Let us look at the two sons who were to receive the blessing. They are first brought before us in Gen 25: 20-26. ….”And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob….” Esau (e_saw) means “hairy”. Jacob means “supplanter” or “cunning man” or “deceiver”. Both were born probably at the well of Lahai-roi (the living one who seeth me). It was the same well, which gave relief to Hagar. The same well. Isn’t it my friend, relief is only from the ONE who ever liveth. He said, “woman, the water I give will make you never thirsty again” (John 4) All the waters the world can give will make us thirsty, money, position, education, beauty etc. But what JESUS gives is Eternal.
“And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in the tents. ” (Gen 25:27-34). ESAU and JACOB are to be considered as representative characters. In fact the Old Testament is full of shadows (types) but the New contains the substance. A shadow cannot do anything. The shadow of a key cannot open the door; we need the substance.
Esau was “a cunning hunter” (ver .27) “Hunter” tells of “roving”, “daring”, or “restless nature”. This kind of nature is a stranger to peace. (“He leadeth me besides the still waters” (Psalms 23) speaks of peaceful conditions.) But this one is very opposite. A glance at the concordance will show the word “hunter” is found only in evil connection. (I Sam 24:11; Job 10:16; Psa 140:11; Prov 6:26; Micah 7:2; Ezek 13:18) Only two men ‘Nimrod’ and ‘Esau’ are specifically termed as ‘hunters’ in the scripture. Nimrod was a rebel. That means Esau was also a rebel.
Esau was a “man of the field” (ver 27) In the light of Math 13:38-“The field is the world” Esau was a worldly man.
Let us see what is told of Jacob. Jacob was “a plain man”; “dwelling in tents” (ver 27) The Hebrew word for “plain” is “tam” which also means “perfect”, “upright”, “undefiled”. The “dwelling in tents” denotes he was a stranger and pilgrim in this world. Like Abraham who also dwelt in tents and looked for a city whose builder and Maker is God, Jacob also had no abiding city but seeking one to come.
We are now ready to look at one of the beautiful scene which Gen 27 presents. Gen 27:1-4, Here in this chapter, ISSAC is representative of God the Father. Jacob is representative of the Believer and Esau the worldly man.
Isaac was old. Isn’t it true that the Father is called the “Ancient of days” in DANIEL and other prophetical books? He wanted to bless His first born, the profane Esau.
“And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son….. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son…Now I command thee. Go now to the flock and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goat; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth. And thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat, and that he may bless before his death” (Gen 27: 6-10)
Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke. Who could hear the Father speaking? It is the HOLY SPIRIT.” But when the comforter is come, I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” John 15:26. In the scripture the HOLY SPIRIT is always liken to the mother. “My dove, my undefiled is but one: she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her” (Song of Solomon 6: 9) The church is the choice one and the only one born of the Holy Spirit. We were born again only through the convictions of the Holy Spirit. “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” John 3: 5. Note the word ‘Spirit’ in the Authorized Version the letter ‘S’ in capital letter which means the HOLY SPIRIT. If Human spirit is mentioned the letter ‘s’ will be in small letter (John 3: 6) “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” which means our spirit is regenerated through the HOLY Spirit.
“And Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob: fetch me from thence two good kids of goats” Now the spiritual meaning is this. The Holy Spirit speaks or convicts the believer, if you want to receive the blessing of the Father, fetch me two kids of goats” In other words, bring me the old and the New Testament, the one shadow, and the other substance. ‘Two good kids of goats’ Without the word of the Lord you cannot receive the blessing of the Father. And the word must first be given to the Spirit. Praise the Lord! Without the Spirit’s unction the word will not delight the Father.
And Jacob said, “It is alright mother. But I cannot cook the meat suitable to the taste of my father” And Rebekah said, ” I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth”. My friend! When in the light of the Holy Spirit we understand the word of God that will delight the Father. It will be suitable for him. Prepare the messages in the anointing of the Spirit. It will be wonderful banquet.
