(When) Isaac was forty years old … he married Rebekah, … Gen 25:20
Rebekah became pregnant. Gen 25:21
… there were twins in her womb. Gen 25:24
… before they had yet been born or had done anything, good or bad, in order that God’s … plan might continue, … Romans 9:10-12
… [the Lord told] [Rebekah]: … the older shall serve the younger.” Gen 25:23
Once,
(after the boys had grown into men)
when Jacob
(the younger brother)
was cooking a stew, Esau
(the first born son)
came in … famished. Gen 25:29
[Esau] said to Jacob, “Let me gulp down some of that red stuff; I’m starving.” … Gen 25:30
But Jacob replied, “First give me your birthright in exchange for it.” Gen 25:31
… So [Esau] sold Jacob his birthright under oath. Gen 25:33
Jacob then gave him some bread and the lentil stew; and Esau ate, drank, got up, and went his way. Esau cared little for his birthright. Gen 25:34
see also Hebrews 12:15-16
Later …
When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him, he called his older son Esau and said to him, … prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.” Gen 27:1-4
Rebekah had been listening while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau. So when Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Gen 27:5
Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! … I will prepare an appetizing dish for your father… Gen 27:6-9
Then [you] bring it to your father to eat, that he may bless you before he dies.” Gen 27:10
Rebekah then took the best clothes of her older son Esau … and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear; Gen 27:15
Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish … Gen 27:17
Bringing [it] to his father, Jacob said, “Father!” “Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?” Gen 27:18
Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born. I did as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing.” Gen 27:19
Finally his father Isaac said to [Jacob], “Come closer, son, and kiss me.” Gen 27:26
As Jacob went up and kissed him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes
(Esau’s clothes).
With that, [Isaac] blessed [Jacob], saying, “Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the LORD has blessed! Gen 27:27
“May God give to you of the dew of the heavens And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine. Gen 27:28
“Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.” Gen 27:29
By faith regarding things still to come Isaac blessed Jacob … Hebrews 11:20
Jacob had scarcely left his father, just after Isaac had finished blessing him, when his brother Esau came back … Gen 27:30
“Who are you?” his father Isaac asked [Esau]. “I am Esau,” he replied, “your first-born son.” Gen 27:32
… “Who was it, then,” [Isaac] asked, “that [came] to me? … I blessed him. Now he must remain blessed!” Gen 27:33
“Father, bless me too!” [Esau] begged. Gen 27:34
… Isaac explained, “Your brother came here by a ruse and carried off your blessing,” Gen 27:35
Then [Esau] pleaded, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?” Gen 27:36
… and Esau wept … Gen 27:38
Esau bore Jacob a grudge … Gen 27:41
But they eventually reconciled. Gen 33:4
After all, Isaac’s blessing included,
“may your mother’s sons bow down to you.” Gen 27:29
And Jacob’s descendents were able to see the impact of Isaac’s blessing as history unfolded.