Isaac Blesses Jacob Genesis 27:1-46

Lesson 023 Isaac Blesses Jacob Genesis 27:1-46

MEMORY VERSE HEBREWS 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed J ac ob and Esau c onc erning things to com e. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: A large piece of paper, a rubber band, and a red ribbon. Molding clay and cutting and molding tools. As many pieces of construction paper and lined sheets of white paper as the number of children in your class, glue, and crayons or markers. ATTENTION GRABBER! "What IF" On a large piece of paper write the following what ifs : What if you saw your friend steal some candy, then later offered some to you? Is it OK to steal if you intend to share what s stolen? What if you were late getting home and nobody knew. Later your mother asked you if you had come home on time, and you told her you were on time? Is it OK to lie if seemingly no one is hurt by it? What if your teacher gave you the honor of taking up the offering, but during the prayer you took a dollar out and put it in your pocket? Is it OK to steal if no one knows how much is there? Come up with other questions to add to these examples. Roll the paper up like a scroll and put a rubber band around it with a red ribbon tied to it. Using a music player with a CD or cassette of children s music, have the children in your class pass around the scroll as long as music is playing (similar to musical chairs). When

the music stops, whoever is holding the scroll must open it and answer the next what if question. Have a class discussion about the what ifs and the answers given. Be sure to conclude that sin is never right. We are going to look at some choices that were made by the people in our study today and the problems that were caused when bad decisions were made and wrong things done to others LESSON TIME! Do you remember back to the story of when Esau sells his birthright to Jacob? In our lesson today Isaac is ready to pronounce the blessing on his firstborn son, Esau, but Jacob hears of it. Jacob and his mother come up with a plan to steal it away. Because of this sin there will be a lot of problems in this family. We are going to look at this story today and learn that sin will always cause problems in our lives. We need to be careful to obey the Lord and do what is right. Sin is never right. G EN ES I S 27:1-4 N o w i t c am e t o p as s, w h e n I s aac w as o l d an d h i s e y e s w e r e s o d i m t h at h e c o u l d n o t s e e, t h at h e c al l e d Es au h i s o l d e r s o n an d s ai d t o h i m, " M y s o n. " An d h e an s w e r e d h i m, " H e r e I am. " T h e n h e s ai d, " B e h o l d n o w, I am o l d. I d o n o t k n o w t h e d ay o f m y d e at h. " N o w t h e r e f o r e, p l e as e t ak e y o u r w e ap o n s, y o u r qu i v e r an d y o u r bo w, an d go o u t t o t h e f i e l d an d h u n t gam e f o r m e. " An d m ak e m e s av o r y f o o d, s u c h as I l o v e, an d br i n g i t t o m e t h at I m ay e at, t h at m y s o u l m ay bl e s s y o u be f o r e I d i e. "

Here we see that Isaac is thinking that he is about to die soon and he desires to impart the blessing due to the firstborn son to Esau. Isaac is about 136 years old at this time, truly pretty old, but he continues to live another 44 years. He calls his oldest son to come to him. The Bible notes that Isaac's eyes were "dim," yet not only were they dim physically, but spiritually as well, for it was not Esau who was to receive the blessing, but Jacob (see Genesis 25:23,33). It seemed that Isaac favored Esau over Jacob. He certainly liked the fact that Esau was a hunter and could fix a nice meal for him. Isaac requested Esau to go out and to prepare him a meal of the venison that he so loved, and then Isaac would give to Esau the blessing. Isaac appeared to be more occupied with his desire for good food than what God s plan was in this. How unfortunate that our flesh can be so occupied with its "affections and lusts," that we sometimes cannot hear the voice of God. Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bread and stew of lentils. (Genesis 25:27-34). Whether Isaac was aware of this is not stated. Yet as God's plan was for Jacob to receive the blessing, God had spoken to Rebekah earlier that Jacob would be the one He was to bless (Genesis 25:23). So even though Isaac wanted to do this his way, God clearly had a plan. Sometimes we can let our feelings about things or people cloud our judgment. We may know what God wants us to do, but because we think or feel a certain way we make bad or wrong choices. Have you ever done something wrong because you felt like doing it? We have to be careful not to allow our feelings to govern what we do or don t do, but rather the word of God. Sin is never right. G EN ES I S 27:5-13 N o w R e be k ah w as l i s t e n i n g w h e n I s aac s p o k e t o Es au h i s s o n. An d Es s au w e n t t o t h e f i e l d t o h u n t gam e an d t o br i n g i t.

