November 21, 2024 • 42 mins
# 35 - Jacob & The Stolen Blessing - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, Jacob, with his mother's help, deceives his father Isaac to steal the blessing meant for his brother Esau. This episode unfolds a powerful narrative of family conflict, deceit, and divine destiny, reminding us that even in the midst of human imperfection, God's plans prevail.
Episode 35 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
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Show Notes:
(01:22) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:27) Jacob & The Stolen Blessing
(27:54) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Two nations are in your room. Two people will come
from you and be separated. One people will be stronger
than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Esau was a bare, large, hairy, and strong, living by instinct. Jacob, however,
was a cat, smooth, controlled, and cunning. Unlike his brother,
Jacob craved more than sustenance. He sought influence, wealth and power.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Give me some red read. I am starving for your dessy.
I have made it for you, dear brother, but I
won't give it for free. What do you want? I'll
give you this stew for Oh, you're both right. Your
status as the firstborn son.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
He saw sold you his birthright. What do you mean
for what price?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You know as well as I do that this family
is doomed, and he saws hangs. I'm doing you our herdsman,
workers and craftsmen a favor. What are you scheming, my son,
Nothing you haven't already thought.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Of of mother.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
In the shadows of his blindness, Isaac's blessing falls not
on the firstborn, but on the schemer, cloaked in deceit. Celloh,
my friends, from here in the Holy Land, of Israel
I'mya l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Welcome to the Chosen People. Let's begin in the twilight
(01:46):
of a father's life. As his sight grows dim and
his whispered words hold great meaning. There unfolds a tale
of longing and deceit, a story of ambition and desperation.
The echo of a mother's voice shape's destiny, and a
brother's cunning hand reaches for what's not his to hold.
(02:07):
How Dewy defined justice in a world where deception masquerades
as truth. Prepare your hearts, my friends, for this is
the story of Genesis twenty seven one to forty six,
the story of Jacob and Esau, the story of the
stolen blessing.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
My dear Iseul, come here, my son.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Come. Esau stepped lightly and knelt at his father's bedside.
He observed his shaking hand reaching out to him, and
the folked gaze of age. The eyes that had beheld
the wonders of God were dimming. Years had not been
kind to Isaac's body. Isaac held out his hand and
(02:56):
touched Esau's arm. It was coarse with hair than tough.
Isaac held it firmly.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
Here, I am, my son. I do not know the
day of my death, but I do know my days
are numbered. I don't want to spend what little time
I have left eating dried lentils and almonds. Take your
(03:23):
quiver and bow and hunt me some game. Go and
make me that delicious stew, the one with the meat
and the barley, something hardy for these weak bones of mine.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, Father, I will kill a deer for you, and
we will eat together.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I would love nothing more. When you return and bring
me my meal, I shall give you a final blessing,
the blessing of my father Abraham.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Esau's eyes glistened with hope. His unfortunate deal with Jacob
had left him wondering if he had lost all his privileges.
The first born, Yet, Isaac was determined to give his
favorite son anything he could. Esau ran out of the
tent to retrieve his bow. Each stride was heavy with joy.
(04:22):
He did not see Rebecca standing at the entrance, her
eyes sharp and calculating, My sweet.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
And foolish Esau, my innocent and loving Isaac. Neither of
you understand what these blessings mean.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Rebeccah had watched Isaac's resources multiply without effort, and witnessed
him narrowly escape peril. Isaac walked like a man touched
by the Creator himself, but knew nothing about how to
leverage such a blessing. She knew their family needed a
steward of cunning and ambition, someone who could harness such
(04:58):
blessings and turn them into tangible power. With a determined step,
she moved towards Jacob's tent.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
This family needs a wiser steward, or else how will
it reach its full potential.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Ambition and cunning were Rebecca's hidden traits. To her, the
only way you could truly be ambitious and cunning was
to keep such things hidden, something her son Jacob had
yet to learn from her. He soon would. Rebecca softly
stepped away from Isaac's tent and sauntered to Jacob. Jacob
(05:34):
was in his tent, sitting with his legs crossed, fiddling
with a small box he'd made for his tools.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Now is the time for you to tell me your plans.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Jacob turned to his mother and gave a wry smile.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
What plans, mother, My only plans are to do the
will of my Lord father and his God.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
No games, Jacob, tell me what you've been scheming.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I don't scheme, I prepare. Scheming makes me sound so villainous.
I love this family and I would never jeopardize it
for my own gain. You know, father and Esau have
treated me like an ishmaelite ever since I bought Esau's birthright.
But that's only because they don't see the bigger picture.
I love my brother, but he's a brute, and if
(06:22):
this family is going to survive into the next generation,
I need to see enough.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Jacob, I understand all this before you is an opportunity,
but you need to listen to me.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Rebecca leaned in closely and met her son eye to eye.
Her gaze was knowing and intense, reflecting the same spark
of opportunity that Jacob had. They were the same, bonded
by blood and ambition.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I just overheard your father. He sent Esau on a hunt.
When he returns with food, your father plans on blessing
him with the blessing.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Of course, Esaw is father's favorite, even though I have
the birthright, he would never yield the blessing to me.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
True, but what if he didn't know it was you?
Go on, go into the flock and bring me two
young goats. I'll prepare a delicious stew for your father,
that kind with a wild barley. He loves. Oh, he's
too old to know the difference between a goat and
a stag. I could feed him moss, and I doubt
he'd recognize it. Bring him the stew and disguise your
(07:28):
voice as Esau's. He'll think it's him and give you
the blessing.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's an interesting plan, but I fear there are some holes. First,
I was able to take Esau's birthright through a handshake.
That way, nobody can say I stole it. If I
do this, then I risk the eye of my father
and my brother. Secondly, my brother is harry as a bear.
(07:53):
What if Father reaches from me and feels my smooth skin,
He'll know I'm mocking him, and I'll get a curse
instead of a blessing.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
You won't be cursed, Jacob, And if a curse comes,
let it befall me instead of you. Trust your mother
and go fetch those goats.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Jacob paused and looked at his mother. Her chin was
slightly tilted upward and her shoulders were rolled back She
was a force of a woman. Jacob loved his mother,
but moments like these also made him fear her. Jacob
went to the flocks and retrieved two goats. All the
(08:31):
while he daydreamed about what it would be like to
follow the line of Abraham and Isaac. He fantasized about expansion, power,
and prominence. He imagined a lovely bride at his side,
with seven sons at his beck and core. He imagined
the heavens opening before his lush and vibrant land, and
(08:53):
God Most High bestowing favor upon him. In all his dreams,
he never thought of Esau. He didn't consider him at all.
Jacob brought the goats to his mother. They skinned and
butchered them. Rebecca was careful to preserve the goat's coarse hair.
