Unlike his son, Joseph, Jacob seems to have had no moral compass. He was an opportunist. His mother must have coached him to believe in his future (being above his brother) without instilling in him a trust in God that would allow God to work out His plans in his life.
So, when the opportunity presented, Jacob exploited his brother’s weak moment to get what he wanted, his brother’s birthright. Hunger gnawing in his belly, Esau agreed without giving it another thought.
Esau’s foolishness is a good example of a person who lives FOR the moment rather than IN the moment. To live for the moment implies that the foolish person does not consider what impact a present decision will have on his/her future, for example, a young girl gets pregnant after a one-night stand.
To live in the moment means to live fully in the present with an eye on the future.
So, our Jacob has set himself up for trouble in the future. No only has he jumped the gun on God’s plans but he has also sown the seeds of discord in his family. Jesus said that a family divided against itself will not stand. How tru that was for Jacob. No only was his own family divided but also the family into which he married in Haran.
The scene is set for phase two of his plan to defraud his brother. Aided by his mother, he jumps at the opportunity to steal his father’s blessing, the second half of the birthright of the eldest son.
Genesis 27:1-10 NLT
[1] One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied. [2] “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. [3] Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. [4] Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.” [5] But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, [6] she said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau, [7] ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ [8] Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. [9] Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. [10] Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”
The plan, cleared of obstacles by Rebekah’s ingenuity, falls into place and Jacob, once again, gets what he wants by manipulation, lies, and trickery.
True to God’s warning, and in keeping with the deceptive behaviour of both Abraham and Isaac, Jacob, continues a life of deception into the third generation.
Exodus 34:7 NLT
[7] “I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”
To be continued…