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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 191

"I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." Romans 7:21-22

Text: Genesis 27:1-46

THE DECISION

How did Isaac finally decide? Did it have anything to do with the food that he was going to partake of? Did he decide that the food his son brought to him must be eaten when it was still hot? Did he decide that he would be able to know if the food brought to him was indeed Esau’s cooking? Had he prided himself that he knew his son’s special way of cooking his game? Did he think that nobody else could cook it as Esau did?

“He said, ‘Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game,
so that my soul may bless you.’ So he brought it near to him,
and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.”

GENESIS 27:25

However Isaac decided, it was in part affected by the meal he ate. Did his enjoyment of the food cause him to overlook the fact that the person who spoke to him had Jacob’s voice? Isaac seemed to enjoy his food and wine so much that few things mattered to him while he ate and drank.


REMEMBERING GOD’S WORD TO REBEKAH

The firstborn blessing could have been given at any time. It did not have to be given in the privacy of his tent. In fact, it should have been given publicly! Everyone in the clan should have been privy to the conferring of the firstborn blessing!

Isaac knew the word that the Lord had given to Rebekah. She had sought Him concerning the difficult time she had in her pregnancy. The words of the Lord were precise and clear enough.

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

GENESIS 25:23

Did Isaac know of this word from the Lord? But of course, Rebekah had shared this word with Isaac! Did Rebekah and Isaac have difficulties with each other on the interpretation of this word from the Lord? Presumably so! Isaac was determined to give the firstborn blessing to the older son – even though that was not God’s word at all. Rebekah on the other hand schemed to make this word of promise come to pass!


DETERMINED TO HAVE HIS OWN WAY

Isaac perhaps had all but forgotten about this Word from the Lord. He was by now a grandfather. He was nevertheless determined to have his way. He would give the firstborn blessing to the son who had presented himself as Esau.

“Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come near now
and kiss me, my son;
and he came near and kissed him, and he smelled
the smell of his clothing, and blessed him….”

GENESIS 27:26-27a