She laid it out on the tanning table, drying and
(09:15):
smoothing it like fine fabric. After preparing the stew, Rebecca
brought some of Esau's garments and dressed Jacob.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Remember when you bring your father his stew, disguise your voice.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Are you sure this will work? What if he feels me,
my son?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Have you learned nothing from me? I swear you're as
dull as your brother sometimes think things through.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Rebecca grabbed the goatskins and carefully wrapped them around Jacob's
hands and neck. Jacob's eyes widened and he laughed.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
I should have known this is brilliant.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Don't laugh. This isn't funny or brilliant. It's important you
who been toying with this idea of being the favorite son.
But have you thought about what it means if you are.
Have you thought about the responsibilities and the weight of
such a mantle. Your father is dull, yes, but he's
responsible and takes his birthright seriously. When you go in there,
(10:20):
do not play like a child. Be a man and
seize what's yours and when you finally have it, except
whatever comes after with courage. Yes, mother, good boy, Now go.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Jacob entered loudly. He couldn't afford to be timid. He
had to be esil lumbering, straightforward and loud. He looked
down at Isaac, who was lounging in his bed, staring
at the flickering lamp beside him.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
My father, here I am. But who are you, Esau?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
You're first born Esaw.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yes, I have done and you told me and killed
deer eat my game and bless me.
Speaker 6 (11:10):
You hunted the game so quickly?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
How Jacob paused, throat tight, jaw clenched. He knew what
he was about to say was wrong. Evoking the name
he was about to evoke came with weight.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
God Most High gave me success.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
God most High, you say, come here, my son, Come
come close so I may touch your arm. I'm having
a bit of trouble believing it's really you.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Jacob nervously stepped forward. He feared that Rebeccah had underestimated Isaac.
Isaac's trembling hand reached out and felt the goatskin wrapped
around Jacob's hands. His foggy eyes were wide with surprise.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
Jacob's voice, but Esau's hands, Are you truly my son, Esau?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There was that term again, my son Esau. No matter
what Jacob did or contributed to the family, Esau would
always be his son. Isaac's favoritism affected Jacob in ways
he wasn't even aware of. It was burrowed like a
worm in the depths of his heart, slowly eroding his potential.
(12:31):
Jacob was determined to rid himself of it all. If
he couldn't have his father's love, he would be content
with his blessing and resources. With a final word, Jacob replied.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I am Esau.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
Then bring me the game you prepared. I would like
to eat my son's game and bless him.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Jacob handed him the bowl and barley loaf. As Isaac
ate Jacob, his father's enthusiasm for the meal was almost pathetic.
He saw Isaac's frailty, the once mighty patriarch reduced to
this vulnerable state. His body had grown soft with age,
(13:16):
no doubt, from days of sitting nights of second helpings.
His beard was unkempt, and his brows were like frayed twine.
It was hard for Jacob to believe that God's greatness
could be upon him. Jacob couldn't see the inner world
beyond the frail, portly exterior. Behind those failing eyes lay
(13:37):
a soul of unwavering faith, a man who trusted God's providence.
Jacob's journey would be marked with lessons. Having a childlike
faith like his father would be one of them.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
Well done, he saw, well done. I am satisfied. Now
it is time to prophesy and to offer you the
same blessing as my father offered me. Come here and kiss.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Me, my son.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Jacob leaned forward and kissed his father on the head.
Isaac smiled and nodded his head.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Ah, yes, you smell like Esau. You are a man
of the wilderness. May God give you the doo of heaven,
the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine.
May people and.
Speaker 7 (14:37):
Nations bow down to you and serve you. You will
be lord over your brothers, and your mother's son will
bend a knee to you.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Jacob tried not to WinCE at the words. He was
robbing Esau of this blessing and saving himself from bow
a knee to his brother, a prize worth almost as
much as the status.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Curse it be everyone who curses you, and blessed be
everyone who blesses you.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Isaac removed his hand from Jacob's head and released a
content sigh.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
There you are, my son, Esau, go in peace. Let
this old man rest his bones.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Jacob said nothing. He bowed his head and left with
heavy steps. When he exited the tent, he let out
a sigh of relief, guilt, and excitement. He looked at
his hands and ripped off the goat skin. They were
trembling shaking with a mixture of shame and satisfaction, Isaac
(15:52):
leaned back and looked around the inside of his blurry,
undefined tent. Losing his sight had provided him with more
attention to turn inwards. To the best of his ability,
he assessed what had just happened. All of his working
senses had told him that it was Esau, but he
couldn't shake the feeling that something else had happened. The
(16:14):
suspicion didn't bother Isaac things rarely did. Instead, Isaac felt
the premonition that whoever had just received this blessing was
the recipient of something greater than his own. Whatever was
stated would truly come to pass. Isaac was sure of it.
The lids of his eyes grew heavy, and Isaac blissfully
(16:37):
fell asleep, bellyful and heart content. This moment of peace
was swiftly interrupted by heavy steps.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Father, I have come back with meat, eat, and bless me.
What is this about?
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Who are you?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
It is me, sire, your firstborn, I brought food.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Isaac's body trembled with rage and confusion.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
If if, if you were my son, Esau, then who
was it that brought me my meal? Who came before you.
Who did I just bless you?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Was not me for father, you h you have made
a mistake.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
A mistake. No, I don't believe it was. I did
not intend to bless anyone but you, Esau. But it
was not a mistake. He shall be blessed. Yes, the
blessing remains a prophecy. No, no, no, please, Father, I
(17:43):
can't bear this life without your blessing.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Esau's large frame shook with grief as he groveled on
his knees in front of Riser.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I am sorry, my son. Your brother came deceitfully and
took your blessing away. The promise has been given to Jacob.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Esau's hairy and large body convulsed with a mixture of
rage and sorrow. He continued to shake his head in disbelief.
It was all coming into focus for him. Jacob's play
at his birthright was only the beginning. He wasn't after resource.
Jacob wanted to usurb Esau altogether.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Can you still bless me?
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Esau reached for Isaac's hand, but it was pulled away
and he turned his head. Esau clenched his fist and
pounded the floor.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
That snake, you were right to name him Jacob. He's
auch aceiver, He's jenner ate rice.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Esau stood and kicked over a pot, he scrubbling rage.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
He turned to his again, is there anything for me?
What do I have?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Now?
Speaker 6 (19:07):
I have made Jacob lord over you. He will have
the servants, the livestock, the grain, and the winden. What
left would I have for you?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
My son, he saw, wasn't a clever man like his brother.
He lived with his belly and whims. He was impatient
or creative. He was an honest brute. He wore his
confusion and frustration. He bowed again, asking his father the
same question, as if there would be a different answer.
(19:42):
Tears rolled down his rugged face. If Isac could see anything,
it would be a pitiful sight.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Who you have at least one las thing for me?
Speaker 6 (19:57):
Love him? Away from the fatness of the earth your
dwelling will be. You will be distant from the door
of heaven. You will live by the sword and serve
your brother. When you grow restless, you shall break his
(20:18):
yoke from your neck and move on.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
The words were a final seal, a decisive declaration that
Jacob was now the inheritor of Isaac's promise. Passed down
from Abraham through Jacob, the blessing of God most High
would endure.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
Ah.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
I you will hunt and kill him like the stag.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Esau stormed out of the tent and looked around, his
eyes narrowed with a hunter's intensity. He grabbed his bow
and arrow, searching frantically for his twin.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Jacob one, calm out your cold.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
You the.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
You don.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Esaor drew out his blade and cut his hand. He
raised his fist to the air, blood dripping from his palm,
down his arm and onto the dirt.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
When father is gone and I put him in the dirt.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I will have my revens.
Speaker 6 (21:39):
I will kill that trest tardy.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Leaning on a beam beside the tent was Rebecca. Her
eyes widened with panic. She fled to the edge of
the hills near the pastures where Jacob would often wander
to think. She had to warn him before it was
too late. It was late, and the faint glow of
(22:04):
dusk dissolved, giving way to the brilliance of the night sky.
Jacob couldn't stop trembling. His calm, cool demeanor was replaced
by an anxious excitement, or perhaps excited anxiety. Jacob wasn't
sure which. His body all of a sudden seemed foreign
to him. He felt as if he were still wearing
(22:25):
the clothes of another man, and they didn't quite fit.
Speaker 8 (22:29):
Not yet.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
What Now? I have the birthright and the blessing? But
what do I do with them? Where do I go
from here?
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Jacob heard stories of Abraham's encounters with God most High.
He remembered hearing tales by the fire, sagas of visions,
angelic visitations, and meteors falling from the sky.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Will you show me yourself? Will you speak with me
as you did with my forefathers?
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Jacob gazed at the stars longingly, awaiting an answer. The
reeds rustled softly to the breeze. The faint scent of
jasmine wafted up. Jacob breathed it all in, sure that
he would hear something. Then, cutting through the silence, he
heard a voice Jacob. Jacob felt violated by the sound
(23:26):
of his mother's voice. Annoyed, he turned back and shouted,
what is it?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
This is my place to think, mother? What are you
doing here?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Esau knows he is beside himself.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I suppose we should have expected that. I'm sure he'll
hate me for a time and didn't find comfort in
the arms of his Hittite bride.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
He's finding comfort in his plans to kill you what
heesaw would never He's made a vow to kill you, Jacob.
I heard it.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Panic jabbed at Jacob's legs. He was shaking, agitated, ready
to run.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
What do I do?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Mother? What do I do? Mother? What do I do? Mother?
Tell me what to do?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Flee to Laban, my brother in heron. You can stay
with him until your brother's fury does Maybe with time
he'll forget what you've done to him.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
To come this far and to have it end with
me fleeing like a dog. It just doesn't seem right.
Should I just stay and fight him?
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You think you can fight that man.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
He may be a bear, but I am no lamb.
We're twins, and I have just as much fight in
my bones as he does.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Out of the question, I won't be bereft of both
of you. Go to Laban. I will send word to
you when I feel it safe.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Jacob looked past Rebecca's shoulder and down to camp torches
illuminated the quiet, serene atmosphere. Household members prepared the meals.
Children danced around the lamp stands, and the faint sound
of liars hummed along side crickets. It was all his,
but he couldn't have it.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
He had to flee. Will it be here when when
I return?
Speaker 4 (25:10):
If the promise made to Abraham stands.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
It will Jacob wrapped his mother in his arms. They
remained locked and embraced for a long while, knowing that
there was a chance it was their last time seeing
each other. Jacob wiped his eyes and puffed out his chest, then,
without looking back, fled into the wilderness. Rebecca slowly entered
(25:36):
her husband's tent. He recognized her scent as she walked,
in the aroma of jasmine and rosemary. But Isaac could
send something else in the air. Rebecca was disquieted and agitated.
He could hear her pacing the room. Anxiety leaked from her.
It made the air hard to breathe in.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
What is trup you?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
My love?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Jacob's gone?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
What?
Speaker 6 (26:04):
Why? After all that has happened?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
He knows I loathe my life because of the hit
eyed woman Esau married. He's left to go find a
bride of his own. If he marries one of those
hitt eyed women, one of those dust dwellers, then there's
no use in living at all.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Rebecca was diverting Isaac's attention.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Come here, my love, my sweet Rebecca.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Isaac innocently reached for her. She sat by his side.
He lifted a trembling hand to her hair and stroked
her cheek.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
No matter what comes, I trust to God Most High
will provide. He always provides. Sometimes in the final hour
he responds to our our silent prayers. Have faith, my
little dove, just as I have.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Rebeccah's face softened. She loved Isaac. She loved his innocence,
his trust, his faith. Her world was filled with spiderwebs
and lies, woven to trap and coerce. Yet his world
was one of truth and trust. It was a simple world,
one of blessings and gratitude. Even though he had just
(27:24):
been deceived by his son to slight another, Isaac didn't
have the slightest bit of worry on his face. Jacob
was out there in the cold wilds, running for his life.
But if the blessing of Isaac was true and trustworthy,
then Rebeccah had no need to fret. God Most High
(27:47):
went before him, paving the way for him. To be great.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Have you ever read a Bible story that means makes
you uncomfortable, that makes you squirm, that leaves a not
in your stomach. This dramatic story inspired by Genesis twenty
seven is one of those for me. It's a tale
of trickery, family dysfunction, and betrayal in ancient drama that
could easily be a modern day soap opera, and it
(28:19):
makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
This is the Bible.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Isaac, old and nearly blind, wants to bless his eldest
son Esa. This blessing is more than just words. It's
a sacred, powerful act that will define the future forever.
But Jacob, with his mother's help, steps in with deceee.
Can you imagine the weight of that moment? Esa, the
(28:44):
one who should have received the blessing, is left with
tears and anger, begging for something, anything from his father.
But the deed is done. The blessing, irrevocable, has been
given to the wrong son, and it makes me think
about the messiness of families. We often romanticize Biblical families right.
(29:05):
We imagine them as paragons of virtue and faith, But
the truth is they're just as flawed and broken, as
families are today as families have always been. Isaac's favoritism,
Rebecca's scheming, Jacob's deceit, Esau's bitterness. These are all real,
(29:26):
raw human acts and human emotions, and this story makes
me think about consequences, most specifically the consequences of deceit.
We know that everything is divined, that the stories and
the scripture and the words of the Bible are God's will.
They're not just by chance, but we also have to
look at it with eyes that we have today. Jacob
(29:48):
gets what he wants, but at what cost. He gains
a blessing, but loses his brother and compromises his character.
He wins his father's favor, but he must flee his home,
and Jacob's actions have ripple effect that affect generations to
come that still.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Affect the world.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
So what do we do with a story like this, Well,
it deserves a reminder of God's grace. Despite the deception
and dysfunction, his plans move forward. He works through broken
people and messy situations to bring about his purposes, and
this story reminds us that while our actions do have consequences,
(30:33):
redemption is always possible, even when we've messed up, even
when we've heard those we love most. This story from
the Scriptures reminds us that God can still work in
and through us. Now, let's dig a little deeper into
this Bible story that's both unsettling and very helpful. The
(30:55):
one question everyone asked when they read the story is
didn't Isaac see that wasn't deserving of this blessing, the
blessing of ensuring the continuity of the Chosen People. In
the thousands of years since this biblical blessing was made,
many answers have been suggested to this question, but maybe
the simplest answer is the best one, certainly the one
(31:18):
I connect to most. It says that Isaac blessed the
son he thought was Esa because Isaac loved Esa very much,
and sometimes left can blind us to reality, can't it.
