Bible Study Online Article
In the previous article Jacob had taken the final steps within the plan that his mother and himself had agree to, in order to protect Jacob's rightful place at this point in time as the steward and beneficiary of the Abrahamic Covenant. This plan would allow Jacob to intercept the Isaac's plans when it came to speaking a special blessing into his oldest and favorite son's life, Esau. "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of the field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the son's of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." (Genesis 27: 27-29) I had also pointed out how this particular blessing that was suppose to be spoken to Esau was in retrospect a direct contradictory to God's word when it came to the two brothers. "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25: 23) Now it was already Jacob's right to be the proper steward of the Abrahamic Covenant, but it was wrong for Rebekah and her son to try to take matters into their own hands when it came to obtaining what the Lord had spoken. And another major factor that needs to be considered is the fact that God had allowed it to happen in the first place. God would have never allowed this plan to go forward if it was going to derail His intended purpose when it came to the destiny of Abraham's seed. After the Lord had made a promise to Abraham, in which He would never allow it to be broken. So now the scriptures pick up after Jacob had just left his father and his older brother Esau enters the room. Esau had just finished fixing his father the tasty stew that he had instructed his son to do earlier. "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons - your quiver (sword) and bow - and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die," (Genesis 27: 2-4) "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing," Esau would say humbly to his father. But Isaac would respond in a surprise manner, "Who are you." "I am your son, your first born, Esau," his oldest son would say to him. Upon hearing Esau's answer, Isaac would begin to tremble violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him - and indeed he will be blessed." After Esau had heard what his father had just told him, the brave hunter had become incensed and yelled out with a loud and vexatious cry and said to his father, "Bless me... me too, my father." "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing," Isaac would inform him. "Isn't he rightfully named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing! My father, haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Esau would ask, as he pondered. "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you my son?" Isaac would ask of Esau. Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Esau would beg of his father while weeping. So Isaac would answer his son and speak this blessing into his life: "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, and away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." Now real quick let's take a closer look at what Isaac just spoke to his son, Esau: Although the statement seems to suggest that Esau would be away from prosperity. This would be quite the opposite; For Esau inhabited a rich, fertile hill country in Seir which was given to him and his descendants the Edomites, by the grace of God. So in fact Esau would still benefit from God's provision, but he would not share in the special divine provision that was bestowed on Jacob. For Jacob's provision will be that the earth's richness and the dew of heaven will be given to him in abundance. "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness an abundance of grain and new wine." (Genesis 27: 28) Basically what this means is that Esau will live by violence and rapine (pillage or plunder). Constantly at war and forced to defend themselves. Now this statement also points out that when Esau grows tired of being submissive to Jacob's authority: "But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." Esau and his descendants the Edomites would eventually become a thorn within Israel side, with some notable conflicts against King Saul, Israel's first king and they were conquered by David, Israel's most famous and blessed king. Esau descendants the Edomites would in fact gain power and dominion and develop a reputation for being a cruel, idolatrous, and a prideful people. But they would never have rule over Jacob or the Israel nation that was to come from him. Start at: The Introduction of Abraham Start at: The Birth of Isaac 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright 31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine 33) The Envious King Abimelech 40) Deceitful Hearts 41) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 
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