Genesis 27:3, commentary and pictures

Isaac secretly sends Esau out to the field to hunt game with quiver and bow and prepare venison for a customary ceremonial meal before blessing him before his death. He intends the firstborn blessing for his elder favored son, despite knowing God's purpose that Jacob would carry the promise, despite Esau's indifference to its obligations and his marriages to women who worship false gods, and while Esau hides that he has already sold his birthright to Jacob with an oath. Rebekah overhears the request, remembers God's word that the elder would serve the younger, and persuades Jacob to secure the blessing by deception after he first resists, when they should have trusted God to fulfill His purpose in His own time rather than using fraud. Jacob's obtaining of the blessing and birthright by fraud was his own real sin and guilt before God, which God did not prompt and which is no model for gaining an advantage. Because Jacob had previously repented of that fraud, God heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life from Esau, yet the sin brought crushing guilt and fear, forced him to flee into many years of exile, gave Satan ground to accuse him and move Esau against him, and pressed upon him in his long night of wrestling until he cast himself upon God's mercy and prevailed.

Isaac's Request for Venison

Isaac secretly sent Esau out to the field with quiver and bow to hunt game and prepare venison for a ceremonial meal before giving him the blessing before his death. He arranged this solemn blessing ceremony in secret, intending to bless his elder son. The venison was for the customary feast on such occasions. His request was made while he favored Esau and intended to bless him as firstborn with the firstborn and birthright blessing, despite knowing God's purpose that Jacob would carry the promise.

He held to this intent despite Esau's indifference to the obligations of the blessing and his marriages to women who worship false gods. Esau meanwhile hid from Isaac that he had already sold his birthright to Jacob and confirmed the sale with an oath.

Deception, Repentance, and Consequences

Rebekah overheard Isaac's request for Esau to hunt game and prepare meat before receiving the blessing, and remembering God's word that the elder would serve the younger, she persuaded Jacob to secure the blessing by deception after he first resisted. Rebekah and Jacob should have trusted God to fulfill His purpose in His own time rather than using fraud. Jacob knew God had promised the blessing to him, yet his lack of faith in God's ability to fulfill the promise led him to act wrongly.

God did not prompt their deception and could have provided for Jacob by His own means, so their conduct is no model for gaining an advantage. Jacob could have been blessed by God even without the privileges usually given to the firstborn if he loved and feared God, while God alone could grant Esau prosperity or bring adversity according to his conduct. Jacob's obtaining of the blessing and birthright by fraud was his own real sin and guilt before God, a wrong needing repentance.

Because Jacob had previously repented of that fraud, God heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life from Esau, and without that prior repentance God could not have heard him. The sin added crushing self-reproach to anxiety and fear, with guilt, sadness, despondency, remorse, and a troubled sense of having lost God's protection. It forced Jacob to flee for his life alarmed by his brother's deadly threats and anger, keeping him for many years an exile. It left him terrified when Esau approached for revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless, with hope only in God's mercy and defense only in prayer.

The sin gave Satan ground to accuse Jacob before the angels of God and claim the right to destroy him, and to move Esau to march against him. It pressed upon Jacob's conscience during his long night of wrestling, where Satan endeavored to force guilt upon him to discourage him and break his hold upon God, and the heavenly Messenger tested his faith by reminding him of his sin. Jacob cast himself upon God's mercy, having learned that God is merciful, pointed back to his repentance, pleaded for deliverance, and held fast the Angel with earnest agonizing cries until he prevailed. His night of anguish over that sin represents the experience of God's people in the time of trouble.

The same deception is still practiced in partiality and hypocrisy and secret working that binds men's freedom. That secret working handles men as machinery to be harnessed and driven, and by deceptive reasoning turns man from his rights and grasps all possible irrespective of agreements and of disappointment and wrong to others. All such secret working is open to the eye of God, who will in no case justify or excuse it, and angels veil their faces at it. The time has come to investigate Christ's teachings to ancient Israel against it.