Overruled

The day prior to Halloween in 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre deceived the United States. They performed a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds,” transforming the four decade old novel into fake news bulletins dramatizing a Martian invasion of Earth.

The broadcast was too realistic, with the actors’ voices and sound effects convincing listeners that the bulletins were genuine. Confusion and fear led to phone calls to the police, newspaper offices, and radio stations. Though not his intent, Welles created nationwide hysteria.

On Halloween morning, Welles’ face and name were on the front page of newspapers from east to west coast, in addition to headlines declaring the mass panic resulting from his broadcast. The public was furious, and Welles believed he ruined his career. He quickly appeared before dozens of newsreel cameramen, photographers, and reporters to clarify his motivation.

To this day, there are debates as to whether the response to Welles’ broadcast was innocent or intentional. Nevertheless, he gained the attention of the general public and earned the notorious reputation of being an inventive storyteller and trickster. Welles’ broadcast is considered one of the greatest media hoaxes of all time.

The biblical Jacob was also quite the trickster. He could be deceitful and dishonest. Jacob knew how to manipulate events to his advantage. Jacob perceived opportunity with his father’s advanced age. He acquiesced to his mother’s favoritism by allowing her to help in his trickery. Goat meat would be made to taste like venison. Goatskin would be made to feel like human hair. His father was suspicious, and Jacob spoke multiple lies in response.

Normally, other senses are heightened when a person’s sight is failing. Not only Isaac’s five senses but also his common sense appear dulled. God told Rebekah that He had chosen Jacob, which she almost certainly must have conveyed to Isaac. Yet he denied what he knew to be God’s plan in seeking to bless Esau, who already profanely sold his birthright (having no regard for spiritual things, and therefore should be rejected from receiving the patriarchal blessing). Everyone involved was at fault.

When none seek God’s will, the result will be greater conflict and increased tensions. Deception and favoritism are never pleasing to God. Genesis 27 emphasizes the consequences of choices, in addition to giving reminders of personal failures and frailties. Nevertheless, the blessing of God can be given to people who are not anticipating it and are unworthy—sometimes in the most unusual manner.

God still overrules human sin and weakness, and can even use those failures and frailties to accomplish His purposes, for the good of His people and for His glory. Hebrews 11:20 indicates that God used Isaac to achieve His objectives, even with all the bitterness and deception involved. Nevertheless, self-examination of actions and thoughts needing change and then following through, would be a great and valid response to the revelation of Genesis 27. There is never justification for using sinful actions and the wrong motivation to accomplish what is proper and right.

SOVEREIGN PURPOSE

(Gen 27:1-29) Isaac had a carnivorous appetite (25:28), which is not particularly surprising. His intent to give the patriarchal blessing to Esau is startling, principally in consideration of God’s choice (v. 23) and Esau already despising his birthright (vv. 29-34), and whose unbelieving wives caused much vexation (26:34-35). Near the end of his life (27:1-2), Isaac appears to have rejected godly thinking and spiritual wisdom, and prioritized manliness and savory foods (vv. 3-4; cf. 25:27-28).

Rebekah should have confronted Isaac regarding his intent to bless Esau, as opposing to yielding to cunningness and deceit (vv. 5-10, 15-17). Jacob should have rebuked her plot, yet hesitated only on the basis that he might fail to achieve the goal and receive a curse instead of a blessing (vv. 11-12, 14). Rebekah carelessly invited the curse upon herself if discovered (v. 13). Always distinguish between right and wrong, as opposed to the pragmatic spirit of doing whatever is expedient.

What is repulsing in all the scheming is considering the blessing as magical, in the sense that God’s will and wisdom could be dismissed. Isaac would give the blessing to the son that God chose, and then would tremble violently (v. 33) when recognizing that the Lord’s purposes cannot be opposed. Isaac’s motivation for wanting to bless Esau as opposed to Jacob, suggests that he was primarily interested in his older son’s hunting skills and manly attributes rather than the food itself. He obviously intended to circumvent God’s decree that the “older shall serve the younger” (25:23). Isaac was rejecting spiritual wisdom in favor of humanistic ideas of power and strength.

