pregnant that in her, 2 nations were wrestling within her, and that the younger (Jacob) would rule over the older (Esau). So the blessing had to be upon Jacob.

Contrast Isaac’s carnal mindedness to Abraham his father.

In his older years, Abraham was seeking GOD to find a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham was spiritually minded and seeking the LORD for his family.

Isaac in his older years, is not showing signs of spirituality. Rather his desire for food.

And Esau had not valued his birthright, as we learned in Gen 25:29-34, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup.

Esau didn’t value the spiritual calling that GOD revealed that he would be servant to his younger brother. And yet Isaac was ready to bless him, contrary to GOD’s plan.

Isaac had a “fleshly” appetite.

In Romans 8:8, it says that “those who are in the flesh cannot please GOD.”

So when we allow our flesh to drive, then we are not going to do things that please the LORD.

You are a spirit that has a body and a soul.

It is that soul that governs the thought process of either the spirit or the body.

While your spirit connects to your body through your soul, and you can be either a fleshly person who is driven by your body, your flesh, or you can be a spiritual person, who is driven by GOD’s SPIRIT to Your spirit, to your flesh.

Your soul makes the choice. To satisfy the body, or to satisfy the spirit.

If we are following after CHRIST, we should be led by the SPIRIT. And bring our body into obedience with the SPIRIT.

Those who allow your flesh to drive, Romans 8 says they can’t please GOD.

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. 6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son*, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’