When Families Fail: God’s Grace & the Stolen Blessing (Genesis 27:1-29)

Intro

Have you ever seen a family where one parent so obviously favors one child? 

The attention, the extra opportunities, all seem to gravitate towards one, while others feel left behind. 

Perhaps that was your story? If you were the overlooked child, you endured years of blatant favoritism, even when parents swore they loved every kid equally. You knew the truth though.

 Or perhaps you were the favorite. 

Maybe you felt the quiet burden of your siblings' resentment, or the pressure to constantly perform, knowing that the favored status came with unspoken strings.

Our Tension

If you resonate with any of this, you’re in good company, because the family we're going to look at, God’s chosen family, is incredibly dysfunctional.  It’s a story that, when I first read it as a kid in a children’s Bible, they tried to make Rebekah and Jacob seem like the good guys.  

But as the Pastor Kent Hughes says, “there are no real heroes in this story – only sinners.” 

In fact, on Mother’s Day, we are going to be taking a look at a dysfunctional family with a scheming mom who’s putting her trust in the wrong places. 

Yet, there is great hope in this story of deep dysfunction. It shows us that despite how toxic things become, God's good plan of rescue still moves forward through imperfect people and that God has a way to think about his favorites that is far different from any human parent. 

Exposition: What does God Say? (Genesis 27:1-29)

Let's unpack this intense family drama, and as we do, we'll see how God calls us to live in light of these truths.

1. Isaac’s Secret Blessing (Genesis 27:1–4)

Genesis 27:1–4 ESV

1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Years after last week’s passage, we find Isaac, old and blind, driven by his appetite. He wants to give the primary blessing to Esau. 

But should he be blessing Esau? 

Remember, God had already spoken a clear word to Rebekah: 

Genesis 25:23 ESV

23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

 So, Isaac is actually acting contrary to God’s revealed word. God had declared His plan for the lineage, explicitly reversing the natural order of the first-born blessing. 

Some argue Isaac forgot the prophecy or Rebekah never told him, but as James Montgomery Boice , 

"If Isaac had forgotten God’s words, it was a willful forgetting... the very fact that he was trying to dispense his blessing secretively shows that he knew very well what he was doing."  He knew it would cause an uproar, so he tried to do it on the sly.  What should have been a joyful, public occasion became a "despicable incident." 

Furthermore, Esau himself is not fit for the responsibilities of the firstborn.

• He had already despised and sold his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:33-34).  This action showed his worldliness and disregard for spiritual heritage.  The author of Hebrews even calls him "unholy" or "godless" for this (Hebrews 12:16-17). 

• He had compromised himself by marrying Hittite women, causing grief to his parents (Genesis 26:34-35). 

But why listen to God and give the blessing to Jacob, when Esau can hunt your favorite animals and cook a tasty meal?

Genesis 25:28 ESV

28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

This is favoritism. 

Favoritism is the practice of giving preferential treatment to one person over others based on bias.

"Isaac’s insistence on a 'good meal' before the blessing recalls all too clearly Esau’s own trading of the birthright for a pot of stew and thus casts Isaac in a similar role to that of Esau" - Tremper Longman

It seems Isaac was also heavily influenced by his appetites just like his son Esau. Or maybe better put, Esau got it from his dad!

 Isaac seemed to have been maturing in last week’s passage, growing to trust God and become a more generous and a culture changer, but its been years since those episodes…

This is a stark reminder that growing older doesn't automatically mean we are growing more mature; we can all backslide.

Isaac's actions remind us that even godly people can try to ignore God's revealed will due to personal preference or tradition. 

Isaac wanted Esau over Jacob.  

Submitting to God's way is always better than ours, means trusting His plan even when it doesn't align with our expectations or desires. It's crucial because if we don't, we risk working against God, even with good intentions.

Isaac's favoritism and secret actions reveal the destructive nature of hidden agendas and favoritism within families, breeding resentment and distrust.

Parents, and specifically mothers, in light of this special day, how do you stop favoritism if you realize you see it in your heart? 

Usually, our favoritism is connected to some idol in our heart that our child is fulfilling. 

Perhaps they are gifted in some area that you take pride in. That child you favor may be feeding your idol of approval that your child is providing as they make you look good with others. 

Or perhaps they are a child that is a people-pleaser and they do whatever you say and cause no problems. Perhaps this child is feeding your idol of comfort and control while your other children may be more difficult to parent and constant threatening the kingdom of self as Paul Tripp talks about. 

In all cases, we must make sure we are not parenting for ourselves, which is easy to do, but for the good of our children and the glory of God. They are on loan to us to steward and so we don’t use our children. 

And if we can go to war with these root issues of our heart, it can free us to love our kids with the same love God has for us, even when one kid will inveitbly fit our preferences more than others. 

This is also the antidote for us in the church community, we can all use others to fulfill our own idols. And as we get increasingly free from these idols and find our needs in God, we can love people without strings and less transactionally. 

2. Rebekah, the Master-deceiver  (Genesis 27:5–17)

Genesis 27:5–13 ESV

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

This is a clear sign of a dysfunctional family, no one is directly talking to each other about the matter but only behind each other’s backs. 

Rebekah overhears Isaac's plan and immediately springs into action. 

