This is truly an interesting chapter, in that so much is revealed about the weaknesses of these members of this chosen family. I agree with many who said that God's will and prophecy will come to pass despite the sins of the very people directly involved with the fulfillment.
Isaac knew the prophecy that Jacob would be the son of promise, not Esau, but he favored Esau , and wished for him to receive the blessing of the firstborn. Perhaps he believed God would still bring about His will in this matter, even as he performed his duty as the father to bestow the blessing on his first-born. The men were twins. One was born first, but both were conceived at the same time. They were the exact same age.
Rebekah knew the prophecy, but saw that Isaac intended to give the blessing to Esau. She did favor Jacob, but she also wanted God's will to be done, too. Jacob probably knew the prophecy, and having easily bargained for the birthright from Isaac, he went along with his Mom's plan in order to fulfill the prophetic word concerning him being the son of promise, not Esau. Esau, did not value his birthright, and probably not the blessing so much until this time, when his father was about to die. He wanted one last good thig from his dad, something that was better than what Jacob would receive. He wanted to please his father with perhaps his final meal. He and his Dad had a close relationship, but now Isaac was nearly blind.
It is interesting that as fraternal twins, there was such a disparity between their physical resemblances. The differences were prominent and obvious. One was hairy, and red; the other not hairy and fair. Did one resemble their father more than the other? We do not know. But when it came down to this exact moment in this families history, these physical differences played a big part in the story. God made them so physically different so that Isaac, old, feeble and almost blind, would be able to tell them apart by feel...see more
Hi Gigi What I'm seeing is that Rebekah was shown by the lord Gen. 25:22+23 that the one child Jacob was by promise and the other was indeed going to serve jacob. The interesting scripture to me is Jacob came out second and took hold of his heel why would God mention that if there wasn't a specific point perhaps Jacob was supposed to come out first. Esau being the first born by birthright eastern culture naturally would get the blessing but when Esau sold out so to speak for just food that told me he had no commitment. There are a number of things Esau did which showed his motives weren't right, also Rebekah knew what God was telling her and made sure the birthright went to whom God was telling her. The promise was already made to Jacob God gave Rebekah and Jacob revelation Gen. 27:5-27 to be sure His will would be carried out. I don't believe Jacob or Rebekah were deceptive I believe God was showing them what to do.
It is interesting that Jacob grabbed Esau's heel at their birth. They may have been side by side in the womb and wrestled to be first out. Jacob was a wrestler from the start, it seems.
Hi Gigi One of the many challenges to me when understanding scripture it is God communicating how he works and how he wants to work for and in us via His Spirit. We live in pardon my unique analogy a five senses matrix that works against our spiritual man. To just say I'm not going to walk by the senses to me doesn't fit, it is a lifetime of determined focused change of thought into action, walking by faith not by sight. In the old testament when the prophet Samuel went to Jesse 1 Samuel 16 God even had to tell his man verse 7 I don't see things the way you do and he isn't the one then when he showed him seven sons Samuel ask the question is this it then Jesse sort of like well there is one more but he's sort of the runt, sends for the boy verse 7 this is he anoint him. Fantastic example, even the prophets who were human just like us fought the five senses. So we do our best and let God do the rest.
However, Jesus did come in the People experienced Him with their five senses. He used real life, five sense explanations to highlight spiritual truths. I agree that we are to learn spiritual truth through the Spirit. I also believe that God gave us our physical five sense existence to experience him and He is plainly known through what he has made.) Without the work of the Holy Spirit, none of us can come to God for salvation. But it is through hearing the gospel that we believe. We do not come to the knowledge of the gospel simply by inner intuition.
Hi Gigi That was why Jesus Christ said those who have seen me I.E. senses have seen the fathers words and works on display John 1:18 made Him known. Its interesting to me that many times in the gospels after they witnessed the miraculous still didn't believe or with absolute blind defiance and hatred didn't believe[ religious leaders] and desired to eliminate him. No wonder our Saviour said blessed are those that have not seen and believe. Without the senses we could never enjoy Fathers created works.
Isaac knew the prophecy that Jacob would be the son of promise, not Esau, but he favored Esau , and wished for him to receive the blessing of the firstborn. Perhaps he believed God would still bring about His will in this matter, even as he performed his duty as the father to bestow the blessing on his first-born. The men were twins. One was born first, but both were conceived at the same time. They were the exact same age.
Rebekah knew the prophecy, but saw that Isaac intended to give the blessing to Esau. She did favor Jacob, but she also wanted God's will to be done, too. Jacob probably knew the prophecy, and having easily bargained for the birthright from Isaac, he went along with his Mom's plan in order to fulfill the prophetic word concerning him being the son of promise, not Esau. Esau, did not value his birthright, and probably not the blessing so much until this time, when his father was about to die. He wanted one last good thig from his dad, something that was better than what Jacob would receive. He wanted to please his father with perhaps his final meal. He and his Dad had a close relationship, but now Isaac was nearly blind.
It is interesting that as fraternal twins, there was such a disparity between their physical resemblances. The differences were prominent and obvious. One was hairy, and red; the other not hairy and fair. Did one resemble their father more than the other? We do not know. But when it came down to this exact moment in this families history, these physical differences played a big part in the story. God made them so physically different so that Isaac, old, feeble and almost blind, would be able to tell them apart by feel...see more
It is interesting that Jacob grabbed Esau's heel at their birth. They may have been side by side in the womb and wrestled to be first out. Jacob was a wrestler from the start, it seems.
However, Jesus did come in the People experienced Him with their five senses. He used real life, five sense explanations to highlight spiritual truths. I agree that we are to learn spiritual truth through the Spirit. I also believe that God gave us our physical five sense existence to experience him and He is plainly known through what he has made.) Without the work of the Holy Spirit, none of us can come to God for salvation. But it is through hearing the gospel that we believe. We do not come to the knowledge of the gospel simply by inner intuition.
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