Isaac’s Blessing Upon Jacob and
Esau
“By
faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
– Hebrews 11:20
The purpose of God stands fast. It
is unalterable. It cannot be hindered. The Lord our God always does all his
pleasure. How clearly this fact is demonstrated in Isaac’s two sons, Jacob and
Esau! Jacob, the younger, was to be served by Esau, the elder. Does this
purpose come to pass? All parties involved sinned against God: Esau by godless
unbelief, Jacob and Rebekah by deceit, and Isaac by giving way to human
passions. Thus, everything known was contrary to God’s purpose. Yet, we see God
overruling everything by his providence to accomplish his purpose.
Rebekah’s
Presumption
Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, acted in
terrible unbelief and presumption, attempting to secure by the arm of the flesh
what God had promised to do by his free grace. Both Rebekah and Jacob knew and
believed the promise of God. They knew God’s purpose in the matter. Though his
father may have refused to recognize it and honor it, Jacob had purchased the
birthright lawfully. Rebekah’s faith failed when she decided to scheme and
through deceit get the blessing for Jacob, and Jacob’s when he agreed to it.
They should have left it to the providence of God, and waited for him to
perform the work. They were working in the energy of the flesh to prevent the
thwarting of God’s purpose. (Compare 2 Sam. 6:6-16.)
Isaac’s
Perversity
Isaac’s affections were perverted.
Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, but it was a selfish, human love. How often
displaced affections lead to sin! Esau was his elder son. He was likely the
more masculine of Isaac’s two boys. And Isaac loved the “savory meat” Esau
provided for him. Isaac was determined to bless Esau, contrary to the
revelation of God. Indeed, “his eyes had grown dim!”
Prophetic
Blessings
Isaac’s blessings upon his sons
were prophetic (Gen. 27:28-40). The significance of the blessings was
clear. Jacob was promised both spiritual and temporal blessings. The coming
Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was confirmed to him.
Esau was blessed, but only temporally. Both Jacob and Esau were descendants of
Abraham, but only Jacob was “a prince with God.” The people of God, in
any age, are those who believe him. They are the Israel of God, God’s true
covenant people.
The
sovereignty of God was manifestly displayed in the blessings of Isaac’s two
sons. Isaac believed that the one he blessed would have the promise of God.
When he perceived that the providential hand of God had crossed his own
affections, he did not murmur and rebel, but he yielded and submitted to the
Lord. (Believers always, in the end, yield to the will of God, no matter how
God’s will may cross their plans and schemes!) The object of his faith was God.
The ground of his faith was God’s revelation. He did not try to recall the
blessing, but he accepted God’s providence. Esau found no repentance in him
(Heb. 12:17). He could not get back the blessing he despised in his youth. He
had sold Christ for a bowl of beans, and thereby “fitted” himself to
destruction.
God
prevailed
Once more, we see that “the
heavens do rule!” The Lord God prevailed. He always does. His will was
accomplished. It always is. His purpose was performed. It always is. Yes, our
God always prevails; and he shall yet prevail. He works his will even through
the weaknesses and sins of others, yet he is in no way affected by their sin or
weakness.
Though it will never thwart the purpose of
God, unbelief does reek havoc in our lives and in the lives of those who are
under our influence, as it did in Jacob’s household for many years. If we are
taken up with satisfying the flesh, we are terribly dim sighted spiritually,
and are sure to act in unbelief. Let us, rather, believe God, trusting our
Heavenly Father to accomplish his will and wait for him to perform his purpose
(Pro. 3:5-6; Rom. 8:28-31; Isa. 40:27-31).