Jacob's inheritance

Some Bible translations of Genesis 27 use the misleading title "Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing". Jacob "stealing" the blessing was an accusation, but not the truth. The accusation starts when Isaac explains to Esau why he could not bless him, as he defends himself with, “Your brother (Jacob) was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.” To which Esau exclaims to his father, "he (Jacob) has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing."

Esau and Jacob were twins, and the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Their grandfather was Abraham. When the twins were in their mother's womb, Rebekah, approached the Lord and asked “why am I like this?” and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are within you. Two peoples will be divided from your body. One will be stronger than the other. And the older will serve the younger.” (Gen 25:22)

Because of this prophecy, Rebekah always favored the younger twin, Jacob and it was her intention to ensure that Jacob receive the birthright. Jacob was well aware of the prophecy and how his mother was being led by the Lord.

Rebekah's own faith in the Lord was made manifest when she was chosen to be the wife of Isaac by Abraham's servant who said, "I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I gave honor and thanks to the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham. For the Lord had led me in the right way to take the daughter (Rebekah) for his son (Isaac)" (Gen 24:48).

Theologists often misinterpret Jacob's role in acquiring the family inheritance, by conveying him as a deceiver and a thief-- accusations that Jacob was actually worried about. Jacob approached his mother and said, “If my father... will think of me as one trying to fool him; then he will bring a curse upon me”.

But Rebekah, his mother who loved the Lord, reassured him, “The curse (if it should happen) will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say”. So Jacob followed through on his mother's directions to acquire not only the birthright (Gen 25:28), but the blessing (Gen. 27:13).

What he said to his father, was Jacob's mindset, “Because the Lord your God made it happen” (Gen 27:20) so as to fulfil the prophecy that his mother had always lived by, that Esau would serve his brother Jacob.

Jacob did not merely trick his bother out of his rights as firstborn. Esau did not cherish his birthright. He commented “what good is my birth-right to me?” (Gen 25:32) The *New Living Translation* says that Esau showed contempt for his rights as firstborn. Other translations say that Esau "hated", or "despised" his birthright (Gen 25:34). Esau even goes as far as to grieve his parents by marrying two Hittite women (Gen 26:34-25).

Abraham, Jacob and Esau's grandfather, had once said to his servant, "Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son (Isaac) to marry one of these local Canaanite women." (Gen 24:3). The Hittites were Canaanites who resided on the Phoenician coast. Abraham had his servant travel a far distance to find their mother, Rebekah.

Isaac did not reverse the blessing or apologize to Esau or say that he made a mistake. Esau was so angry that he told himself that once his father was dead, he would kill Jacob. His mother overheard Esau, so she arranged for Jacob to leave for her homeland of the Arameans. Rebekah exclaimed to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them” (Gen 27:41-46). Isaac blessed the arrangement for Jacob to marry someone from Rebekah's homeland. It became very clear to Esau that his father also did not like the local Canaanite women (Gen 28:1-9).

The passage at Genesis 28:7 says that Jacob obeyed his parents, in light of Abraham's covenant with God. He was not a deceiver, or a trickster as uninformed commentators make him out to be, by only focusing on the accusations of Genesis 27; and not taking into consideration the context of Genesis 24-31. God's promise to Abraham was extended to Jacob; and all of this was moved through Rebekah's faith in the Lord.

When he came to the place called Luz, Jacob had a dream in which the Lord visited him, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!” When Jacob awoke, he fixed a memorial pillar and made a vow to God, “If God will indeed be with me and protect me... then the Lord will certainly be my God.” He named the site Bethel (Gen 28:10-22).

Christian faith is strengthened by learning about the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Apostle Paul said, “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice... and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons” (Hebrews 11:17-21).