Genesis 27:7
Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.'
Bring me some game
The phrase "bring me some game" reflects the cultural and historical context of the patriarchal era, where hunting was a common practice for sustenance and a demonstration of skill and provision. The Hebrew word for "game" is "צַיִד" (tsayid), which refers to hunted animals. This request by Isaac to Esau underscores the importance of the firstborn's role in providing for the family and the father's reliance on his son to fulfill this duty. It also sets the stage for the unfolding drama of Jacob's deception, highlighting the human tendency to rely on physical means to secure blessings.

prepare me a delicious meal
The preparation of a "delicious meal" signifies more than just physical nourishment; it is a ceremonial act that precedes the giving of a blessing. The Hebrew word "מַטְעַמִּים" (mat'amim) translates to "delicacies" or "savory food," indicating a meal prepared with care and intention. This reflects the cultural significance of meals in ancient Near Eastern traditions, where sharing food was an act of fellowship and covenant. The meal becomes a pivotal element in the narrative, symbolizing the transfer of blessing and the intimate bond between father and son.

to eat
The act of eating in this context is not merely about satisfying hunger but is deeply symbolic of communion and the sealing of a blessing. In biblical times, eating together was a sign of agreement and unity. The Hebrew verb "אָכַל" (akal) means "to eat" and often carries connotations of fellowship and covenantal relationships. Isaac's desire to eat before blessing Esau underscores the gravity of the moment and the sacredness of the blessing about to be imparted.

so that I may bless you
The phrase "so that I may bless you" reveals the purpose behind Isaac's request. The Hebrew word for "bless" is "בָּרַךְ" (barak), which means to confer prosperity, success, and divine favor. In the patriarchal context, a father's blessing was a powerful and binding pronouncement that shaped the future of the recipient. This blessing was not just a wish for well-being but a prophetic declaration believed to be backed by God's authority. Isaac's intention to bless Esau highlights the importance of the firstborn's inheritance and the spiritual significance of paternal blessings.

in the presence of the LORD
The phrase "in the presence of the LORD" indicates that the blessing is not merely a human transaction but one that is witnessed and sanctioned by God. The Hebrew term "לִפְנֵי יְהוָה" (lifnei Yahweh) means "before the LORD," emphasizing the divine oversight and involvement in the blessing process. This acknowledgment of God's presence underscores the sacredness of the act and the belief that the blessing carries divine approval and power. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and the patriarchs, where God's promises and purposes are central.

before I die
The phrase "before I die" reflects Isaac's awareness of his mortality and the urgency to pass on the blessing. The Hebrew word "מוּת" (muth) means "to die," and its use here underscores the transitional moment in Isaac's life. This impending transition highlights the continuity of God's covenant through generations and the importance of securing the future through the blessing. Isaac's desire to bless Esau before his death reveals the weight of responsibility he feels to ensure the continuation of God's promises through his lineage.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaac
The patriarch of the family, Isaac is the son of Abraham and the father of Esau and Jacob. In this chapter, he intends to bless his elder son, Esau, before his death.

2. Esau
The elder son of Isaac, known for his skill in hunting. He is the intended recipient of Isaac's blessing, which was a significant event in the Hebrew tradition.

3. Jacob
The younger son of Isaac, who, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives Isaac to receive the blessing meant for Esau.

4. Rebekah
The wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob. She plays a crucial role in the deception of Isaac to ensure Jacob receives the blessing.

5. The Blessing
A significant event in the Hebrew tradition, where the patriarch would confer favor and prophetic words over his children, often determining the future leadership and inheritance within the family.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
Isaac's intention to bless Esau, despite God's earlier revelation to Rebekah, highlights the need for spiritual discernment and alignment with God's will.

The Consequences of Deception
Jacob and Rebekah's deception, though it achieved the desired outcome, led to long-term family strife and separation, teaching us that deceit can have lasting negative consequences.

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
While God's purposes ultimately prevail, the actions of individuals still carry weight and consequences. We must strive to align our actions with God's revealed will.

The Value of a Blessing
In the biblical context, a blessing was more than words; it was a prophetic declaration of God's favor and purpose. We should seek to understand and value the spiritual blessings God offers us.

The Role of Parental Influence
Rebekah's influence on Jacob's actions shows the significant impact parents can have on their children's spiritual and moral decisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of Isaac, Esau, and Jacob in Genesis 27:7 illustrate the importance of seeking God's guidance in family decisions?

