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Genesis 27:1-46

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Isaac Blesses Jacob 27 1 When Isaac was old and z his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 a Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul b may bless you before I die.” 5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, c obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, d so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, e my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father f will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring g a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, h “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.” 14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the i best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I j may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because k his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. l So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, m that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments l and blessed him and said, “See, n the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! 28 May God give you of o the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and p plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations q bow down to you. r Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. s Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” 30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, t he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, u “Is he not rightly named Jacob? 1 For he has cheated me these two times. v He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, w I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and x with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And t Esau lifted up his voice and wept. 39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, y away from 1 the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from 2 the dew of heaven on high. 40 By your sword you shall live, and you z shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless a you shall break his yoke from your neck.” 41 Now Esau b hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, c “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; d then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?” 46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, e “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. 1 f If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Genesis 27:1-46

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27 1 וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי ־ זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת וַיִּקְרָ֞א אֶת ־ עֵשָׂ֣ו ׀ בְּנ֣וֹ הַגָּדֹ֗ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בְּנִ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו הִנֵּֽנִי ׃ 2 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה ־ נָ֖א זָקַ֑נְתִּי לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי י֥וֹם מוֹתִֽי ׃ 3 וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂא ־ נָ֣א כֵלֶ֔יךָ תֶּלְיְךָ֖ וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְצֵא֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְצ֥וּדָה לִּ֖י צידה 1 ׃ 4 וַעֲשֵׂה ־ לִ֨י מַטְעַמִּ֜ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהַ֛בְתִּי וְהָבִ֥יאָה לִּ֖י וְאֹכֵ֑לָה בַּעֲב֛וּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ֥ נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת ׃ 5 וְרִבְקָ֣ה שֹׁמַ֔עַת בְּדַבֵּ֣ר יִצְחָ֔ק אֶל ־ עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ עֵשָׂו֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָצ֥וּד צַ֖יִד לְהָבִֽיא ׃ 6 וְרִבְקָה֙ אָֽמְרָ֔ה אֶל ־ יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָ֖הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת ־ אָבִ֔יךָ מְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶל ־ עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יךָ לֵאמֹֽר ׃ 7 הָבִ֨יאָה לִּ֥י צַ֛יִד וַעֲשֵׂה ־ לִ֥י מַטְעַמִּ֖ים וְאֹכֵ֑לָה וַאֲבָרֶכְכָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי ׃ 8 וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י מְצַוָּ֥ה אֹתָֽךְ ׃ 9 לֶךְ ־ נָא֙ אֶל ־ הַצֹּ֔אן וְקַֽח ־ לִ֣י מִשָּׁ֗ם שְׁנֵ֛י גְּדָיֵ֥י עִזִּ֖ים טֹבִ֑ים וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֨ה אֹתָ֧ם מַטְעַמִּ֛ים לְאָבִ֖יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהֵֽב ׃ 10 וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ לְאָבִ֖יךָ וְאָכָ֑ל בַּעֲבֻ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְבָרֶכְךָ֖ לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתֽוֹ ׃ 11 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶל ־ רִבְקָ֖ה אִמּ֑וֹ הֵ֣ן עֵשָׂ֤ו אָחִי֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂעִ֔ר וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִ֥ישׁ חָלָֽק ׃ 12 אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָ֖יו כִּמְתַעְתֵּ֑עַ וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י עָלַ֛י קְלָלָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בְרָכָֽה ׃ 13 וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אִמּ֔וֹ עָלַ֥י קִלְלָתְךָ֖ בְּנִ֑י אַ֛ךְ שְׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹלִ֖י וְלֵ֥ךְ קַֽח ־ לִֽי ׃ 14 וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקַּ֔ח וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאִמּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֤עַשׂ אִמּוֹ֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָהֵ֥ב אָבִֽיו ׃ 15 וַתִּקַּ֣ח רִ֠בְקָה אֶת ־ בִּגְדֵ֨י עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּנָ֤הּ הַגָּדֹל֙ הַחֲמֻדֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּ֖הּ בַּבָּ֑יִת וַתַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ אֶֽת ־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּנָ֥הּ הַקָּטָֽן ׃ 16 וְאֵ֗ת עֹרֹת֙ גְּדָיֵ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֔ים הִלְבִּ֖ישָׁה עַל ־ יָדָ֑יו וְעַ֖ל חֶלְקַ֥ת צַוָּארָֽיו ׃ 17 וַתִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת ־ הַמַּטְעַמִּ֛ים וְאֶת ־ הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑תָה בְּיַ֖ד יַעֲקֹ֥ב בְּנָֽהּ ׃ 18 וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל ־ אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר 1 אָבִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הִנֶּ֔נִּי מִ֥י אַתָּ֖ה בְּנִֽי ׃ 19 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל ־ אָבִ֗יו אָנֹכִי֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו בְּכֹרֶ֔ךָ עָשִׂ֕יתִי כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ אֵלָ֑י קֽוּם ־ נָ֣א שְׁבָ֗ה וְאָכְלָה֙ מִצֵּידִ֔י בַּעֲב֖וּר תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ ׃ 20 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִצְחָק֙ אֶל ־ בְּנ֔וֹ מַה ־ זֶּ֛ה מִהַ֥רְתָּ לִמְצֹ֖א בְּנִ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֥י הִקְרָ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְפָנָֽי ׃ 21 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִצְחָק֙ אֶֽל ־ יַעֲקֹ֔ב גְּשָׁה ־ נָּ֥א וַאֲמֻֽשְׁךָ֖ בְּנִ֑י הַֽאַתָּ֥ה זֶ֛ה בְּנִ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו אִם ־ לֹֽא ׃ 22 וַיִּגַּ֧שׁ יַעֲקֹ֛ב אֶל ־ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַקֹּל֙ ק֣וֹל יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְהַיָּדַ֖יִם יְדֵ֥י עֵשָֽׂו ׃ 23 וְלֹ֣א הִכִּיר֔וֹ כִּֽי ־ הָי֣וּ יָדָ֗יו כִּידֵ֛י עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יו שְׂעִרֹ֑ת וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ ׃ 24 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַתָּ֥ה זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י עֵשָׂ֑ו וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָֽנִי ׃ 25 וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַגִּ֤שָׁה לִּי֙ וְאֹֽכְלָה֙ מִצֵּ֣יד בְּנִ֔י לְמַ֥עַן תְּבָֽרֶכְךָ֖ נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיַּגֶּשׁ ־ לוֹ֙ וַיֹּאכַ֔ל וַיָּ֧בֵא ל֦וֹ יַ֖יִן וַיֵּֽשְׁתְּ ׃ 26 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו גְּשָׁה ־ נָּ֥א וּשְׁקָה ־ לִּ֖י בְּנִֽי ׃ 27 וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק ־ ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֛רַח אֶת ־ רֵ֥יחַ בְּגָדָ֖יו וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רְאֵה֙ רֵ֣יחַ בְּנִ֔י כְּרֵ֣יחַ שָׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ יְהוָֽה ׃ 28 וְיִֽתֶּן ־ לְךָ֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִטַּל֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְרֹ֥ב דָּגָ֖ן וְתִירֹֽשׁ ׃ 29 יַֽעַבְד֣וּךָ עַמִּ֗ים וישתחו 1 לְךָ֙ לְאֻמִּ֔ים הֱוֵ֤ה גְבִיר֙ לְאַחֶ֔יךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ 2 לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֣י אִמֶּ֑ךָ אֹרְרֶ֣יךָ אָר֔וּר וּֽמְבָרֲכֶ֖יךָ בָּרֽוּךְ ׃ 30 וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלָּ֣ה יִצְחָק֮ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶֽת ־ יַעֲקֹב֒ וַיְהִ֗י אַ֣ךְ יָצֹ֤א יָצָא֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב מֵאֵ֥ת פְּנֵ֖י יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו וְעֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יו בָּ֖א מִצֵּידֽוֹ ׃ 31 וַיַּ֤עַשׂ גַּם ־ הוּא֙ מַטְעַמִּ֔ים וַיָּבֵ֖א לְאָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֗יו יָקֻ֤ם אָבִי֙ וְיֹאכַל֙ מִצֵּ֣יד בְּנ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי נַפְשֶֽׁךָ ׃ 32 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֛וֹ יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו מִי ־ אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֲנִ֛י בִּנְךָ֥ בְכֹֽרְךָ֖ עֵשָֽׂו ׃ 33 וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד יִצְחָ֣ק חֲרָדָה֮ גְּדֹלָ֣ה עַד ־ מְאֹד֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר מִֽי ־ אֵפ֡וֹא ה֣וּא הַצָּֽד ־ צַיִד֩ וַיָּ֨בֵא לִ֜י וָאֹכַ֥ל מִכֹּ֛ל בְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּב֖וֹא וָאֲבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ גַּם ־ בָּר֖וּךְ יִהְיֶֽה ׃ 34 כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת ־ דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד ־ מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם ־ אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי ׃ 35 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בָּ֥א אָחִ֖יךָ בְּמִרְמָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֖ח בִּרְכָתֶֽךָ ׃ 36 וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הֲכִי֩ קָרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַֽיַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי֙ זֶ֣ה פַעֲמַ֔יִם אֶת ־ בְּכֹרָתִ֣י לָקָ֔ח וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַתָּ֖ה לָקַ֣ח בִּרְכָתִ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הֲלֹא ־ אָצַ֥לְתָּ לִּ֖י בְּרָכָֽה ׃ 37 וַיַּ֨עַן יִצְחָ֜ק וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְעֵשָׂ֗ו הֵ֣ן גְּבִ֞יר שַׂמְתִּ֥יו לָךְ֙ וְאֶת ־ כָּל ־ אֶחָ֗יו נָתַ֤תִּי לוֹ֙ לַעֲבָדִ֔ים וְדָגָ֥ן וְתִירֹ֖שׁ סְמַכְתִּ֑יו וּלְכָ֣ה אֵפ֔וֹא מָ֥ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה בְּנִֽי ׃ 38 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶל ־ אָבִ֗יו הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת הִֽוא ־ לְךָ֙ אָבִ֔י בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם ־ אָ֖נִי אָבִ֑י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ ׃ 39 וַיַּ֛עַן יִצְחָ֥ק אָבִ֖יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּ֞ה מִשְׁמַנֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וּמִטַּ֥ל הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם מֵעָֽל ׃ 40 וְעַל ־ חַרְבְּךָ֣ תִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְאֶת ־ אָחִ֖יךָ תַּעֲבֹ֑ד וְהָיָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּרִ֔יד וּפָרַקְתָּ֥ עֻלּ֖וֹ מֵעַ֥ל צַוָּארֶֽךָ ׃ 41 וַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם עֵשָׂו֙ אֶֽת ־ יַעֲקֹ֔ב עַל ־ הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּלִבּ֗וֹ יִקְרְבוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ אֵ֣בֶל אָבִ֔י וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה אֶת ־ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽי ׃ 42 וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְרִבְקָ֔ה אֶת ־ דִּבְרֵ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנָ֣הּ הַגָּדֹ֑ל וַתִּשְׁלַ֞ח וַתִּקְרָ֤א לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּנָ֣הּ הַקָּטָ֔ן וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יךָ מִתְנַחֵ֥ם לְךָ֖ לְהָרְגֶֽךָ ׃ 43 וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י וְק֧וּם בְּרַח ־ לְךָ֛ אֶל ־ לָבָ֥ן אָחִ֖י חָרָֽנָה ׃ 44 וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ עִמּ֖וֹ יָמִ֣ים אֲחָדִ֑ים עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר ־ תָּשׁ֖וּב חֲמַ֥ת אָחִֽיךָ ׃ 45 עַד ־ שׁ֨וּב אַף ־ אָחִ֜יךָ מִמְּךָ֗ וְשָׁכַח֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר ־ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֖י וּלְקַחְתִּ֣יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם לָמָ֥ה אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל גַּם ־ שְׁנֵיכֶ֖ם י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד ׃ 46 וַתֹּ֤אמֶר רִבְקָה֙ אֶל ־ יִצְחָ֔ק קַ֣צְתִּי בְחַיַּ֔י מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנ֣וֹת חֵ֑ת אִם ־ לֹקֵ֣חַ יַ֠עֲקֹב אִשָּׁ֨ה מִבְּנֽוֹת ־ חֵ֤ת כָּאֵ֙לֶּה֙ מִבְּנ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ לָ֥מָּה לִּ֖י חַיִּֽים ׃

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sermon notes

Jacob deceives his Father Introduction Again in Genesis, a transition Again in Genesis, the blessing continuing Again in Genesis, the blessing continuing despite human sin and strife Again in Genesis, Jacob is a trickster Again in Genesis, two brothers are locked in hatred The 'russian doll' image again (conflict with Esau - with Laban - with God - resolution with God - with Laban - with Esau) 1. Jacob and Rebekah plan to deceive Isaac (v1-17) Isaac is ready to bless Esau (v1-4) This time Jacob is coaxed into tricking, by listening to his mother This is clearly deliberate, planned deception 2. Isaac blessed Jacob (v18-29) v20 using Bible language to appear sincere - how readily that is done v24 another chance to back out of this. Jacob will carry shame from this. v27-29 the blessing; Isaac is the steward and, in one sense, the 'executor' of it. Echoes of the Gen 12 promise, eg v29 3. Esau hated Jacob (v30-46) v36 the 'heel' theme again Esau, in this passage, is the one obedient to his father - and gets maltreated. An important lesson; sometimes you'll do everything right and someone will scheme against you and harm you. discord and hatred between brothers again - like Genesis 4 v46 plausible reason for Jacob to leave; more deception. Haran is a long way away - cf the map Glory of God - he bears with his people being like this. Silent, watching, yet patient and gracious. And yet continuing his blessing! FCF : Manipulation and grasping. Tricking. Deception. Prepared to invoke God's name as we do it. Fear of man; I must control you before you harm me. Leads to strife. Pulls everyone into dysfunctionality. And mocks the image of God (in our mistreatment of others), and blasphemes the name of God (as often it it apparently done in God's name, as here v20). Irreligious - lie, stab in the back, trick to rise up in career or wealth or status. (examples) Religious - almost always covert, clock and dagger. As it is here with Rebekah and Jacob. eg accusing Jesus of blasphemy. Biggest gospel enemies are actually inside the church sometimes. In the garden, the LORD apparently said, according to Eve, that they shouldn't even touch the tree. Our avoidance of community, or behaviour within it. We are 'double-minded'. Person of Jesus - he is straightforward. Knows what it is to be betrayed, tricked. All the weary and bruised, come to him. Work of Jesus - he is hated by his brothers, and actually killed. Sent away into exile on the cross carrying the shame of our tricksiness. Raised to new life and receives the blessing from the Father (cf Psalm 15, or 24). The Lord's Supper a pledge of this - grain and wine. Looking ahead to new creation feasting. Union with Jesus . I trust the benevolence of God and so am learning not to fear man, therefore to become more and more straightforward. My deceptiveness has been forgiven and I no longer live there. We are learning this new life in Christ together as a community. Wrap up There is yet much hope for Jacob, as there is for us. Grounded in the faithful patience and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.

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