We see this in the very first verse of this
story too, when Isaac was old and his eyes were
so weak that he could no longer see. Maybe Isaac's
(31:41):
physical vision wasn't the only thing that was impaired. Maybe
his emotional vision was also clouded as he looked at
the situation with his Tupel of its sons. This is
a hard lesson for all of us to learn, isn't it.
But we need to try to try and face reality
even where love to see the hard things also in
(32:02):
people that we love, to be able to see the
flaws and shortcomings also in people we love and decide
what to do in it. Even if a holy man
like Isaac struggled with being blinded by emotion, then all
of us need to work on thinking and seeing clearly
and logically as well. Maybe that's just one of the
(32:23):
many lessons that you can take out of this story.
But despite Isaac's vision being clouded, we do see that
he is suspicious from the star. First, Isaac asks how
his son was able to hunt food to eat so quickly,
and then Isaac asks to touch his son to make
sure that the sun before him is the correct son.
(32:44):
The Jewish sages have a beautiful insight into Isaac's suspicions.
They point out that when Jacob, disguised as Esau, answers
his father question about the speed of his hunt, he
replies with this quote, The Lord, your God gave me
six says end quote. The sages note that Isaac finds
it strange that esa who had never mentioned God would
(33:08):
give God thanks for a successful hunt. And Isaac also
finds it strange that in verse thirty one, Esau says,
and I quote, please sit up and eat some of
my game end quote, because Isaac knows his son Esa,
and he knows that Esa would never say please.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
You hear it in that verse.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
The verse says, please sit up and eat some of
my game, But Isaac knows Esa would never say please,
so it was kind of a sign that it wasn't
really him. This is a wonderful and deep lesson for
all of us. Isn't it that we can often tell
a godly person by how they speak, by the words
that they use, that we have to pay attention to
(33:52):
detail that we have to go with our gut. A
godly person will speak of God with thanks for what
they have. Godly person will speak pleasantly and say please
and thank you. Let's all of us, my friends, as
people who strive to be like God. Let's try to
acknowledge God with our speech. Let's reflect His image in
(34:12):
our godly words. But when it comes down to it,
the story of Jacob andisa is one of birthright. In
Bible times, birthrights were more than an inheritance, they were
an identity and a destiny. In Hebrew tradition, the birthright
belonged to the firstborn son, who received a double portion
of the inheritance and assumed leadership of the family upon
(34:34):
his father's death. The youngest child often played a secondary role,
living in the shadow of the firstborn. The resulting tension
between oldest and younger sons is a reoccurring theme in
the Bible.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
From Cain and Abel to Joseph and his brothers to David,
the youngest of Jesse's sons anointed king over his older brother.
When you read scriptures, it's filled with sibling rivalry, and
Jacob's story is part of this reoccurring biblical theme. He's
the younger son who, through questionable means, steps into the
(35:14):
role traditionally reserved for the firstborn. And Jacob's story isn't
just about family rivalry. It's about divine sovereignty. God's choice
of Jacob over Esau aligns with his larger plan and
his conventional promises. Let's expand on that with the trusted
voice of Bishop Paulineer.
Speaker 8 (35:37):
Thank you y'all, well, I'm gonna go ahead and warn
you that this chapter twenty seven is really wrenching. Isaac
was really a non confrontational kind of person, onen't he.
(35:57):
And yet his boys, his twins, they were contending violently
against each other, even in their mother's belly. And this
sibling rivalry is really somewhat of a constant theme or
motif we find in the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian scriptures. You,
(36:22):
of course know we've talked about Cain and Abel and
Isaac and the smile, and this Jacob and Esau and
with daughters sisters. We'll see Rachel and Leah, Joseph and
his brothers. In that chapter, we'll read multiple times that
his brothers hated Joseph. Of course, Moses had issues and
(36:48):
drama with his sister Miriam, and his brother Aaron and
David with his brothers. And when we get to the
Christian scriptures, John the Apostle, one of the sciples of Jesus,
one of the writers of a gospel. This John shares
with us that Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in him
(37:09):
for a while. And here, when we are looking at it,
seems like Isaac is thinking about his own legacy. Read
the first words of chapter twenty seven, you'll get the
feeling he's starting to feel perhaps a bit of his
own mortality. But he actually lives on into chapter thirty five.
(37:33):
I wonder, when I look at this story, could these boys,
these twins have actually been intended by God to be
a double portion of blessing through Isaac that the spiritual
enemy of our souls was determined to sabotage. Later on
(37:55):
we'll see this. Jacob lay his own hands on his
own sons, two sons, Jacob ul lay his hands on
his grandsons, Ephraim and Manassa in a blessing moment, and
together they become heirs of land.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Together.
Speaker 8 (38:20):
To the Christians listening, Jesus prophesied something very painful, and
I'm going to share with you that characteristics of complete
surrender is when intimacies become enmities.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Wow.
Speaker 8 (38:41):
Now this is really painful. But Jesus says in Matthew
chapter ten that we shouldn't even imagine that he came
to bring peace, though we claimed the words that he
is the Prince of peace, and he loved the children
in all these sweet moments. But he shares with us
(39:01):
that devotion to him will inevitably bring division against some
of the most precious relationships of our life. That some
of the greatest anguish and most bitter disagreements will come
with people with your last name, some who believe exactly
(39:27):
what you believe, just not as much as you believe it.
Jesus said, entire families will be bitter and broken against
one another, but that is part of our complete surrendered
to him. Well, I want to pause and pray. I
(39:48):
want to pray for my own family, your family, our legacy,
our generations, our descendants and posterity, that they will continuously
search out ways to oh undergird one another and not
under mine one another.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
One of the lines from the Story That Always Struck
Me finds Isaac confused. It says, he hears Jacob speak,
but he feels Esau's hairy arm, and he utters the
famous words quote the voice is the voice of Jacob,
but the hands are the hands of Esau.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
End quote.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
I leave you today, my friends, with a bit of
insight from the ancient teachers.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
The power of.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
Jacob's voice is because it's a voice of prayer. But
the power of Esau's hands, the hands of the ancestor
of oppressor's who destroyed the temple and exiled the Chosen People.
The power in Esau's hands was the power of destruction.
From these two brothers, we see the choice to use
(40:58):
our voice in prayer or our hands in destruction. How
often do we see this still today, this conflict between
the power of prayer and the power of evil, the
power of destruction. Let us all continue to be on
the side of that holy voice who calls out in
prayer to the God who always did and always will
(41:23):
bless his Chosen People.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
You can listen to The Chosen People with y Isle
Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey
dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only
made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(41:51):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike ray Wigan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore,
music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
(42:14):
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on
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leave a review.
Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Two nations are in your room. Two people will come
from you and be separated. One people will be stronger
than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Esau was a bare, large, hairy, and strong, living by instinct. Jacob, however,
was a cat, smooth, controlled, and cunning. Unlike his brother,
Jacob craved more than sustenance. He sought influence, wealth and power.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Give me some red read. I am starving for your dessy.
I have made it for you, dear brother, but I
won't give it for free. What do you want? I'll
give you this stew for Oh, you're both right. Your
status as the firstborn son.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
He saw sold you his birthright. What do you mean
for what price?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You know as well as I do that this family
is doomed, and he saws hangs. I'm doing you our herdsman,
workers and craftsmen a favor. What are you scheming, my son,
Nothing you haven't already thought.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Of of mother.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
In the shadows of his blindness, Isaac's blessing falls not
on the firstborn, but on the schemer, cloaked in deceit. Celloh,
my friends, from here in the Holy Land, of Israel
I'mya l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Welcome to the Chosen People. Let's begin in the twilight
(01:46):
of a father's life. As his sight grows dim and
his whispered words hold great meaning. There unfolds a tale
of longing and deceit, a story of ambition and desperation.
The echo of a mother's voice shape's destiny, and a
brother's cunning hand reaches for what's not his to hold.
(02:07):
How Dewy defined justice in a world where deception masquerades
as truth. Prepare your hearts, my friends, for this is
the story of Genesis twenty seven one to forty six,
the story of Jacob and Esau, the story of the
stolen blessing.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
My dear Iseul, come here, my son.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Come. Esau stepped lightly and knelt at his father's bedside.
He observed his shaking hand reaching out to him, and
the folked gaze of age. The eyes that had beheld
the wonders of God were dimming. Years had not been
kind to Isaac's body. Isaac held out his hand and
(02:56):
touched Esau's arm. It was coarse with hair than tough.
Isaac held it firmly.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
Here, I am, my son. I do not know the
day of my death, but I do know my days
are numbered. I don't want to spend what little time
I have left eating dried lentils and almonds. Take your
(03:23):
quiver and bow and hunt me some game. Go and
make me that delicious stew, the one with the meat
and the barley, something hardy for these weak bones of mine.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Yes, Father, I will kill a deer for you, and
we will eat together.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I would love nothing more. When you return and bring
me my meal, I shall give you a final blessing,
the blessing of my father Abraham.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Esau's eyes glistened with hope. His unfortunate deal with Jacob
had left him wondering if he had lost all his privileges.
The first born, Yet, Isaac was determined to give his
favorite son anything he could. Esau ran out of the
tent to retrieve his bow. Each stride was heavy with joy.
(04:22):
He did not see Rebecca standing at the entrance, her
eyes sharp and calculating, My sweet.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
And foolish Esau, my innocent and loving Isaac. Neither of
you understand what these blessings mean.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Rebeccah had watched Isaac's resources multiply without effort, and witnessed
him narrowly escape peril. Isaac walked like a man touched
by the Creator himself, but knew nothing about how to
leverage such a blessing. She knew their family needed a
steward of cunning and ambition, someone who could harness such
(04:58):
blessings and turn them into tangible power. With a determined step,
she moved towards Jacob's tent.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
This family needs a wiser steward, or else how will
it reach its full potential.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Ambition and cunning were Rebecca's hidden traits. To her, the
only way you could truly be ambitious and cunning was
to keep such things hidden, something her son Jacob had
yet to learn from her. He soon would. Rebecca softly
stepped away from Isaac's tent and sauntered to Jacob. Jacob
(05:34):
was in his tent, sitting with his legs crossed, fiddling
with a small box he'd made for his tools.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Now is the time for you to tell me your plans.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Jacob turned to his mother and gave a wry smile.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
What plans, mother, My only plans are to do the
will of my Lord father and his God.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
No games, Jacob, tell me what you've been scheming.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
I don't scheme, I prepare. Scheming makes me sound so villainous.
I love this family and I would never jeopardize it
for my own gain. You know, father and Esau have
treated me like an ishmaelite ever since I bought Esau's birthright.
But that's only because they don't see the bigger picture.
I love my brother, but he's a brute, and if
(06:22):
this family is going to survive into the next generation,
I need to see enough.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Jacob, I understand all this before you is an opportunity,
but you need to listen to me.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Rebecca leaned in closely and met her son eye to eye.
Her gaze was knowing and intense, reflecting the same spark
of opportunity that Jacob had. They were the same, bonded
by blood and ambition.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I just overheard your father. He sent Esau on a hunt.
When he returns with food, your father plans on blessing
him with the blessing.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Of course, Esaw is father's favorite, even though I have
the birthright, he would never yield the blessing to me.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
True, but what if he didn't know it was you?
Go on, go into the flock and bring me two
young goats. I'll prepare a delicious stew for your father,
that kind with a wild barley. He loves. Oh, he's
too old to know the difference between a goat and
a stag. I could feed him moss, and I doubt
he'd recognize it. Bring him the stew and disguise your
(07:28):
voice as Esau's. He'll think it's him and give you
the blessing.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's an interesting plan, but I fear there are some holes. First,
I was able to take Esau's birthright through a handshake.
That way, nobody can say I stole it. If I
do this, then I risk the eye of my father
and my brother. Secondly, my brother is harry as a bear.
(07:53):
What if Father reaches from me and feels my smooth skin,
He'll know I'm mocking him, and I'll get a curse
instead of a blessing.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
You won't be cursed, Jacob, And if a curse comes,
let it befall me instead of you. Trust your mother
and go fetch those goats.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Jacob paused and looked at his mother. Her chin was
slightly tilted upward and her shoulders were rolled back She
was a force of a woman. Jacob loved his mother,
but moments like these also made him fear her. Jacob
went to the flocks and retrieved two goats. All the
(08:31):
while he daydreamed about what it would be like to
follow the line of Abraham and Isaac. He fantasized about expansion, power,
and prominence. He imagined a lovely bride at his side,
with seven sons at his beck and core. He imagined
the heavens opening before his lush and vibrant land, and
(08:53):
God Most High bestowing favor upon him. In all his dreams,
he never thought of Esau. He didn't consider him at all.
Jacob brought the goats to his mother. They skinned and
butchered them. Rebecca was careful to preserve the goat's coarse hair.
She laid it out on the tanning table, drying and
(09:15):
smoothing it like fine fabric. After preparing the stew, Rebecca
brought some of Esau's garments and dressed Jacob.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Remember when you bring your father his stew, disguise your voice.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Are you sure this will work? What if he feels me,
my son?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Have you learned nothing from me? I swear you're as
dull as your brother sometimes think things through.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Rebecca grabbed the goatskins and carefully wrapped them around Jacob's
hands and neck. Jacob's eyes widened and he laughed.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
I should have known this is brilliant.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Don't laugh. This isn't funny or brilliant. It's important you
who been toying with this idea of being the favorite son.
But have you thought about what it means if you are.
