LESSON XLI.—JACOB'S DECEPTION.
- In what esteem did Isaac and Rebekah hold each of their sons? Gen. 25:28.
- One day when Isaac had become old, what did he ask Esau to do? Gen. 27:1-4.
- What did Rebekah do when she overheard what Isaac said to Esau?
- Why did she do this?
- What did she do with the skins of the kids?
- Why was this necessary?
- Was the disguise successful?
- When Jacob went in with the savory meat, what conversation passed between him and his father? Gen. 27:18, 19.
- What reason did Jacob give for having been able to find the venison so soon? Verse 20.
- What did Isaac say after he had felt of Jacob's hands? Verse 22.
- What pointed question did Isaac then ask Jacob? Verse 24.
- What were Esau's feelings when he returned and found that Jacob had been in before him and obtained the blessing? Verses 30-34.
- What did he say of Jacob? Verse 36.
- How did he give vent to his feelings? Verse 34.
- What touching appeal did he finally make? Verse 38.
- What blessing did Isaac then pronounce upon Esau? Verses 39, 40.
- Was Rebekah's course right in this matter?
- What had God promised?
- Of what did Rebekah show a lack?
- How should she have done?
- How was she punished for her wrong doing?
Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite, but Isaac loved Esau most. One day, when Isaac had become old, he requested Esau to go to the field, and take him some venison, and make him savory meat such as he loved, that he might bless him before he died. Rebekah, overhearing the conversation, sent Jacob at once for some kids of the goats. These she made into savory meat, which she sent by the hand of Jacob to Isaac before Esau returned from the field. This was done so that Jacob might receive the blessing instead of Esau. Esau was a hairy man, while Jacob was smooth; so Rebekah disguised Jacob by putting the skins of the kids on his hands, and on the smooth part of his neck, so that he might appear to Isaac to be hairy, like Esau. “And he came unto his father and said, ‘My father;’ and he said, ‘Here am I; who art thou, my son?’ And Jacob said unto his father, ‘I am Esau, thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.’ “And Isaac said unto his son, ‘How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?’ And he said, ‘Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.’ And Isaac said unto Jacob, ‘Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.’ And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.’ And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. And he said, ‘Art thou my very son Esau?’ And he said, ‘I am.’” When Esau came in, and found that Jacob had brought savory meat before him, and had received his father’s blessing, his anguish seemed too great for expression. The scene was a very affecting one. He complained bitterly of Jacob’s injustice. He gave vent to his feelings in a great and exceedingly bitter cry, and said, “Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.” Isaac finally told Esau that he should live by the sword, and should have plenty of the good things of this life; and that although he had made his brother lord over him, the time should come when that yoke would be broken. Rebekah did very wrong in taking the course she did, for although God had said that Jacob should be preferred to Esau, she should have waited for him to bring it about in his own way. She showed great lack of faith, and was punished by a lifelong separation from her darling son.