It is better not to attempt to justify Jacob in this act of treachery; but we may learn the deep and helpful lesson, that if God were able to make a saint out of such material as this, He also can take our poor lives with all their sin and failure and make something of them for His glory. Notice how one lie led to another! Few who enter on a course of deception stop at one falsehood; and how terrible it was to add blasphemy to lying, as when he said that God brought him his quarry in the hunt. Luther wonders how Jacob was able to brazen it out, adding, "I should probably have run away in terror and let the dish fall." Rebekah kept her son's garments well perfumed with the aromatic plants of Palestine, and their odor awoke the sleeping poetry and fire of the aged father. He compared them to a field of Paradise, filled with the sweet presence of God. Let us see to it that we carry everywhere the fragrance of Christ. See 2 Corinthians 2:15. [source]
Chapter Summary: Genesis 27
1Isaac sends Esau for venison 6Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing 14Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it 30Esau brings venison 33Isaac trembles 34Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing 41He threatens Jacob's life 42Rebekah disappoints him, by sending Jacob away
What do the individual words in Genesis 27:24 mean?
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵשָׂו
Sense: eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.