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January 20 Daily Devotional

BY FAITH ISAAC BLESSED JACOB

Henry T. Vriesen

Genesis 27

Isaac with his family lived at Beersheba for a number of years. In the course of time the eyes of Isaac grew dim with’ age. No longer could he see the good things God had given him, and he thought that he might die soon. Before he died one of his sons should receive his blessing. He wanted to give it to Esau. One day he called him in and said, “Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to, the field, and take me some venison; and make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.”

Rebekah hearing this, thought that Esau should not receive the blessing. He seemed to be careless as to the faith of the fathers; he had married two wives of the Canaanites and had sold his birthright. Rebekah wanted her son Jacob to become the heir of God’s promises. When she heard the instructions of Isaac, she thought of a plan to secure the blessing for Jacob.

She called Jacob and told him her plans. He should go and prepare the meat of two good kids, he should put the skin of the goats upon his hands and upon his neck, and wear one of Esau’s suits, to make the aged Isaac believe that it is Esau. At first Jacob hesitated to deceive his old father, but Rebekah insisted that he should obey her voice. So he went and did according to the request of his mother. His father expressed his surprise that his son had come so soon. He was somewhat suspicious. The voice sounded like Jacob’s voice. He said, “Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.” Jacob came near and his father felt his hands, now covered with the hairy skins. He said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He ate and drank. Thereupon he blessed him and said, “God give thee … plenty of corn and wine. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren.”

After Jacob had gone out, Esau came in with his dish of venison. Isaac asked him, “Who art thou?” He said, “I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly and said, Who? where is he that hath take venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed him? … he shall be blessed.” Esau cried, “Hast thou but one blessing, my father?” Esau wept. Isaac said, Behold of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling; by the sword shalt thou live and serve thy brother. Jacob had the chief blessing. After this Esau’s heart was filled with hatred toward is He said, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will slay my brother Jacob.” Rebekah suggested that Jacob should leave the home for a while. So he went to Mesopotamia.

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