Genesis 45

 

 

JACOB’S SPIRITUAL GREED

( Gen. 27: 1-29)

 

Introduction:

In the preceding chapter 26, Isaac yielded even to the well while trusting in God's covenant. Also, through his life, he clearly revealed the existence of God to Abimelech. He was the son of Abraham, the father of faith, both in name and reality. However, his eldest son, when he was 40 years old and when Isaac was 100 years old, married a foreign woman and dishonored the covenant family. He proved himself not to be the successor of the covenant.

And today, chapter 27 of the text begins.

Jacob made a dish with a goat he raised at home, served it to Isaac, and tricked his father into pretending to be Esau to receive the blessing of the birthright. The idea came from his mother Rebekah, but Jacob did not blindly follow her instructions. Considering that he was already 77 years old, it was a work he did according to his own firm convictions.

The main text is Isaac's reaction to Jacob's deception, and it should be interpreted in the same way that Isaac was 137 years old. Although he was very old,

we must also consider the fact that he corrected himself enough to live another 43 years after this incident.

 

1. The actual background of the blessing which appeared in the book of Genesis.

 

  1) Blessings

    (1) Dt. 21:5 The priests, the sons of Levi, shall step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings

        in the name of the LORD and to decide all cases of dispute and assault.

    (2) Gen.9:25-27 Noah’s blessing and curse

    (3) Gen.49:1-33 Jacob Blessed his 12 Sons

    (4) Gen.27:1-4(Text)

  2) The importance of father who pray.

  3) The importance of mother who pray.

  4) The importance of pastor who has mystery of answer of prayer.

  5) Answer of prayer.

    (1) The first, must have qualification. (people of the covenant)

    (2) Must grab hold promise(Gen.37:1-11)

    (3) Must discover God’s will.(Gen.45:5)

    (4) Covenant prayer→ Scheduled prayer → Continuous prayer  

 

2. The important lesson through scripture.

  1) The priestly authority of blessing of father (Gen.27:1-4, 27:28-29)

     v. 1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him,

      "My son." "Here I am," he answered.

    v. 2 Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death.

    v. 3 Now then, get your weapons--your quiver and bow--and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.

    v. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.“

 

    v. 28 May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness-- an abundance of grain and new wine.

    v. 29 May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.

          May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."

  2) Faith of mother Rebekah and humanism.

    (1) Faith (Gen.27:10, 25:22-26)

    (2) Humanism.(Gen.27:15-27)

    (3) Result

  3) Faith of Jacob and his mistake(Gen.27:15-27)

    (1) Blessing

    (2) Result

  4) God fulfilled His will accurately through obedience or disobedience of man, and through man’s faith and un belief.

 

Conclusion:

One thing we must remember from the text, as it should almost always be when reading the Bible, is the final conclusion. The core of the birthright that Isaac passed on to Jacob is not a realistic blessing, but a clear re-emphasis of the covenant made with Abraham (verse 29).

Esau only wanted to receive the blessing of giving the land in verse 28, but was not at all interested in the spiritual blessing of verse 29 to establish it as a source of blessing in front of all nations. Now, even if Isaac was completely deceived into thinking that Jacob was Esau, he did not mention Esau's name or anything related to it while blessing the birthright (vv. 27-29). Because it was God's absolute plan to give Jacob spiritual blessings. It is the holy result of the submissive God who acted meekly.

Isaac wishes Jacob the bountiful harvest, victory in war, and the blessing his father Abraham had received from God. No matter how much Isaac tried to establish Esau as the successor of the covenant with his own will, God fulfilled His will as He had determined.

In this way, God is the one who faithfully fulfills the covenant He has established. From Isaac, who was blinded and only knew himself and forgot about God, to Rebekah, who was willing to commit injustice to achieve her goal, to Jacob, who lied and even took God's name in vain, and Esau, who was full of murder, Isaac's family was literally ruined family. However, God did not give up on Isaac's family, which became like bean flour. It was because of the covenant that God Himself had established. The only covenant families on earth that received God's covenant, the families of Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, were used as passages of heaven to fulfill the kingdom of God, inheriting the covenant not because they were righteous, but because of God's grace.