Genesis 28

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Genesis 28:1

Conspiracy

Rebekah hears of Isaac’s intention. That makes her worried. She thinks that the Divine blessing will pass Jacob by. Instead of going to Isaac and reminding him of God’s purpose to bless the youngest before the eldest, she resorted to deceit. It is one thing to know the thoughts of God, it is another thing how they are realized. It is terrible to help God by deceit.

Wouldn’t God have answered her if she had gone to Him with this problem? She used to do that (Genesis 25:22). She started with Isaac in such harmony. They have received one another from the LORD (Genesis 24:1-4; 12-15; 57-67). Together they sought Him for having children (Genesis 25:21). Now she is going to cheat on her husband. She thinks she can secure Jacob and the blessing for him by this, but she loses Jacob by it.

The cheating is done by using two young goats and their skins. Later Jacob will be deceived in the same way (Genesis 37:31-34). Jacob objects. He thinks along, but only in a negative sense. He only thinks about what the consequences would be if the fraud were discovered. There is no feeling of guilt, but only fear of the curse when discovered.

Rebekah declares that she is willing to take on the curse. She does see a solution. The skins provide the solution. Then she prepares the savory food “such as his father loved” (Genesis 27:14b). She prepares the goats in a way that it seems to be game, making it “deceptive food” (Proverbs 23:3).

It is awfully bad to misuse the knowledge that husband and wife have acquired from each other in a marriage for their own plans. Here knowledge undermines their unity, while what spouses know about each other should serve to strengthen their marriage. There is no more openness. They play hide and seek for each other.

Genesis 28:2

Jacob Steals the Blessing

Jacob, disguised as Esau, comes to his father. Isaac feels him and says: “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” If we apply this to a believer, we can say: “He talks like a believer, but his deeds are those of the world.” What we say should correspond to what we do.

When Isaac kisses Jacob, he smells the smell of the field. What a sad thing it is, when the ‘smell’ of the world hangs around a believer. What we eat determines the smell we spread. Do we eat the food of the world or the food of the Lord Jesus?

Up to three times Isaac expressed his suspicion, his uncertainty, whether he really has to do with Esau or not (Genesis 27:20; 22; 24). Because he depends on his sense of touch and smell, he does not find out the truth and believes the lie. If he had trusted God, he would never have been deceived despite his blindness (cf. 1 Kings 14:4-5).

Jacob plays the role of Esau well. That is clear from what he says when Isaac notices that he is back from the hunt so quickly. Jacob then speaks of “the LORD your God”. That is what Esau would say. Esau has no connection with the LORD and would therefore never speak of ‘the LORD my God’, while Jacob would say so.

The blessing that Isaac pronounces on Jacob is a blessing as it would be meant for Esau. Isaac blesses Jacob with the abundance of heaven and the earth, with being the master of other nations and his brothers, and with curse upon all who curse him, and blessing upon all who bless him. It is not the blessing as God in its fullness has in mind for Jacob. Isaac expands on this somewhat in Genesis 28 (Genesis 28:4), while God Himself describes the full blessing in Genesis 35 (Genesis 35:11-12).