S o R e be k ah s p o k e t o J ac o b h e r s o n, s ay i n g, " I n d e e d I h e ar d y o u r f at h e r s p e ak t o Es au y o u r br o t h e r, s ay i n g, ' B r i n g m e gam e an d m ak e s av o r y f o o d f o r m e, t h at I m ay e at i t an d bl e s s y o u i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e L O R D be f o r e m y d e at h. ' " N o w t h e r e f o r e, m y s o n, o be y m y v o i c e ac c o r d i n g t o w h at I c o m m an d y o u. " G o n o w t o t h e f l o c k an d br i n g m e f r o m t h e r e t w o c h o i c e k i d s o f t h e go at s, an d I w i l l m ak e s av o r y f o o d f r o m t h e m f o r y o u r f at h e r, s u c h as h e l o v e s. " T h e n y o u s h al l t ak e i t t o y o u r f at h e r, t h at h e m ay e at i t, an d t h at h e m ay bl e s s y o u be f o r e h i s d e at h. " An d J ac o b s ai d t o R e be k ah h i s m o t h e r, " L o o k, Es au m y br o t h e r i s a h ai r y m an, an d I am a s m o o t h - s k i n n e d m an. " Pe r h ap s m y f at h e r w i l l f e e l m e, an d I s h al l s e e m t o be a d e c e i v e r t o h i m ; an d I s h al l br i n g a c u r s e o n m y s e l f an d n o t a bl e s s i n g. " B u t h i s m o t h e r s ai d t o h i m, " L e t y o u r c u r s e be o n m e, m y s o n ; o n l y o be y m y v o i c e, an d go, ge t t h e m f o r m e. " Here we see that Rebekah heard what Isaac had spoken to Esau. Rebekah was eavesdropping and ended up devising a plan. When we take things out of God's hands and try to "make" them happen ourselves, many people suffer, as we'll see in this story. Rebekah had a promise from God, but she didn t wait for him to fulfill it.

Have you ever done the right thing, but the wrong way? Sometimes we are given promises in the Bible, but they are never there for us to make happen. We have to trust the Lord that He will do in our lives what is right and best and sometimes that means we need to wait instead of taking matters into our own hands. When we take matters into our own hands we tend to mess things up. There will be some consequences that result from this plan that Rebekah does that we will see later. Sin is never right. Rebekah had been given the promise of God that Esau would serve Jacob; if only she could have rested in that and in the power of God to fulfill His Word. Now we see a bit of Jacob's character come out in this response. He does raise an objection, but it is not in the fear of the sin, but in what might be the consequences of being discovered. It is not a fear of God, but a fear of man. Sin is never right. Rebekah foolishly says "Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me." Rebekah knew God's plan, she should have trusted the Lord, but she took the way of the flesh, plotted against her own husband, and taught her son to deceive his father. Sin is never right. Molded in the Image of God Bring molding clay and various molding tools to your class. Have your students use the tools to make various shapes and object. Discuss the process of molding the clay into the shape that is desired. In order to do that we have to poke it, smash it and shape it. Does God have to do that to us sometimes in order to mold us into the image of Jesus? Can that be uncomfortable at times? Discuss how Rebekah s deceit in gaining the blessing for Jacob goes contrary to the yieldedness we must have toward the Lord. What might Rebekah have done differently if she trusted that God would