So the meat was prepared according to the taste of the Father. ‘Meat’ always represents the word of God. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto thee”
Now the meat was prepared. Now some other problems. Who to receive the blessing of the Father?” And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring curse upon me, and not a blessing” (Gen 27: 11,12)
Jacob here says, ‘I am a different man in nature and appearance. How can I go to the Father? Will the Father accept me? ” Again seek the council of the Holy Spirit. You cannot go directly to the Father to receive his blessing even if you have the well-prepared spirit anointed Word of God (meat) You need a mediator. A mediator is one who stands between God and man. A mediator must be having the characters of both of them. A mediator must be able to reconcile the Holy God and the Sinful man.
“And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: Only obey my voice, …And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son, Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skin of the kids of goat upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savory meat and bread which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob” (Gen 27: 13-17) Rebekah prepares every small detail to Jacob. So far Jacob had little to do, that is, obey her voice.
The scripture says, “The anointing will teach thee” We have to only obey the voice of the Spirit. Now Jacob is covered with the raiment of his brother and with skins of goats on his hands and on his neck. Now he is ready to go to the Father. If you want to receive the blessing of the Father, you too must be covered with the garment of salvation and your hands and neck must be able to carry the Word of God. That pleaseth the Father. Your neck must be able to do the will of God not an unyielding neck.
Jacob was about to go to his father when he looked at his mother and said, “Mother my brother uses a particular scent on him and on his clothes and he smells. I am not like that. Perhaps, if father smells me he will find out”. The Mother said, ‘Don’t worry’ and sprayed the scent of his elder brother on Jacob and said ‘Now you go’. Though in this type Esau was a rebellious character yet he was the first born. All types are not the true substance. We need the scent of our elder brother before we go to receive the blessings of the Father. Scent is a one which smells and covers the whole area. When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with a box of an Alabaster ointment the whole house of Simon smelt. In fact, only the feet of Jesus was anointed with precious ointment (scent). It shows we need to have the characteristics of Jesus before we go to the Father. His love, humility, meekness, patience etc. are the hallmarks of every child of God. We say that we are saved. But how about our life. Let the people of the world see Jesus in your life and glorify the Father which is in heaven.
Jacob went before the Father with the full preparation (with the help of his mother). “His father came near and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him” (Gen 27: 27-29) With the prepared meat in his hands he went before the Father. The Father tasted the meat and it pleased him. We can please the Father only by the lamb’s meat prepared by the mother. If you want your heavenly Father to bless you, go to him with the promises or the word of God (meat) in Jesus Name (lamb’s meat). No other name will suffice.
But the Father had one doubt. He said, “My son, everything is Perfect. But your voice is not like Esau’s, it is like Jacob’s. Come near me. Let me feel you” One thing the mother didn’t do and that was to change the voice of Jacob. No my friend. Come to Jesus as you are. You Don’t have to change your voice. Confess your sins as you are. Do not impersonate somebody or put up a hypocritical holy appearance before God. He sees your heart.
The Father felt Jacob, smelled him and blessed. That is how we can receive the blessing of the Father.
No sooner had Jacob left his Father’s presence then Esau came with his venison (deer’s meat) and said ‘let my Father arise and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me ” My friend, it is not venison (deer’s meat) which can give you the blessing of the Father, but only the lamb’s meat. JESUS is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the whole world. He was cut and bruised and burnt at the mill of Calvary and only through the merits of the shed blood and the broken body of our Lord we can approach the Father.
‘Bless me, even me also, O my father’ Esau cried. Isaac could only say, “Thy brother hath taken away thy blessing…. Behold I have made him thy Lord” Notice, Isaac did not “curse” Jacob but instead he said, “And he shall be blest” (Gen 27:33). He knew that God wanted it to be so. In Heb 11:20, “By faith Isaac blest Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” Jacob found acceptance with his father and received his blessing because he sheltered behind the name of the father’s first born, beloved son, and was clothed with his garments which diffused to Isaac an excellent odor. In like manner, we as sinners, find acceptance before God, and receive His blessing as we shelter behind the Name of His beloved First born, ‘Jesus’, and as we are clothed with the robe of righteousness which we receive from Him thus coming before the Father in the merits of His son who ‘hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” (Eph 5:2)
Praise the Lord!!
