Genesis 27:14-24 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.… Although the prediction of the fact did not entitle her or her son to bring about its fulfilment, yet it makes some slight difference in the case. For we see even now that when a nation or a man once feels that it is "manifest destiny" to do a certain thing — predetermined — he feels free to do that thing, no matter how unjust it is. We see the same delusion in a thousand other cases. Shakespeare recognizes it in the great drama of "Macbeth." The prediction, "Thou shalt be king hereafter," did not justify the murder, but it seemed to give to it a certain supernatural countenance, marshalling the murderer the way that he was going. If this can be the case when the supernatural soliciting comes from below, how much more strong when it was felt to come from above — from God Himself! Then remember, besides, that there was something not altogether evil in Jacob's passionate coveting of the birthright. For it was a sacred good, and eagerly to appreciate it as he did was itself a sign of some fitness for it; while to despise it as Esau did marked the man as unworthy of it. (A. G. Mercer.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. |
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