Jacob and Rebekah were sensitive and spiritually minded, yet believed contradictorily that deception was less sinful than allowing God’s holy promises to be given to one who regarded it profanely and in defiance of the Lord’s will. They may have thought it necessary to act deceitfully, to prevent God’s certain and severe judgment upon Isaac and Esau for not giving and receiving the blessing as He intended. Jacob may have justified his deceit (27:18-26) as for a righteous cause, knowing that God wanted him to receive the patriarchal blessing. The deception was motivated by pragmatism as opposed to integrity. Regardless, the Lord does not ever approve of the rationale to be deceptive, false, or scheming to achieve what someone believes God intends to accomplish collectively or personally (vv. 18-29). Deception to pursue what one believes is a righteous cause is wrong. God will judge motivations (1 Cor 4:5). Believers should constantly act with honor and integrity, trusting God’s will (in hope) regardless of the immediate outcome.

None of the four—Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau—were acting as healthy members of a family. For them not to trust each other was bad, yet not to have faith in God’s promise was infinitely worse. They not only manipulated and schemed against each other, but also were contrary to God Himself. None was praiseworthy, which proves the unmerited favor in God’s sovereign purposes.

Isaac’s blessing was formal and sacred (Gen 27:27-29). He blessed Jacob with abundance and authority. Despite the deceit involved, his blessing was binding legally and spiritually. One should note that Isaac’s words are not what made Jacob blessed, but it was the result of God choosing him prior to his and Esau’s birth (25:23). The sovereign will of God was accomplished despite relational failure. God’s purpose cannot be thwarted. Failures do not diminish God’s promises. Hope in perseverance is characteristic of faith (cf. Phil 3:12-14).

SOVEREIGN GRACE

(Gen 27:30-46) Esau arrived with the food from his hunt “as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob” (v. 30). “Then he also made savory food” (v. 31), and both he and his father were distressed to realize Jacob had deceptively received the blessing (vv. 32-33). Isaac “trembled violently,” because he knew it was sin to work against God’s intention to bless the younger Jacob. He did not attempt to reverse the blessing given to Jacob; instead, Isaac acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Isaac realized the foolishness and futility in resisting God’s will. His faith was demonstrated in stating of Jacob, “and he shall be blessed” (v. 33; cf. Heb 11:20).

Esau reacted with “an exceedingly great and bitter cry” (Gen 27:34). Isaac gave a lesser blessing to Esau, who valued the material as opposed to spiritual (vv. 36-40). Esau’s uplifted voice and weeping arose from his frustrated vanity and profane desires, as opposed to conviction of sin. His outcry was not with repentance; rather, it was an expression of resentful selfishness (cf. Heb 12:15-17). His anger and bitterness, arising from envy and pride, forced his brother to flee to save his life (Gen 27:41-42). Esau’s murderous intent reveals him to be like Cain, who was of the ungodly line of descendants (in contrast to the line of blessing regarding God’s covenant).

Isaac’s blessing was a form of last will and testament in patriarchal families. He was possibly 137 years old when the actions of Genesis 27 occurred. Esau “bore a grudge” to kill Jacob once his father died (v. 41), yet things would not occur as he desired. Esau believed “the days of mourning for” his father would be “near,” yet Isaac would live another 43 years.

Rebekah made plans for Jacob to live with her brother Laban until Esau’s anger subsided (vv. 43-45). She wanted Jacob’s departure to receive Isaac’s approval, by indicating how Esau’s wives had been troublesome (26:35; 27:46) and that it would be advantageous for Jacob to seek a wife elsewhere. The chapter ends with much discontent for the dysfunctional family. Jacob would depart nevertheless with the fullness of the Abrahamic blessing (28:1-4).

Each of the primary individuals in Genesis 27 maneuvered and schemed with human energy and wisdom, and rejected the wisdom and word of God. Nevertheless, the purpose of God would be accomplished. The suffering of each person is tragic, yet demonstrates what occurs when one acts in opposition to God’s will.

Genesis 27 reveals how God works mysteriously and unseen. God executed His plan for blessing solely because of His grace, and not any merit of the person. Recognizing the unremitting blessing and presence of God, is reason for obedience and worship. God’s grace is both amazing and surprising, yet precisely what every person so desperately needs.