Coachlight Bible Study – Genesis Lesson 36

Genesis Chapter 27 – The Persistent Long Distance Race

 

Life can be compared to a long distance runner.  Coaches have found out that in preparation for a race, the runner’s mental conditioning is, at least as important if not more important, than  the conditioning of the physical body.  Both are important because only the winner receives the prize.

The more I study the Book of Genesis, I realize more and more that the main question for man kind is not, “Where have I been?”, or “How can I get over that hurdle in front of me?”, but rather, “Where am I going?”.  In the race of life, we often are aware of the obstacles that can entangle us along the way, but many times lack the mental endurance it takes to win the race and receive the incorruptible crown.

 

Paul often compares man’s pursuit on this earth to a race, in speaking about the ministry:

 

1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

 

Paul, then demonstrates his own mental conditioning for finishing the race:

 

1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

And then Paul instructs us that there will be obstacles along the race that has the possibility to ensnare us by giving a Biblical example:

 

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1 Corinthians 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. {followed…: or, went with them}

1 Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

 

The fathers in the wilderness, lusted, or “had wrong desires” while running the race set before them. This wrong mindset and the resulting sin ensnared them to where they could no longer see the finish line, and collapsed, lacking the persistence and endurance so that they could not receive the prize.

The Bible abounds with lessons teaching us how to condition our minds in order to finish the race:

 

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

{affection: or, mind}

 

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. {to be carnally…: Gr. the minding of the flesh} {to be spiritually…: Gr. the minding of the Spirit}

 

In this study comparing Esau and Jacob, we will see another example of God teaching us the importance of endurance and persistence in the race that is set before us.  We will see a father attempting to thwart God’s plan because of temporal appetites.  We will see two brothers entering the race, but only one will receive the blessing.  We have already been given an example showing us where Esau’s mindset was centered. Earlier Esau sold his birthright, which he despised, to his brother for a bowl of soup.  Now, after the painstaking efforts of Abraham to secure a bride for Esau’s father, we can see again that Esau’s mindset was not on his family’s values or his own inheritance:

 

Genesis 26:34 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:

Genesis 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. {a grief…: Heb. bitterness of spirit}

 

Easu was 40 years old when he married these two Hittites.  This was not an example of youthful indiscretion.  It was deliberate and must have been against the teaching of his parents, and of course, was against God’s will.  This is just another example of what alienated Esau from God’s holiness, God’s plan, and God’s purpose.

 

I. Esau’s Commission From His Father

 

Genesis 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

Genesis 27:2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

Genesis 27:3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; {take: Heb. hunt}

Genesis 27:4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Genesis 27:5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

 

A. Evidently, Isaac’s intention was to go against God’s prophecy

B. Isaac evidently was motivated by his personal love for Esau

C. Isaac wanted to give the Jacob’s God promised blessing to Esau

D. It was undoubtedly a custom to mark an occasion like this with a feast

1. This occasion was to be marked by the fruits of Esau’s hunting ability

2. This occasion was to be marked by Esau’s cooking ability

3. This occasion was to be marked by Isaac’s appetite, disregarding God’s will

E. Isaac’s desire for savory meat was outweighing God’s plan in Isaac’s mind.

 

#  Thwarting God’s purpose is always the result of a “lust” or “wrong desire”, or as Paul called it “walking in the flesh” which he later defined as “minding the things of the flesh”

 

G. The result of Isaac and Esau walking in the flesh was not going to get in the way of God’s plan, but caused separation between them and God, and had repercussions now with Rebekah.,

 

II. Jacob’s Commission From His Mother

 

Genesis 27:6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Genesis 27:7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.

Genesis 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

Genesis 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

Genesis 27:10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

 

A. Rebekah’s Plan – to Cause Isaac to Pronounce the Blessing on Jacob

B. Jacob is to get two kid goats from the flock

C. Rebekah would make savory meat for Isaac from the goats

D. Jacob was to

1. Take the meat to his father

2. Inducing Isaac to pronounce the blessing intended for Esau on Jacob

E. Rebekah is undoubtedly attempting to call to make Isaac realize he was thwarting God’s will and prophecy:

 

Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, 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.

 

# When a person is walking in the flesh, he can not be mindful of God’s purpose, his mind is clouded over with his own desires.

III. Jacob’s First Response to Rebekah’s Plan

 

Genesis 27:11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver[08591]; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

 

08591 eet ta‘a‘ taw-ah’ - a primitive root; TWOT-2532; v

deceiver 1, misused 1; 2

1) to deceive, misuse

1a) (Pilpel) - 1a1) to be a mocker, mock - 1a2) mocker (subst)

1b) (Hithpalpel) - 1b1) to ridicule - 1b2) mocking (participle)

 

A. Jacob first mentions the physical differences between himself and Esau

1. Isaac may be blind but he could feel the physical difference

2. Esau was covered with hair

3. Jacob was smooth

B. Jacob is then concerned about Isaac figuring it all out

1. Jacob was afraid that Isaac would think of him as a “deceiver”

2. tawah – or “deceiver” literally meant “mocker”

3. Jacob was afraid that Isaac would think that Jacob was mocking his blindness

 

IV. Rebekah Assures Jacob

 

Genesis 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

 

V. Rebekah And Jacob Prepare The Deception

 

Genesis 27:14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.

