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Genesis 27a:

Having accepted the word of his mother, Jacob went ahead with their plan. Esau had not told his father that he had sold his birthright to Jacob and confirmed it with an oath, so Isaac did not suspect anything, which made Jacob’s trickery easier.

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Genesis 27: 

14 And he [Jacob] went, and fetched [the things she asked for], and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 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: 16 and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17 and she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

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What depths of deception they went to while thinking that they were “helping” God run His kingdom.  Over and over again good men and women have fallen into this trap until at last some have even thought they have to criticise, persecute and kill for Him, the Prince of peace!

God does not comment on this action of Jacob’s because He is not an accuser.  He just states the facts.

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Genesis 27:

18 And he came to his father, and said, “My father”: and he said, “Here am I; who are you, my son?” 19 And Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done according as you bade me: arise, I pray you, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”

20 And Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the LORD your God brought it to me.”

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Jacob was so sunken in misunderstanding that he could even claim that the LORD was his helper in his sinful actions!

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Genesis 27:

21 And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, I pray you, that I may feel you, my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not.” 22 And Jacob went near to Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 

24 And he said, “Are you my very son Esau?” And he said, “I am.” 25 And he said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you.”  And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank, [in a religious feast].

26 And his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.” 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 has blessed: 28 therefore God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine [because you will accept His gifts to share with others]. 29 Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you [as His representative]: be lord [protector] over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you [as a wise man]: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you [upon their own heads be it].”

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The evidence of hairy arms and the smell of the clothing overcame the faint doubts in the old man’s mind and after eating his fill he abdicated and gave the required blessing which set Jacob up as the priest of the family in his stead.  Although it was only an earthly ritual it carried with it a spiritual power that not all understand.

Some readers of the Bible believe that the end justifies the means, and because Jacob’s sin turned out right in that he did receive the blessing which God intended for him, then his sinning was no great problem.

But, even if Esau had received the blessing of his father, which was normally bestowed upon the first-born in every family, his prosperity could have come from God alone, not the ritual.  And He would have blessed him with prosperity or brought upon him adversity according to his course of action, for God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34.

It is the law (or principle) of action which brings the reward or punishment, because every action has an equal reaction.  

If he should love and reverence God, like righteous Abel, he would be accepted, and blessed. If, like the wicked Cain he had no respect for God, nor for His commandments, but followed his own corrupt course, he would not receive a blessing from God, but would be allowed his own way as was Cain.  Whichever way, it would be his actions (acceptance or rejection of God’s advice) which would decide the issue, not anything that Jacob could have done.

This the Son of God explained to us through His prophet Ezekiel.

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Ezekiel 33:

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Under these rules, if, before the blessing, Jacob's behaviour should have become righteous; if, then, he should continue to love and listen to God, he would be blessed of God, and the prospering hand of God would be with him, even if he did not obtain the earthly blessings and privileges generally bestowed upon the physical first born.

And so with Esau.

BOTH OF THEM could have had the privileges of the spiritual birthright because they ARE NOT TIED TO THE PHYSICAL BIRTH, but the rebirth. 

(There is an article available on the subject of the Firstborn as it is shown in the life of Jesus. Go to the link for a copy.)  The Firstborn

Peter tells us that all Christians are “priests” in God’s eyes. 

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1 Peter 2:

5 You also, as “living” stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ….

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation [of Christians], a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: 10 which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

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Although the literal firstborn held the earthly position of priest, the real position was the spiritual one which could be held by all and any of the family.

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Romans 9:

6 …. For they are not all [spiritual] Israel, which are of  [literal] Israel: 7 neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children [of God]: but, “In Isaac shall your seed be called.”

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed… [The two groups again.  The church is like scattered islands in a large ocean.] 

Galatians 3:

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

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Enough for now, we’ll continue next week,

Ron

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.  No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

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