accomplish His promises His way? Trusting God is part of what it takes to be molded into the image of Jesus. G EN ES I S 27:14-29 An d h e w e n t an d go t t h e m an d br o u gh t t h e m t o h i s m o t h e r, an d h i s m o t h e r m ad e s av o r y f o o d, s u c h as h i s f at h e r l o v e d. T h e n R e be k ah t o o k t h e c h o i c e c l o t h e s o f h e r e l d e r s o n Es au, w h i c h w e r e w i t h h e r i n t h e h o u s e, an d p u t t h e m o n J ac o b h e r y o u n ge r s o n. An d s h e p u t t h e s k i n s o f t h e k i d s o f t h e go at s o n h i s h an d s an d o n t h e s m o o t h p ar t o f h i s n e c k. T h e n s h e gav e t h e s av o r y f o o d an d t h e br e ad, w h i c h s h e h ad p r e p ar e d, i n t o t h e h an d o f h e r s o n J ac o b. S o h e w e n t t o h i s f at h e r an d s ai d, " M y f at h e r " ; an d h e s ai d, " H e r e I am. Wh o ar e y o u, m y s o n?" J ac o b s ai d t o h i s f at h e r, " I am Es au y o u r f i r s t bo r n ; I h av e d o n e j u s t as y o u t o l d m e ; p l e as e ar i s e, s i t an d e at o f m y gam e, t h at y o u r s o u l m ay bl e s s m e. " B u t I s aac s ai d t o h i s s o n, " H o w i s i t t h at y o u h av e f o u n d i t s o qu i c k l y, m y s o n?" An d h e s ai d, " B e c au s e t h e L O R D y o u r G o d br o u gh t i t t o m e. " T h e n I s aac s ai d t o J ac o b, " Pl e as e c o m e n e ar, t h at I m ay f e e l y o u, m y s o n, w h e t h e r y o u ar e r e al l y m y s o n Es au o r n o t. " S o J ac o b w e n t n e ar t o I s aac h i s f at h e r, an d h e f e l t h i m an d s ai d, " T h e v o i c e i s J ac o b's v o i c e, bu t t h e h an d s ar e t h e h an d s o f Es au. "

An d h e d i d n o t r e c o gn i z e h i m, be c au s e h i s h an d s w e r e h ai r y l i k e h i s br o t h e r Es au ' s h an d s ; s o h e bl e s s e d h i m. T h e n h e s ai d, " Ar e y o u r e al l y m y s o n Es au?" An d h e s ai d, " I am. " H e s ai d, " B r i n g i t n e ar t o m e, an d I w i l l e at o f m y s o n ' s gam e, s o t h at m y s o u l m ay bl e s s y o u. " S o h e br o u gh t i t n e ar t o h i m, an d h e at e ; an d h e br o u gh t h i m w i n e, an d h e d r an k. T h e n h i s f at h e r I s aac s ai d t o h i m, " C o m e n e ar n o w an d k i s s m e, m y s o n. " An d h e c am e n e ar an d k i s s e d h i m ; an d h e s m e l l e d t h e s m e l l o f h i s c l o t h i n g, an d bl e s s e d h i m an d s ai d : " S u r e l y, t h e s m e l l o f m y s o n i s l i k e t h e s m e l l o f a f i e l d w h i c h t h e L O R D h as bl e s s e d. " T h e r e f o r e m ay G o d gi v e y o u o f t h e d e w o f h e av e n, o f t h e f at n e s s o f t h e e ar t h, an d p l e n t y o f gr ai n an d w i n e. " L e t p e o p l e s s e r v e y o u, an d n at i o n s bo w d o w n t o y o u. B e m as t e r o v e r y o u r br e t h r e n, an d l e t y o u r m o t h e r ' s s o n s bo w d o w n t o y o u. C u r s e d be e v e r y o n e w h o c u r s e s y o u, an d bl e s s e d be t h o s e w h o bl e s s y o u!" Jacob obeyed his mother without any further objection. She clothed him in Esau's clothes, and put skins of kids on his hands and his neck. Jacob lied to his father deliberately. As his father was still unsure about how a meal could be found and prepared so quickly, Jacob said, Because the LORD your God brought it to me," now bringing the name of the Lord into his deception. We see how one sin grows into more and more sin. One "little" lie will grow

