Genesis 27:23

Genesis 27:23 says, And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.  Rebekah and Jacob were successful in getting Isaac to bless Jacob instead of Esau.  Again, we could say that they just did what God had said was going to happen, but I don't believe that God expects us to use deceit and trickery to accomplish His purpose.  Some would even say that everything happened just as it did because God caused it to happen that way, but then we remove personal responsibility and free will from the events.  Verse twenty-four says, And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.  Isaac gave Jacob another chance to tell the truth, but Jacob lied.  Deceptions and outright lies seem to go together.  Verse twenty-five adds, And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.  Isaac asked Jacob to bring the food to him so that he might eat and his soul might bless Jacob, whom he thought was Esau.  Isaac was doing nothing wrong in wanting to bless Esau.  Even if Esau was Isaac's favorite, as the first born, it was his birthright.  Even if we don't like the way things are done legally, we are not allowed to use any method necessary to get around them.  Still, if the law of man contradicts the law of God, we should stand firmly against it and not look for ways around it.  Jacob also brought Isaac wine to drink, possibly hoping to make his senses even duller.  Verse twenty-six states, And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.  Isaac once again asked Jacob to come near and kiss him.  Isaac was still trying to decide whether this was really Esau or not.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And he came near, and kissed him: 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:  Again, the plan of deception was successful.  Rebekah had thought of everything, but not only was she deceiving Isaac by her plan, she was also cheating Esau.  Even if we successfully deceive someone, they and possibly others will be harmed.  Verse twenty-eight declares, Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:  Then verse twenty-nine adds,  Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.  This was the actual blessing bestowed on Jacob.  Isaac asked that God give Jacob success and that other people bow down to, or serve, him.  Though God would indeed bless Jacob, we cannot expect that He will bless us if we deal dishonestly with those around us in order to profit materially.  Verse thirty declares, And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.  Jacob had barely left before Esau returned.  Verse thirty-one adds, And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.  Esau had simply been obedient to Isaac.  He had killed a deer, prepared the stew and brought it to Isaac.  We need to make sure that we never attempt to deceive and cheat anyone, but especially other Christians who are doing what our heavenly father leads them to do.  Verse thirty-two states, And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.  Once again Isaac asked who this was, and Esau told him truthfully who he was.  Esau had really done nothing wrong, unless we go back to selling his birthright.  Sometimes, even if we have done nothing wrong, we may be cheated in life, but hopefully it will never be by another Christian.  Verse thirty-three declares, And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.  Isaac was upset and confused, but the blessing he had given could not be taken back.  We today might say that Isaac should have just nullified the blessing on Jacob and given it to Esau instead, but it just didn't work that way then.  When a person gave a blessing before God it could not be taken back.  The same should be true of our promises to God today.