Have you thought about the responsibilities and the weight of
such a mantle. Your father is dull, yes, but he's
responsible and takes his birthright seriously. When you go in there,
(10:20):
do not play like a child. Be a man and
seize what's yours and when you finally have it, except
whatever comes after with courage. Yes, mother, good boy, Now go.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Jacob entered loudly. He couldn't afford to be timid. He
had to be esil lumbering, straightforward and loud. He looked
down at Isaac, who was lounging in his bed, staring
at the flickering lamp beside him.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
My father, here I am. But who are you, Esau?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
You're first born Esaw.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yes, I have done and you told me and killed
deer eat my game and bless me.
Speaker 6 (11:10):
You hunted the game so quickly?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
How Jacob paused, throat tight, jaw clenched. He knew what
he was about to say was wrong. Evoking the name
he was about to evoke came with weight.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
God Most High gave me success.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
God most High, you say, come here, my son, Come
come close so I may touch your arm. I'm having
a bit of trouble believing it's really you.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Jacob nervously stepped forward. He feared that Rebeccah had underestimated Isaac.
Isaac's trembling hand reached out and felt the goatskin wrapped
around Jacob's hands. His foggy eyes were wide with surprise.
Speaker 6 (12:00):
Jacob's voice, but Esau's hands, Are you truly my son, Esau?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There was that term again, my son Esau. No matter
what Jacob did or contributed to the family, Esau would
always be his son. Isaac's favoritism affected Jacob in ways
he wasn't even aware of. It was burrowed like a
worm in the depths of his heart, slowly eroding his potential.
(12:31):
Jacob was determined to rid himself of it all. If
he couldn't have his father's love, he would be content
with his blessing and resources. With a final word, Jacob replied.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I am Esau.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
Then bring me the game you prepared. I would like
to eat my son's game and bless him.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Jacob handed him the bowl and barley loaf. As Isaac
ate Jacob, his father's enthusiasm for the meal was almost pathetic.
He saw Isaac's frailty, the once mighty patriarch reduced to
this vulnerable state. His body had grown soft with age,
(13:16):
no doubt, from days of sitting nights of second helpings.
His beard was unkempt, and his brows were like frayed twine.
It was hard for Jacob to believe that God's greatness
could be upon him. Jacob couldn't see the inner world
beyond the frail, portly exterior. Behind those failing eyes lay
(13:37):
a soul of unwavering faith, a man who trusted God's providence.
Jacob's journey would be marked with lessons. Having a childlike
faith like his father would be one of them.
Speaker 6 (13:51):
Well done, he saw, well done. I am satisfied. Now
it is time to prophesy and to offer you the
same blessing as my father offered me. Come here and kiss.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Me, my son.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Jacob leaned forward and kissed his father on the head.
Isaac smiled and nodded his head.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Ah, yes, you smell like Esau. You are a man
of the wilderness. May God give you the doo of heaven,
the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine.
May people and.
Speaker 7 (14:37):
Nations bow down to you and serve you. You will
be lord over your brothers, and your mother's son will
bend a knee to you.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Jacob tried not to WinCE at the words. He was
robbing Esau of this blessing and saving himself from bow
a knee to his brother, a prize worth almost as
much as the status.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Curse it be everyone who curses you, and blessed be
everyone who blesses you.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Isaac removed his hand from Jacob's head and released a
content sigh.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
There you are, my son, Esau, go in peace. Let
this old man rest his bones.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Jacob said nothing. He bowed his head and left with
heavy steps. When he exited the tent, he let out
a sigh of relief, guilt, and excitement. He looked at
his hands and ripped off the goat skin. They were
trembling shaking with a mixture of shame and satisfaction, Isaac
(15:52):
leaned back and looked around the inside of his blurry,
undefined tent. Losing his sight had provided him with more
attention to turn inwards. To the best of his ability,
he assessed what had just happened. All of his working
senses had told him that it was Esau, but he
couldn't shake the feeling that something else had happened. The
(16:14):
suspicion didn't bother Isaac things rarely did. Instead, Isaac felt
the premonition that whoever had just received this blessing was
the recipient of something greater than his own. Whatever was
stated would truly come to pass. Isaac was sure of it.
The lids of his eyes grew heavy, and Isaac blissfully
(16:37):
fell asleep, bellyful and heart content. This moment of peace
was swiftly interrupted by heavy steps.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Father, I have come back with meat, eat, and bless me.
What is this about?
Speaker 6 (16:53):
Who are you?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
It is me, sire, your firstborn, I brought food.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Isaac's body trembled with rage and confusion.
Speaker 6 (17:04):
If if, if you were my son, Esau, then who
was it that brought me my meal? Who came before you.
Who did I just bless you?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Was not me for father, you h you have made
a mistake.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
A mistake. No, I don't believe it was. I did
not intend to bless anyone but you, Esau. But it
was not a mistake. He shall be blessed. Yes, the
blessing remains a prophecy. No, no, no, please, Father, I
(17:43):
can't bear this life without your blessing.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Esau's large frame shook with grief as he groveled on
his knees in front of Riser.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I am sorry, my son. Your brother came deceitfully and
took your blessing away. The promise has been given to Jacob.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Esau's hairy and large body convulsed with a mixture of
rage and sorrow. He continued to shake his head in disbelief.
It was all coming into focus for him. Jacob's play
at his birthright was only the beginning. He wasn't after resource.
Jacob wanted to usurb Esau altogether.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Can you still bless me?
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Esau reached for Isaac's hand, but it was pulled away
and he turned his head. Esau clenched his fist and
pounded the floor.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
That snake, you were right to name him Jacob. He's
auch aceiver, He's jenner ate rice.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Esau stood and kicked over a pot, he scrubbling rage.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
He turned to his again, is there anything for me?
What do I have?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Now?
Speaker 6 (19:07):
I have made Jacob lord over you. He will have
the servants, the livestock, the grain, and the winden. What
left would I have for you?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
My son, he saw, wasn't a clever man like his brother.
He lived with his belly and whims. He was impatient
or creative. He was an honest brute. He wore his
confusion and frustration. He bowed again, asking his father the
same question, as if there would be a different answer.
(19:42):
Tears rolled down his rugged face. If Isac could see anything,
it would be a pitiful sight.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Who you have at least one las thing for me?
Speaker 6 (19:57):
Love him? Away from the fatness of the earth your
dwelling will be. You will be distant from the door
of heaven. You will live by the sword and serve
your brother. When you grow restless, you shall break his
(20:18):
yoke from your neck and move on.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
The words were a final seal, a decisive declaration that
Jacob was now the inheritor of Isaac's promise. Passed down
from Abraham through Jacob, the blessing of God most High
would endure.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
Ah.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
I you will hunt and kill him like the stag.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Esau stormed out of the tent and looked around, his
eyes narrowed with a hunter's intensity. He grabbed his bow
and arrow, searching frantically for his twin.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Jacob one, calm out your cold.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
You the.
