Esau Loses Blessing: Exiled

God Blesses and Recreates

A Troubled Birth

Genesis 27:30-40 The Message 

30-31 And then right after Isaac had blessed Jacob and Jacob had left, Esau showed up from the hunt. He also had prepared a hearty meal. He came to his father and said, “Let my father get up and eat of his son’s game, that he may give me his personal blessing.”
32 His father Isaac said, “And who are you?”
“I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Isaac started to tremble, shaking violently. He said, “Then who hunted game and brought it to me? I finished the meal just now,before you walked in. And I blessed him—he’s blessed for good!”
34 Esau, hearing his father’s words, sobbed violently and most bitterly, and cried to his father, “My father! Can’t you also bless me?”
35 “Your brother,” he said, “came here falsely and took your blessing.”
36 Esau said, “Not for nothing was he named Jacob, the Heel. Twice now he’s tricked me: firsthe took my birthright and now he’s taken my blessing.”
He begged, “Haven’t you kept back any blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered Esau, “I’ve made him your master, and all his brothers his servants, and lavished grain and wine on him. I’ve given it all away. What’s left for you, my son?”
38 “But don’t you have just one blessing for me, Father? Oh, bless me myfather! Bless me!” Esau sobbed inconsolably.
39-40 Isaac said to him,
You’ll live far from Earth’s bounty,
    remote from Heaven’s dew.
You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth,
    and you’ll serve your brother.
But when you can’t take it anymore
    you’ll break loose and run free.

For Reflection

Here we have a story where the patriarch, Isaac acts contrary to God's prediction, Esau, the firstborn wants his birthright even though he has no real interest in it, and his brother driven by greed conspires with his Mother to steal the inheritance, thus fulfilling God's prediction.

Both sons suffered immensely Jacob and Esau finally reconciled. Jacob repented and became the founder of Israel and Esau the founder of Edom. God's promise was fulfilled.

This is a story of the evolutional process of God's intention for humanity.  If one reads only the first part of the story, one has difficulty seeing the will of God at work.  It is difficult to see God's intention in the midst of the moments of suffering.  But in the end, all that has transpired turns to good.

 "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4)

Pray

Pray so that you develop confidence in God even when the outcomes are difficult to predict.  Pray so that you will be able to see more clearly the intention of God in the pleasure and pain  of everyday life.

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