Remember the twin brothers, Esau and Jacob, that are born to Isaac and Rebekah? Remember how Esau is born first, but Jacob is born holding onto his foot. Then, one day, in Esau’s hunger, he trades his birthright to Jacob for a single bowl of soup. Now, because of Esau’s failure to value what he was still waiting for, he’s forfeited his future double inheritance and the spiritual leadership of his family.
Two chapters later, in Genesis 27, we come to a story titled “Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing”. Let’s set the stage for this story – Isaac is now an old man and in his final days he’s ready to give his blessing to his oldest son. He says to Esau, “Go hunting then prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.”
But there’s a problem. Rebekah, the mother, was listening and she got in the middle. Rebekah favored her younger son Jacob and she wanted him to receive the blessing. Oh the messes meddling mothers create. Mama, listen to this warning in God’s word – STAY OUT OF IT. You don’t need to get in the middle of your adult child’s business. You don’t need to fix this.
Rebekah tells Jacob, the younger son, to go out and kill their own goats and bring them to her so she can quickly make the meal herself. Then, she would have Jacob bring the meal to his father, posing as his older brother, and receive the father’s blessing. But, there’s one problem – While Issac is now old and blind and wouldn’t be able to see the difference, he would be able to feel the difference. Esau was a hairy beastly man, while Jacob was a smooth mama’s boy. But, the meddling mother had an answer for that problem too. She skinned the goats and covered Jacob’s arms and neck with their hairy skin. This is next level meddling, y’all!
Jacob, covered in the skin of a hairy goat, goes in to his father, serves him the meal his mama had sneakingly made, and Isaac blesses him. Feeling the hair on his arms, convinced this son was the first born Esau, the father says:
“From the dew of heave and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed and all who bless you will be blessed.”
Now, Jacob has received the blessing and he leaves his father. Immediately after, here comes Esau in from his hunt with the fresh cooked delicious meal his father had requested. Esau says, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”
But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild gave? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”
When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry, “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”
Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine – what is left for me to give you, my son?”
Esau pleaded,