What is wrong with the story of Jacob and Esau?

 

What is wrong with the story of Jacob and Esau?

With the come follow curriculum this year we have been reviewing the Old Testament and if I am like many others many of these stories are very troubling. Mainly because it is difficult to see WHY God would have orchestrated the details. I have come to conclude he didn’t. And the proof is in the details

Rebekah when great with child and struggling pleaded to the lord for understanding:

“If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord.”

Genesis 25:22 (King James Version)

In reply God gives her this insight:

 “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:23

This is in many ways just like how Adam was shown the generations of the earth, Enoch, Noah, and even Abraham. Rebekah was shown the grand picture of what was going to happen to the descendants of the two babies in her womb. Note God talks about Nations and people not specifically about her sons Jacob and Esau.

 I will assume you are familiar with how this story progresses with Rebekah directing Jacob to deceive his father and Jacob following his mother’s wishes. The interesting thing is that the “Birthright blessing” Jacob gives him appears to align with what God has told Rebekah.

 “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.”

Genesis 27:28-29 

Please note this blessing that was intended for Esau but given to Jacob at first glance appears to accomplish the future that God has shown Rebekah. Looking closely this blessing is specific to Jacob not his posterity. You should also not the Abrahamic covenant was not a part of this blessing. After the deception is revealed Isaac gives Jacob the blessing that was intended to him.

 “And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.”

Genesis 28:1-4

If you will remember the story of Jacob he never is served by Esau. Jacob is never Lord over his brother during his life. Nor does Esau box down to him. Jacob is tricked by his soon to be Father in-law several times, he is also tricked several times by his own children each time through deception.

Rebekah also suffers never again seeing her son Jacob and,

“Rebekah loved Jacob.” – Genesis 25:28.

 I feel had for Esau in this story. I have always been taught that Esau didn’t care about his birthright or the Abrahamic covenant. That he was exaggerating about being near death when he sold his birthright to Jacob for pottage. Let me ask you, if you were near death would you take an extra bit of inheritance that is to be used to provide for your mother if your father dies, when you know your mother doesn’t favor you. She loved Jacob and it is unclear she showed much love to Esau. In fact we see latter:

 “And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.”

Genesis 26:34-35

 It is unclear that any form of intention for providing a wife for Esau was made nor was the intention that he should marry a relative. When Jacob is sent off to Padan-aram to find a wife we see the following take place:

 “When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram; And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.”

Genesis 28:6-9

It appears that once Esau knew the expectation of his parents he sought after it. Wasn’t it the example set for Esau that is someone wanted what was yours you give it. We see this with Abraham and Isaac. Rebekah’s death is not recorded, but it is assumed she died before Jacobs reconciliation with Esau which means Jacob never had need to provide for his mother and thus the intend of the Birthright never came into account. Also if Isaac and Rebehka had need assistance it would have been given by Esau fulfilling the Birthright responsibility even without the birthright or the blessings that come with it.

 To see the greif that Esau shows at learning of the de3ception and the loss of the birthright blessing:

 “And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. . . Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? . . . And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. ”

Genesis 27:34, 36, 38

 To try and argue that he didn’t care about this blessing you would have to have a very cold heart. Isaac does give him a blessing:

 “Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”

Genesis 27:39-40

 We have no record that Esau had to live by the sword in his life, nor did he ever serve his brother as far as what is recorded. He does have dominion over land and a great people and he did break the yoke from off his neck.

 I would also like to talk about Jacob’s part in these events. We are told straight off that Isaac is experiencing the effects of age:

 “And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see,”

Genesis 27:1

Jacob knows his eyes were a problem so he tries to use all of his senses to make sure that he is doing the right thing, because he knows the significance this blessing for Esau has.

 “And he [Jacob] came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?”

Genesis 27:18

Isaac hears Jacob coming and is confused by the sound. He only assumes it is one of his sons by the response, “My father”. He even uses his sense of time: 

“How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?”

Genesis 27:20 

He is still uncertain so he uses his sense of touch. 

“Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.”

Genesis 27:21

He uses his sense of hearing: 

“The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

Genesis 27:22 

He is still unsure. I have been told many times by those that are aging or on medication how unnerving it is to not be able to trust your senses. Isaac askes again this time using his sense of Logic” 

“Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.”

Genesis 27:24 

Still questioning the validity of who was before him he tries his sense of Taste: 

“Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.”

Genesis 27:25 

Then still unsure he makes one last request and uses another sense, that of smell: 

“And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:”

Genesis 27:26-27 

In the end according to Isaacs senses of Time and Sound he perceived it was Jacob, but his sense of Touch, Taste, Smell and Logic told him this was indeed Esau. This showed how much weight Isaac placed on this blessing so it is not surprising his reaction when we discovered he had been deceived even though he had tried to be so careful.

 “And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.”

Genesis 27:33

“And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.”

Genesis 27:35

“And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?”

Genesis 27:37 

Isaac not knowing how to proceed did the best he could have been expected. Had Rebekah shared God’s vision with her Husband? If she had did they both understood it differently? 

In my own life I have had knowledge of my future at times and I have even taken efforts to hasten its arrival. Each time when I was at a decision point I have had to restrain myself and ask God if these was really what he wanted. That has saved me from untold trouble and heartache more times than I can count.