Genesis 27 gives us the account of the tale of two brothers – Jacob and Esau and how Jacob the supplanter, aided by his mother Rebekah, steals away not only the birthright of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, but also his blessings. This account starts out by stating that when Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, he could not see and at that time he called Esau his eldest son and told Esau “I am old and don’t know the day I would died, so make me my favorite dish of venison that you hunt and when I am satisfied after eating it, I will bless you before I die.”
First this account shows that Isaac was playing favorites between his children (Genesis 25:28) and despite his physical blindness, he was turning a blind eye to the fact that Esau his firstborn who had rights as his firstborn, had despised that birthright that entitled him to a double portion of his father’s blessings. Second, Isaac, turned a blind eye to the fact that Esau had married two Hittite women and that the blessings of God if given to Esau would not stay with God’s people as was covenanted with Abraham. Third, we also notice that Isaac took matters his his own hands and did not see that the God of his ancestors, who breathed life in man formed from dust, could keep him alive as long as God intended and instead of relying on God, predicted that he was going to die. Fourth, we can see that instead of hungering for the spiritual issues of life for his children as did his father for him by making sure that he did not take a worldly ungodly wife, Isaac focuses on meager venison to satisfy his physical hunger, in his old age. Fifth and most importantly, Isaac willfully chose to go against God’s plan, and turn a blind eye to God’s word given to Rebekah, that it would be the elder (Esau) who would serve the younger (Jacob) (Genesis 25:23). So in five instances, we can clearly see that though Isaac was blind physically, he was truly blind spiritually.
Isaac did not see that the one who despises their birthright is not entitled to the father’s blessings and that God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11).
Isaac did not see that the one who marries into the world systems (pagan wives) loses the privilege of being blessed as the one who follows God.
Isaac did not see that God is Sovereign and controls one’s lifespan.
Isaac did not see that satisfying his spiritual needs was more important that gratifying the fleshly hunger.
Isaac did not see that God’s word and plan would always come to pass and that he could not change what God intends and wills by hurrying things up.
Isaac was truly blind for he was blind spiritually.
Points to ponder:
What is noteworthy is that Isaac who was willing to be offered as a sacrifice in his younger days, who willingly waited for a godly wife from his own people, who was assured of God’s blessings, in his latter years, shows a decline in his faith. May this be a warning to each one of us, that we just don’t start well, but we end well as well and as Apostle Paul declared, may we be able to say at life’s end – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
Let us not turn a blind eye and :
- despise our right as children of God that we are granted when we believe and accept Jesus (John 1:12)
- be married to the worldly views and systems but let us focus on being the bride of Christ, submitting to him alone (James 4:4; Ephesians 5:22,23; 2 Corinthians 11:2)
- fail to recognize the Sovereignty of God over our lives, and in his hand is the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10)
- gratifying our fleshly lusts and physical hungers instead of satisfying the Spirit of God
and - take matters into our own hands, trying to circumvent and willfully go against God’s plan for our lives, but like Jesus did, let us willfully accept God’s will be done in our lives (Luke 22:42).
Let us not be truly blind.
Genesis 27:1-4 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