into a bigger one, then an even bigger one, until it is out of control, and many people are hurt by our sin. We must call sin what it really is; SIN! We cannot justify or excuse it, but repent of it and ask for forgiveness. Sin is never right. Isaac's suspicions were dismissed; he ate and then proceeded to give to Jacob his blessing. He said "Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine (substantial produce). Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you (preeminence among the nations). Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you (preeminence among his kindred). Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you! (physical and spiritual prosperity)." Jacob received this blessing from his father because of God s grace (Genesis 28:13-15). We see that as Isaac thought he was blessing Esau, God caused the words of blessing to fall upon the man of His choice, Jacob. God ultimately still had control of the situation. The failure of faith leading to deceit will bring with it sorrow, as we shall see, but it cannot interfere with fulfillment of the purposes of God. God has this way of turning things around for His purposes despite our sin and disobedience (see Romans 8:28). G EN ES I S 27:30-40 T h e n i t h ap p e n e d, as s o o n as I s aac h ad f i n i s h e d bl e s s i n g J ac o b, an d J ac o b h ad s c ar c e l y go n e o u t f r o m t h e p r e s e n c e o f I s aac h i s f at h e r, t h at Es au h i s br o t h e r c am e i n f r o m h i s h u n t i n g. H e al s o h ad m ad e s av o r y f o o d, an d br o u gh t i t t o h i s f at h e r, an d s ai d t o h i s f at h e r, " L e t m y f at h e r ar i s e an d e at o f h i s s o n ' s gam e, t h at y o u r s o u l m ay bl e s s m e. "

An d h i s f at h e r I s aac s ai d t o h i m, " Wh o ar e y o u?" An d h e s ai d, " I am y o u r s o n, y o u r f i r s t bo r n, Es au. " T h e n I s aac t r e m bl e d e x c e e d i n gl y, an d s ai d, " Wh o? Wh e r e i s t h e o n e w h o h u n t e d gam e an d br o u gh t i t t o m e? I at e al l o f i t be f o r e y o u c am e, an d I h av e bl e s s e d h i m --an d i n d e e d h e s h al l be bl e s s e d. " Wh e n Es au h e ar d t h e w o r d s o f h i s f at h e r, h e c r i e d w i t h an e x c e e d i n gl y gr e at an d bi t t e r c r y, an d s ai d t o h i s f at h e r, " B l e s s m e, e v e n m e al s o, O m y f at h e r!" B u t h e s ai d, " Y o u r br o t h e r c am e w i t h d e c e i t an d h as t ak e n aw ay y o u r bl e s s i n g. " An d Es au s ai d, " I s h e n o t r i gh t l y n am e d J ac o b? F o r h e h as s u p p l an t e d m e t h e s e t w o t i m e s. H e t o o k aw ay m y bi r t h r i gh t, an d n o w l o o k, h e h as t ak e n aw ay m y bl e s s i n g!" An d h e s ai d, " H av e y o u n o t r e s e r v e d a bl e s s i n g f o r m e?" T h e n I s aac an s w e r e d an d s ai d t o Es au, " I n d e e d I h av e m ad e h i m y o u r m as t e r, an d al l h i s br e t h r e n I h av e gi v e n t o h i m as s e r v an t s ; w i t h gr ai n an d w i n e I h av e s u s t ai n e d h i m. Wh at s h al l I d o n o w f o r y o u, m y s o n?" An d Es au s ai d t o h i s f at h e r, " H av e y o u o n l y o n e bl e s s i n g, m y f at h e r? B l e s s m e, e v e n m e al s o, O m y f at h e r!" An d Es au l i f t e d u p h i s v o i c e an d w e p t. T h e n I s aac h i s f at h e r an s w e r e d an d s ai d t o h i m : " B e h o l d, y o u r d w e l l i n g s h al l be o f t h e f at n e s s o f t h e e ar t h, an d o f t h e d e w o f h e av e n f r o m abo v e. " B y y o u r s w o r d y o u s h al l l i v e, an d y o u s h al l s e r v e y o u r br o t h e r ; an d i t s h al l c o m e t o p as s, w h e n y o u

