Isaac’s Blessing Of His Sons

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau”

Bury St Edmunds Bible Class8th October 2008

Beginnings - struggle

Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her. …Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels

Genesis 25: 22-23

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5: 17

Beginnings - struggle

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you

Galatians 4:19

… when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7: 22, 23

Beginnings - order

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob.

Genesis 25: 24-25

Beginnings - order

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the lord from heaven.

1 Corinthians 15: 45-47

Who’s who - Jacob

• Names: Jacob - “he will heel” (Genesis 3:15)

Israel - “prince with God"• The perfect man (plain, upright, without blemish)

– The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. (Proverbs 29:10)

• Dwelling in tents (compare Hebrews 11: 9)

• Served for a wife, kept sheep (Hoses 12:12)

• A smooth man

Who’s who - Esau• Names: Esau - literally “they did” / “they

made”Edom - “red” (adamic/ground)

• A cunning hunter (as Nimrod, Genesis 10:9)• A man of the field - animal-like, “earthy”

– they were in the field … Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him (Genesis 4:8)

• Took wives of the daughters of Canaan: Hittite & Hivite (Genesis 36:2, compare Genesis 6:2)

• A fornicator, a profane person (Hebrews 12:16) • A hairy man

Who’s who - hairy EsauWhen a ruler hath sinned … he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it … it is a sin offering … the priest shall make an atonement for him

Leviticus 4: 22-24

Aaron … shall put on .. holy garments …and he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering …

Leviticus 16: 3-5

Who’s who - hairy EsauAnd he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, … the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness … And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities

Leviticus 16: 7-10, 22

Who’s who - hairy Esau… that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, … And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring.

Leviticus 17: 3-5, 7-10

Jacob & Esau - perspective

Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob

Genesis 25: 28

I loved Jacob and I hated EsauMalachi 1: 2-3

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel

Numbers 23: 8, 21

Obeying the commandmentNow therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee

Genesis 27: 8

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother

Proverbs 6:20

… the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Exodus 39:32

Blessing and curse

I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessingGenesis 27: 12

… Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ

Galatians 3: 10, 13For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5: 21

Jesus - obedience & perfection

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5: 7-10

A priest, like us

Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Genesis 14: 18

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4: 15

… after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest

Hebrews 7: 15

The son of God - in the fleshGod sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh

Romans 8: 3But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman

Galatians 4: 4-5… we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death

Hebrews 2: 9Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit

1 Peter 3:18

Jesus - made like his brethren

… as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;… in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2: 14,17

The acceptable offering

… Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me … Lo, I come to do thy will … we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10: 5,7,10

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5: 2

Two responses to God

… and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed

Genesis 27: 27

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God …

Hebrews 6: 7

Two responses to God

… but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Hebrews 6: 8

Esau … afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Hebrews 12: 16,17

Obedient to the father’s will

I have done according as thou badest meGenesis 27: 19

I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do

John 17: 4Christ Jesus … took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2: 7-11

Blessings for obedienceLet people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee.

Genesis 27: 29,37I will declare thy name unto my brethren … all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him … A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psa 22: 22,29,30

Made Lord & ChristBehold, I have made him thy lord

Genesis 27: 37God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2: 36God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, … and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2: 9-11

Esau’s blessing in Jacob’s

Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Genesis 27: 28

Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above

Genesis 27: 39

Edom blessed in Israel… I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob… I will sift the house of Israel among all nations… that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Amos 9: 8,9,12God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name …That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Acts 15: 14, 17

Who is this?

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who?

Genesis 27: 33

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

Isaiah 63: 1-2

Jesus Christ, & sinners, typifiedJacob• A priest (like Melchizedek)

– Made like his brethren, by his mother– Brought savoury flesh, bread & wine to his father– Wore the best garments, provided for him– Had a pleasing smell – Came near, as the son, to the father

• A perfect sin offering: flesh & hairiness of goats• Did father’s will; obeyed mother; received blessing • Made lord over his brethren, who will bow to him• People & nations will serve & bow before himEsau• Disobedience brings life by sword, broken yoke; rejection• Yet sons of Edom (men) are blessed in Abraham’s seed

Summary

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Hebrews 11: 20