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Genesis 27 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
What a story! As a Chicago fan, this is kind of like watching the Green Bay Packers play the New England Patriots. There is no one to root for!
First, we have Isaac. Though a godly man, he seems to make a huge blunder in wanting to bless Esau despite his many character flaws. Could it be that Isaac just loved Esau’s hunting skills and good food? It’s hard to know.
Then we have Rebekah. Though her intentions are good, she advises Jacob to deceive his father. This encouragement on her part is clearly sinful. God didn’t need any help accomplishing His promises, but Rebekah seemed to think the only way it would happen is if she encouraged deception.
The struggles of Esau have been well-documented. In this chapter, we learn of his love for foreign women – something that would paralyze Judah and Israel in their future generations. He also foolishly despised his birthright even though he acts as if it’s important here in Genesis 27. Esau was impulsive and demonstrated an attitude of selfishness.
Finally, we have Jacob. He is the one we want to root for, although, I find it extremely difficult with his continual embracement of deception and trickery.
The bottom line is that everyone in this story operated in their own flesh. This attitude is clearly seen when we consider how they viewed the blessing as something mystical that needed to be grasped in their own human strength. Not one person here has appealed to their faith and trust in God fulfilling His promise. Does this happen today? Oh my! Yes!
Just consider how many times we have used God’s name to justify bad behavior with good intentions. Sadly, I am guilty. How many churches have been destroyed by lies that were an attempt to bring justice? How many relationships have imploded because truth was spoken in hate? How many times have we fallen victim to believing that God endorses our good-intentioned deception?
“There are similar events in all lives when we take some irrevocable step under the sway of evil passion, and it affects the whole future. There is “no place for repentance”-i.e., no opportunity of altering the decisive effect, of that act. See Heb 12:17. We may obtain some lower and inferior blessing, as Esau did, acquiring something of the fatness of the earth and the dew of heaven, living by our sword, and finally, after long years, shaking the yoke from our neck, but we can never be what we might have been! We can never undo that moment of sowing to the flesh. See Gal 6:7-8.” F.B. Meyer