Speaker 6 (21:12):
You don.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Esaor drew out his blade and cut his hand. He
raised his fist to the air, blood dripping from his palm,
down his arm and onto the dirt.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
When father is gone and I put him in the dirt.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I will have my revens.
Speaker 6 (21:39):
I will kill that trest tardy.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Leaning on a beam beside the tent was Rebecca. Her
eyes widened with panic. She fled to the edge of
the hills near the pastures where Jacob would often wander
to think. She had to warn him before it was
too late. It was late, and the faint glow of
(22:04):
dusk dissolved, giving way to the brilliance of the night sky.
Jacob couldn't stop trembling. His calm, cool demeanor was replaced
by an anxious excitement, or perhaps excited anxiety. Jacob wasn't
sure which. His body all of a sudden seemed foreign
to him. He felt as if he were still wearing
(22:25):
the clothes of another man, and they didn't quite fit.
Speaker 8 (22:29):
Not yet.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
What Now? I have the birthright and the blessing? But
what do I do with them? Where do I go
from here?
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Jacob heard stories of Abraham's encounters with God most High.
He remembered hearing tales by the fire, sagas of visions,
angelic visitations, and meteors falling from the sky.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Will you show me yourself? Will you speak with me
as you did with my forefathers?
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Jacob gazed at the stars longingly, awaiting an answer. The
reeds rustled softly to the breeze. The faint scent of
jasmine wafted up. Jacob breathed it all in, sure that
he would hear something. Then, cutting through the silence, he
heard a voice Jacob. Jacob felt violated by the sound
(23:26):
of his mother's voice. Annoyed, he turned back and shouted,
what is it?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
This is my place to think, mother? What are you
doing here?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Esau knows he is beside himself.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
I suppose we should have expected that. I'm sure he'll
hate me for a time and didn't find comfort in
the arms of his Hittite bride.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
He's finding comfort in his plans to kill you what
heesaw would never He's made a vow to kill you, Jacob.
I heard it.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Panic jabbed at Jacob's legs. He was shaking, agitated, ready
to run.
Speaker 8 (24:01):
What do I do?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Mother? What do I do? Mother? What do I do? Mother?
Tell me what to do?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Flee to Laban, my brother in heron. You can stay
with him until your brother's fury does Maybe with time
he'll forget what you've done to him.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
To come this far and to have it end with
me fleeing like a dog. It just doesn't seem right.
Should I just stay and fight him?
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You think you can fight that man.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
He may be a bear, but I am no lamb.
We're twins, and I have just as much fight in
my bones as he does.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Out of the question, I won't be bereft of both
of you. Go to Laban. I will send word to
you when I feel it safe.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Jacob looked past Rebecca's shoulder and down to camp torches
illuminated the quiet, serene atmosphere. Household members prepared the meals.
Children danced around the lamp stands, and the faint sound
of liars hummed along side crickets. It was all his,
but he couldn't have it.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
He had to flee. Will it be here when when
I return?
Speaker 4 (25:10):
If the promise made to Abraham stands.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
It will Jacob wrapped his mother in his arms. They
remained locked and embraced for a long while, knowing that
there was a chance it was their last time seeing
each other. Jacob wiped his eyes and puffed out his chest, then,
without looking back, fled into the wilderness. Rebecca slowly entered
(25:36):
her husband's tent. He recognized her scent as she walked,
in the aroma of jasmine and rosemary. But Isaac could
send something else in the air. Rebecca was disquieted and agitated.
He could hear her pacing the room. Anxiety leaked from her.
It made the air hard to breathe in.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
What is trup you?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
My love?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Jacob's gone?
Speaker 3 (26:02):
What?
Speaker 6 (26:04):
Why? After all that has happened?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
He knows I loathe my life because of the hit
eyed woman Esau married. He's left to go find a
bride of his own. If he marries one of those
hitt eyed women, one of those dust dwellers, then there's
no use in living at all.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Rebecca was diverting Isaac's attention.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Come here, my love, my sweet Rebecca.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Isaac innocently reached for her. She sat by his side.
He lifted a trembling hand to her hair and stroked
her cheek.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
No matter what comes, I trust to God Most High
will provide. He always provides. Sometimes in the final hour
he responds to our our silent prayers. Have faith, my
little dove, just as I have.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Rebeccah's face softened. She loved Isaac. She loved his innocence,
his trust, his faith. Her world was filled with spiderwebs
and lies, woven to trap and coerce. Yet his world
was one of truth and trust. It was a simple world,
one of blessings and gratitude. Even though he had just
(27:24):
been deceived by his son to slight another, Isaac didn't
have the slightest bit of worry on his face. Jacob
was out there in the cold wilds, running for his life.
But if the blessing of Isaac was true and trustworthy,
then Rebeccah had no need to fret. God Most High
(27:47):
went before him, paving the way for him. To be great.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Have you ever read a Bible story that means makes
you uncomfortable, that makes you squirm, that leaves a not
in your stomach. This dramatic story inspired by Genesis twenty
seven is one of those for me. It's a tale
of trickery, family dysfunction, and betrayal in ancient drama that
could easily be a modern day soap opera, and it
(28:19):
makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
This is the Bible.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Isaac, old and nearly blind, wants to bless his eldest
son Esa. This blessing is more than just words. It's
a sacred, powerful act that will define the future forever.
But Jacob, with his mother's help, steps in with deceee.
Can you imagine the weight of that moment? Esa, the
(28:44):
one who should have received the blessing, is left with
tears and anger, begging for something, anything from his father.
But the deed is done. The blessing, irrevocable, has been
given to the wrong son, and it makes me think
about the messiness of families. We often romanticize Biblical families right.
(29:05):
We imagine them as paragons of virtue and faith, But
the truth is they're just as flawed and broken, as
families are today as families have always been. Isaac's favoritism,
Rebecca's scheming, Jacob's deceit, Esau's bitterness. These are all real,
(29:26):
raw human acts and human emotions, and this story makes
me think about consequences, most specifically the consequences of deceit.
We know that everything is divined, that the stories and
the scripture and the words of the Bible are God's will.
They're not just by chance, but we also have to
look at it with eyes that we have today. Jacob
(29:48):
gets what he wants, but at what cost. He gains
a blessing, but loses his brother and compromises his character.
He wins his father's favor, but he must flee his home,
and Jacob's actions have ripple effect that affect generations to
come that still.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Affect the world.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
So what do we do with a story like this, Well,
it deserves a reminder of God's grace. Despite the deception
and dysfunction, his plans move forward. He works through broken
people and messy situations to bring about his purposes, and
this story reminds us that while our actions do have consequences,
(30:33):
redemption is always possible, even when we've messed up, even
when we've heard those we love most. This story from
the Scriptures reminds us that God can still work in
and through us. Now, let's dig a little deeper into
this Bible story that's both unsettling and very helpful. The
(30:55):
one question everyone asked when they read the story is
didn't Isaac see that wasn't deserving of this blessing, the
blessing of ensuring the continuity of the Chosen People. In
the thousands of years since this biblical blessing was made,
many answers have been suggested to this question, but maybe
the simplest answer is the best one, certainly the one
(31:18):
I connect to most. It says that Isaac blessed the
son he thought was Esa because Isaac loved Esa very much,
and sometimes left can blind us to reality, can't it.
