March 17, 2024
Genesis 27:18-30
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Signs of a dysfunctional family:
A. Parents show favoritism to children.
B. Husband and wife not working together to achieve goals.
2. Isaac was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born. (Gen 25:26) Esau is 40 years old at the end of chapter 26 verse 34. Therefore, Isaac is 100+ years old when chapter 27 begins. (Martin Luther has suggested he was 137 years old.)
3. Isaac lived to be 180 years old. Genesis 35:28-29
4. Rebekah’s scheme points to her lack of faith that God could bring about the promise to her that the older will serve the younger. Gen 25:23
5. Jacob was not being honorable to his father by lying to him.
6. “Meat was not part of the ancient Hebrew’s daily diet; it was only eaten on special occasions.” LeBron Matthews
7. Jacob was seeking personal gain through his deception and lies to obtain the blessing.
8. Isaac listened to Jacob’s lies, tasted his phony game, touched the arms covered with goat’s skin, and smelled his clothes. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to find the truth when the facts are confusing.
9. God’s purposes cannot be set off course by the actions of sinful people.
10. Love all your children (and grandchildren) equally and treat them respectfully.
11. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived sometime between 2100 BC and 1800 BC.
12. Hebrews 12:16b describes Esau as godless, “...is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”
13. In Genesis 25:33-34 we learn that Esau despised and sold his birthright to Jacob. Genesis 27 however, is about Isaac’s intention to give ‘the blessing’ to Esau.
14. To contrast Isaac and Jacob, Jacob gave a blessing to all his sons. See Genesis 49.
15. Application:
· It is never right to lie.
The devil is the father of lies. John 8:44
Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6
· Although God was able to use the outcome of what happened, Jacob and Rebekah paid a high price for their deception.
Rebekah died without ever seeing Jacob again.
Jacob was away from family and his promised inheritance of Canaan for 20 years. Gen 31:41
· God can redeem the messes we make.
A snap-shot of the family of Isaac and Rebekah.
· Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. Gen 25:20
· Rebekah was barren. Gen 25:21
· Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife to have a child. Gen 25:21
· After Rebekah was pregnant, God told her she would have twins and the older would serve the younger. Gen 25:23
· Esau was born first, his body like a hairy cloak. Gen 25:25
· Jacob was clasping onto the heel of Esau at birth. Gen 25:26
· Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born. Gen 25:26
· Esau the hunter—Isaac’s love. Gen 25:27
· Jacob dwelling in tents—Rebekah’s love. Gen 25:27
· Jacob bargained with Esau, the firstborn, for the birthright. Gen 25:30-34
· Esau despised the birthright. Gen 25:34
· When Esau was 40 years old, he took 2 Hittite women for wives. Gen 26:34
· Isaac and Rebekah’s lives were bitter because of the wives Esau took for himself. Gen 26:35