be c o m e r e s t l e s s, t h at y o u s h al l br e ak h i s y o k e f r o m y o u r n e c k. " Jacob left the presence of his father, and then Esau entered with the prepared venison; he was prepared to receive the blessing of his father. Isaac realized what had happened and in verse three it says, Isaac trembled exceedingly. At this point Isaac may have realized that he had been going against the divine plan of God. Isaac knew that the blessing actually came from the spirit of God, and when it was given it could not be revoked. He now saw that it was God's will that the spiritual blessing should fall on the line of Jacob. It is also wonderful to notice that instead of cursing Jacob, Isaac discovered how God had graciously overruled his wrongdoing. We see Esau exceedingly grieved over the situation, but we must remember that Esau sold his birthright for bread and stew of lentils; it meant nothing to him. He must have known that the blessing was not to be his, but Jacob's. Sometimes we are sorry that we have to deal with the consequences of bad choices, but not really sorry for our sin. Esau begged and pleaded with his father for a blessing. Isaac did give Esau a blessing. "Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break his yoke from your neck." The blessing seems similar to Jacob's, but it is different. God would make Esau into a nation. His descendants would later become the people of Edom. The land of Edom was a comparative wilderness. He would live by his sword, preying upon others, and serving his brother.

As you read later in the Bible, the history of Edom was a continual struggle against the supremacy of Israel. Sin is never right. Bless You Have your students make blessing cards with blessings similar to that found in Numbers 6:24-26, "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." With construction paper folded in half, glue a 4 x7 piece of lined paper inside and have your class write an original blessing (if your children are smaller, you can have them trace their hands and write God Bless You ). Instruct your class to find some one in their home, school, or neighborhood who needs to be blessed and pass the card along to them. G EN ES I S 27:41-46 S o Es au h at e d J ac o b be c au s e o f t h e bl e s s i n g w i t h w h i c h h i s f at h e r bl e s s e d h i m, an d Es au s ai d i n h i s h e ar t, " T h e d ay s o f m o u r n i n g f o r m y f at h e r ar e at h an d ; t h e n I w i l l k i l l m y br o t h e r J ac o b." An d t h e w o r d s o f Es au h e r o l d e r s o n w e r e t o l d t o R e be k ah. S o s h e s e n t an d c al l e d J ac o b h e r y o u n ge r s o n, an d s ai d t o h i m, " S u r e l y y o u r br o t h e r Es au c o m f o r t s h i m s e l f c o n c e r n i n g y o u by i n t e n d i n g t o k i l l y o u. " N o w t h e r e f o r e, m y s o n, o be y m y v o i c e : ar i s e, f l e e t o m y br o t h e r L aban i n H ar an. " An d s t ay w i t h h i m a f e w d ay s, u n t i l y o u r br o t h e r ' s f u r y t u r n s aw ay,

" u n t i l y o u r br o t h e r ' s an ge r t u r n s aw ay f r o m y o u, an d h e f o r ge t s w h at y o u h av e d o n e t o h i m ; t h e n I w i l l s e n d an d br i n g y o u f r o m t h e r e. Wh y s h o u l d I be be r e av e d al s o o f y o u bo t h i n o n e d ay?" An d R e be k ah s ai d t o I s aac, " I am w e ar y o f m y l i f e be c au s e o f t h e d au gh t e r s o f H e t h ; i f J ac o b t ak e s a w i f e o f t h e d au gh t e r s o f H e t h, l i k e t h e s e w h o ar e t h e d au gh t e r s o f t h e l an d, w h at go o d w i l l m y l i f e be t o m e?" Esau s anger was great, and he could only comfort himself with the thought of getting even with Jacob by killing him when his father died. Rebekah again overheard this plan and told Jacob to flee to her brother, Laban, until Esau's anger went away. It was Rebekah who sent away the son she so loved. She was the one to lead him into sin, and she was the one God used to send him away. What she thought would only be a few days, ended up being 20 years. She probably never again saw the son she so loved. How sad are the consequences of sin. Sin is never right. From our lesson this week we can learn a few things. 1. We must not let our thoughts or feelings cloud our minds regarding God's will like Isaac did. 2. We must not try to make God's plans happen by our own means or our own understanding like Rebekah did. 3. We must not ever give up our divine privileges for temporary, carnal satisfaction like Esau did. 4. We must not deceive and sin against others in order to get what we want like Jacob did. Sin is never right.

Let us never forget Galatians 6:7-9 "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart." PRAYER Lead the children in a prayer of commitment to keep pure before the Lord and wait on Him for all of His promises. If there are any children who have not yet responded to the gospel, give them opportunity to do so.