2. In what ways can the deception of Jacob and Rebekah serve as a warning for us in our personal and spiritual lives?

3. How does the concept of blessing in Genesis 27 relate to the spiritual blessings mentioned in Ephesians 1:3?

4. What lessons can we learn from the relationship between Isaac and his sons about the impact of favoritism within families?

5. How can we apply the principle of God's sovereignty and human responsibility, as seen in the account of Jacob and Esau, to our own lives and decisions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 25:23
This verse provides context for the events in Genesis 27, as God tells Rebekah that the older will serve the younger, foreshadowing Jacob's eventual receipt of the blessing.

Hebrews 12:16-17
This passage warns against being like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright, highlighting the spiritual implications of despising one's inheritance.

Romans 9:10-13
Paul references Jacob and Esau to illustrate God's sovereign choice, emphasizing that God's purposes are not based on human actions but on His calling.
A Lie not Permitted to ManGenesis 27:6-10
Ahead of ProvidenceJ. G. Wilson.Genesis 27:6-10
Crooked Measures to Obtain a Worthy ObjectA. Fuller.Genesis 27:6-10
God Will not have His Kingdom Maintained by Carnal PolicyGurnall, WilliamGenesis 27:6-10
Rebekah's Cunning Plot in Favour of JacobT. H. Leale.Genesis 27:6-10
Use of Unscrupulous Meals by Religious PersonsM. Dods, D. D.Genesis 27:6-10
People
Esau, Haran, Heth, Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Rebekah
Places
Beersheba, Haran
Topics
Bless, Blessing, Bring, Death, Die, Dish, Eat, Full, Game, Meal, Meat, Prepare, Presence, Provision, Roe's, Savory, Savoury, Tasteful, Tasty, Venison
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 27:7

     5187   taste

Genesis 27:1-25

     4438   eating

Genesis 27:1-29

     5095   Jacob, life

Genesis 27:3-19

     5268   cooking

Genesis 27:5-17

     5719   mothers, responsibilities

Genesis 27:5-19

     5920   pretence

Genesis 27:6-10

     8753   favouritism

Genesis 27:6-12

     5589   trap

Genesis 27:6-29

     8716   dishonesty, examples

Library
There is a Great Question About Lying, which Often Arises in the Midst Of...
1. There is a great question about Lying, which often arises in the midst of our every day business, and gives us much trouble, that we may not either rashly call that a lie which is not such, or decide that it is sometimes right to tell a lie, that is, a kind of honest, well-meant, charitable lie. This question we will painfully discuss by seeking with them that seek: whether to any good purpose, we need not take upon ourselves to affirm, for the attentive reader will sufficiently gather from the
St. Augustine—On Lying

Epistle Lii. To Natalis, Bishop .
To Natalis, Bishop [1463] . Gregory to Natalis, Bishop of Salona. As though forgetting the tenour of former letters, I had determined to say nothing to your Blessedness but what should savour of sweetness: but, now that in your epistle you have recurred in the way of argumentation to preceding letters, I am once more compelled to say perhaps some things that I had rather not have said. For in defence of feasts your Fraternity mentions the feast of Abraham, in which by the testimony of Holy Scripture
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Letter xxxv. From Pope Damasus.
Damasus addresses five questions to Jerome with a request for information concerning them. They are: 1. What is the meaning of the words "Whosoever slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold"? (Gen. iv. 5.) 2. If God has made all things good, how comes it that He gives charge to Noah concerning unclean animals, and says to Peter, "What God hath cleansed that call not thou common"? (Acts x. 15.) 3. How is Gen. xv. 16, "in the fourth generation they shall come hither again," to be reconciled
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Touching Jacob, However, that which He did at his Mother's Bidding...
24. Touching Jacob, however, that which he did at his mother's bidding, so as to seem to deceive his father, if with diligence and in faith it be attended to, is no lie, but a mystery. The which if we shall call lies, all parables also, and figures designed for the signifying of any things soever, which are not to be taken according to their proper meaning, but in them is one thing to be understood from another, shall be said to be lies: which be far from us altogether. For he who thinks this, may
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Conflict.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
(Spring, a.d. 29.) Subdivision C. The Twelve Try to Row Back. Jesus Walks Upon the Water. ^A Matt. XIV. 22-36; ^B Mark VI. 45-56; ^D John VI. 15-21. ^d 15 Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone. [Jesus had descended to the plain to feed the multitude, but, perceiving this mistaken desire of the people, he frustrated it by dismissing his disciples and retiring by himself into the mountain.] ^a
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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