We see this in the very first verse of this
story too, when Isaac was old and his eyes were
so weak that he could no longer see. Maybe Isaac's
(31:41):
physical vision wasn't the only thing that was impaired. Maybe
his emotional vision was also clouded as he looked at
the situation with his Tupel of its sons. This is
a hard lesson for all of us to learn, isn't it.
But we need to try to try and face reality
even where love to see the hard things also in
(32:02):
people that we love, to be able to see the
flaws and shortcomings also in people we love and decide
what to do in it. Even if a holy man
like Isaac struggled with being blinded by emotion, then all
of us need to work on thinking and seeing clearly
and logically as well. Maybe that's just one of the
(32:23):
many lessons that you can take out of this story.
But despite Isaac's vision being clouded, we do see that
he is suspicious from the star. First, Isaac asks how
his son was able to hunt food to eat so quickly,
and then Isaac asks to touch his son to make
sure that the sun before him is the correct son.
(32:44):
The Jewish sages have a beautiful insight into Isaac's suspicions.
They point out that when Jacob, disguised as Esau, answers
his father question about the speed of his hunt, he
replies with this quote, The Lord, your God gave me
six says end quote. The sages note that Isaac finds
it strange that esa who had never mentioned God would
(33:08):
give God thanks for a successful hunt. And Isaac also
finds it strange that in verse thirty one, Esau says,
and I quote, please sit up and eat some of
my game end quote, because Isaac knows his son Esa,
and he knows that Esa would never say please.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
You hear it in that verse.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
The verse says, please sit up and eat some of
my game, But Isaac knows Esa would never say please,
so it was kind of a sign that it wasn't
really him. This is a wonderful and deep lesson for
all of us. Isn't it that we can often tell
a godly person by how they speak, by the words
that they use, that we have to pay attention to
(33:52):
detail that we have to go with our gut. A
godly person will speak of God with thanks for what
they have. Godly person will speak pleasantly and say please
and thank you. Let's all of us, my friends, as
people who strive to be like God. Let's try to
acknowledge God with our speech. Let's reflect His image in
(34:12):
our godly words. But when it comes down to it,
the story of Jacob andisa is one of birthright. In
Bible times, birthrights were more than an inheritance, they were
an identity and a destiny. In Hebrew tradition, the birthright
belonged to the firstborn son, who received a double portion
of the inheritance and assumed leadership of the family upon
(34:34):
his father's death. The youngest child often played a secondary role,
living in the shadow of the firstborn. The resulting tension
between oldest and younger sons is a reoccurring theme in
the Bible.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
From Cain and Abel to Joseph and his brothers to David,
the youngest of Jesse's sons anointed king over his older brother.
When you read scriptures, it's filled with sibling rivalry, and
Jacob's story is part of this reoccurring biblical theme. He's
the younger son who, through questionable means, steps into the
(35:14):
role traditionally reserved for the firstborn. And Jacob's story isn't
just about family rivalry. It's about divine sovereignty. God's choice
of Jacob over Esau aligns with his larger plan and
his conventional promises. Let's expand on that with the trusted
voice of Bishop Paulineer.
Speaker 8 (35:37):
Thank you y'all, well, I'm gonna go ahead and warn
you that this chapter twenty seven is really wrenching. Isaac
was really a non confrontational kind of person, onen't he.
(35:57):
And yet his boys, his twins, they were contending violently
against each other, even in their mother's belly. And this
sibling rivalry is really somewhat of a constant theme or
motif we find in the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian scriptures. You,
(36:22):
of course know we've talked about Cain and Abel and
Isaac and the smile, and this Jacob and Esau and
with daughters sisters. We'll see Rachel and Leah, Joseph and
his brothers. In that chapter, we'll read multiple times that
his brothers hated Joseph. Of course, Moses had issues and
(36:48):
drama with his sister Miriam, and his brother Aaron and
David with his brothers. And when we get to the
Christian scriptures, John the Apostle, one of the sciples of Jesus,
one of the writers of a gospel. This John shares
with us that Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in him
(37:09):
for a while. And here, when we are looking at it,
seems like Isaac is thinking about his own legacy. Read
the first words of chapter twenty seven, you'll get the
feeling he's starting to feel perhaps a bit of his
own mortality. But he actually lives on into chapter thirty five.
(37:33):
I wonder, when I look at this story, could these boys,
these twins have actually been intended by God to be
a double portion of blessing through Isaac that the spiritual
enemy of our souls was determined to sabotage. Later on
(37:55):
we'll see this. Jacob lay his own hands on his
own sons, two sons, Jacob ul lay his hands on
his grandsons, Ephraim and Manassa in a blessing moment, and
together they become heirs of land.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Together.
Speaker 8 (38:20):
To the Christians listening, Jesus prophesied something very painful, and
I'm going to share with you that characteristics of complete
surrender is when intimacies become enmities.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Wow.
Speaker 8 (38:41):
Now this is really painful. But Jesus says in Matthew
chapter ten that we shouldn't even imagine that he came
to bring peace, though we claimed the words that he
is the Prince of peace, and he loved the children
in all these sweet moments. But he shares with us
(39:01):
that devotion to him will inevitably bring division against some
of the most precious relationships of our life. That some
of the greatest anguish and most bitter disagreements will come
with people with your last name, some who believe exactly
(39:27):
what you believe, just not as much as you believe it.
Jesus said, entire families will be bitter and broken against
one another, but that is part of our complete surrendered
to him. Well, I want to pause and pray. I
(39:48):
want to pray for my own family, your family, our legacy,
our generations, our descendants and posterity, that they will continuously
search out ways to oh undergird one another and not
under mine one another.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Amen.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
One of the lines from the Story That Always Struck
Me finds Isaac confused. It says, he hears Jacob speak,
but he feels Esau's hairy arm, and he utters the
famous words quote the voice is the voice of Jacob,
but the hands are the hands of Esau.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
End quote.
Speaker 5 (40:30):
I leave you today, my friends, with a bit of
insight from the ancient teachers.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
The power of.
Speaker 5 (40:36):
Jacob's voice is because it's a voice of prayer. But
the power of Esau's hands, the hands of the ancestor
of oppressor's who destroyed the temple and exiled the Chosen People.
The power in Esau's hands was the power of destruction.
From these two brothers, we see the choice to use
(40:58):
our voice in prayer or our hands in destruction. How
often do we see this still today, this conflict between
the power of prayer and the power of evil, the
power of destruction. Let us all continue to be on
the side of that holy voice who calls out in
prayer to the God who always did and always will
(41:23):
bless his Chosen People.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
You can listen to The Chosen People with y Isle
Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey
dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only
made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(41:51):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike ray Wigan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore,
music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
(42:14):
kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you
enjoyed The Chosen People with Yeile Eckstein, please rate and
leave a review.
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