Genesis 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: {goodly: Heb. desirable}

Genesis 27:16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

Genesis 27:17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

 

VI. Rebekah’s Plan Carried Out – Does God Bless A Lie?

 

Genesis 27:18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

Genesis 27:19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Genesis 27:20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. {to me: Heb. before me}

Genesis 27:21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

Genesis 27:22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Genesis 27:23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

Genesis 27:24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Genesis 27:25 And he said, 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.

 

A. Some of Jacob’s statements to Isaac were blatantly false

1. “I am Esau thy firstborn” (Verse 19)

2. “Because the Lord thy God brought it to me” (Verse 20)

B. But God never rebuked Jacob for this act of deception

C. Why is it that God later confirmed the blessing?

 

Genesis 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Genesis 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. {spread…: Heb. break forth}

Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

 

D. God Blessing A Lie Is Also Found In Exodus concerning the Hebrew midwives:

 

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Exodus 1:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

Exodus 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

Exodus 1:19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

Exodus 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

 

E. Again God Blesses A Lie – Rahab preserved after hiding two spies

 

Joshua 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

Joshua 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

Joshua 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

Joshua 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Joshua 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

 

F. This Is Not Meant To Condone Sin

1. These examples are rare exceptions to the rule

2. None of these Scriptural examples show the desire for some temporal advantage

a. The midwives risked their lives by their deceptions

b. Rahab risked her life by her deception

c. Both would seem to have been better off, temporally speaking, to tell the truth

G. In the Same Way, Jacob And Rebekah Performed Their Deception

1. Jacob and Rebekah risked the wrath and hatred of loved ones

2. This was in no means a temporal advantage – In fact caused much anguish

3. This did accomplish God’s purpose

4. This did save Esau and Isaac for going against God’s judgment

 

VII. The Blessing

 

Genesis 27:26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

Genesis 27:27 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 27:28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Genesis 27:29 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.

A. Isaac Pronounced the Blessing by the Inspiration of God – While Intending to Thwart God’s Will

B. Later, Balaam was forced to bless Israel against his will

 

Numbers 23:11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

Numbers 23:12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

 

C. The High Priest Spoke of the importance of Christ’s death, even though he did not know the entire impact

 

John 11:49  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

John 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

 

VII. The Trembling And The Tears

 

Genesis 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Genesis 27:31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Genesis 27:32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

Genesis 27:33 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. {trembled…: Heb. trembled with a great trembling greatly} {taken: Heb. hunted}

Genesis 27:34 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.

Genesis 27:35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

Genesis 27:36 And he said, 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? {Jacob: that is, A supplanter}

Genesis 27:37 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 27:38 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 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; Genesis 27:40 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 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

 

A. The Relevance of Jacob’s Name To The Story – Esau’s Play on Words

 

03290 bqey Ya‘aqob yah-ak-obe’ - from 06117, Greek 2384 Iakwb; ; n pr m

Jacob 349; 349 - Jacob =" heel holder" or "supplanter" -  son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

 

06117 bqe ‘aqab aw-kab’ - a primitive root; TWOT-1676; v

supplant 2, take by the heel 1, stay, utterly 1; 5

1) to supplant, circumvent, take by the heel, follow at the heel, assail insidiously, overreach

1a) (Qal) to supplant, overreach, attack at the heel - 1b) (Piel) to hold back

 

1. Jacob’s name means “heel catcher” because of his act at the birth of Esau and himself.

2. The root of the name Jacob is awkab, meaning supplanter.

3. A person in a race who trips another by the heel, will by the act supplant that person in the race.

4. By this bit of extension of etymology, Jacob became known as supplanter

5. Esau noted that this fit Jacob because he supplanted him twice.

 

B. Esau’s Blessing

1. Esau’s descendants (Edomites) would live in a region away from the fertile and well watered places of the earth

2. You shall live by your sword

3. You will serve thy brother when they win

4. There will be times when you shake off their dominion - IIKings 8:20-22.

 

C. Esau’s Biggest Desire (Political Superiority) Was Given To Jacob

1. All Esau’s crying could not change this

2. Paul refers to Esau’s plea this way:

 

Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears

 

3. Esau wept in seeking the blessings, but was unable to change God’s mind.

 

VIII. Running The Race Set Before Us With Endurance

 

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {author: or, beginner}

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

 Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Hebrews 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {straight: or, even}

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; {fail…: or, fall from}