Her motivations are complicated, she genuinely desires to see God’s prophecy fulfilled (that the older would serve the younger ) but her clear favoritism for Jacob (Genesis 25:28 ), is probably most prominent in her heart as she doesn’t even mention the prophecy. 

She seems to use manipulation.  Three times she tells Jacob, "obey my voice" (v. 8, 13 ), using her motherly authority to push him. 

Here we see the temptation to take matters into our own hands, to "help God out" through sinful means. Rebekah knew the prophecy, but she didn't trust God's timing or methods.

You never have to break gods word to bring about gods word!

Rebekah is a primary player of this deception; it likely wouldn't have happened without her. Like Sarah before her, she attempts to force God’s promise through human scheming (Genesis 16:2).

Her actions demonstrate a lack of faith in God's sovereignty to fulfill His promises His way.  She felt she had to make it happen.  And the outcome? 

Boice highlights, 

"Having done it her way, good did not come. True, the blessing went to Jacob, which God would have arranged anyway. But the price was twenty years of unexpected exile for Jacob... If you are not trusting God... learn that the plottings of sin never work out and that the path of disobedience is always rocky."  

We must learn to trust God completely, even when we can't see how His plans will unfold. 

Ironically, her interference leads to losing her favorite son as he flees for his life. 

There’s a massive lesson. In idolizing the blessing for her son, or maybe even idolizing her son, she loses it. This happens all the time with our idols. 

Notice Jacob’s concern: it's not about fearing God or doing the right thing, but the fear of getting caught and cursed (v. 12 ). 

He’s fearing the wrong thing!

This tells us a lot about his character at this point. 

Jacob is years away from being broken of his pride and deception.  God chooses Jacob not because of his worthiness, but because of His own sovereign desire and purposes.  

This should cause us to reflect: are our motivations for avoiding sin based on a fear of consequences or a genuine desire to honor God? 

3. Jacob Deceives Isaac (Genesis 27:14–29)

Genesis 27:14–17 ESV

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

The plan is elaborate, showing Rebekah likely had this planned out.  Jacob goes along with it.

Interestingly, Isaac, a man with his own history of deception, is now being deceived by his son. We never see him repent for his past actions.

Perhaps he wrongly concluded that the blessing was God's approval of his deceit.  Sometimes we make that mistake too – if nothing goes wrong, we assume God is okay with our sin. 

But remember, 

"that which is not transformed is transferred."  

And Isaac has likely influenced his son to take up the family value that deception is okay if you can get ahead for yourself with is a value that many in the world hold. 

Genesis 27:18–20 ESV

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.”

Isaac is kind of blowing his cover  out of nerves. Like someone who is nervous to get caught and saying unnecessary stuff that is so unnatural. 

“Yeah, it’s me, Esau, Definitely not Jacob, but your first born Esau!”

Sometimes, when people are guilty and trying to convince you, they invoke God's name or use extra language about their honesty. "I swear to God I'm telling the truth!" 

Although it can feel silly, Jacob's lie is blatant. He even brings God’s name into it, claiming, "Because the Lord your God granted me success" (v. 20 ). 

This is a clear sign he's out of line with God's heart.  

We must never use God to legitimize our sin or deceit. 

How often have we seen others or seen ourselves when we pull the “God card 

Isaac is obviously suspicious since it would be impossible to hunt, dress, skin and cook the meal. 

Isaac won’t even hide his suspicions. 

Genesis 27:21–23 ESV

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.

He is experiencing cognitive dissonance due to these conflicting sensory inputs.  His blindness made him vulnerable. 

This is, to put it lightly, elder abuse. 

Genesis 27:24 ESV

24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”

Another direct lie from Jacob.  Gordon Wenham notes that Jacob’s responses become more brief after his father recognizes his voice, now just a one-word answer.

One final test of his senses: smell.

Genesis 27:25–27 ESV

25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!

After being convinced he blesses him. 

One commentator notes, his betrayal with a kiss for personal gain was superseded in Scripture only by Judas’s infamous kiss of Jesus for silver."

And so, despite the lies, the manipulation, and the dysfunction, the blessing is given to Jacob. 

Genesis 27:28–29 NLT

28 “From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. 29 May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”

• This is a blessing for prosperity with farming and goods, 

• a blessing to rule among his family and also over other nations. 

• And a blessing for protection. 

What is wild to consider is that Isaac thinks this is Esau, and yet, God’s word is that the son who will be most prominent would be the younger, Jacob. 

So even with Isaac trying to thwart and reverse God’s plan, God is still getting his way, with Jacob even realizing it. 

God’s ways and plans are unstoppable! 

So even though your circumstance may seem impossible, or what’s going on in our nation or world seems dire, God’s plan is still marching forward, unhindered!

Gospel-Grounded Applications

Throughout this entire story, a key takeaway for us is that every single person in this story is deeply flawed and in need of God's grace. 

We’ve all been like Jacob, deceptive and self-serving. Even going so far to betray God with a kiss. 

We’ve all been like Isaac, driven by our appetites and acting against God’s revealed will. 

We’ve all been like Rebekah, trying to control outcomes through sinful means. 

And so we all justly deserve the curse that Jacob feared. 

But praise be to God, Jesus is even better than Rebekah. He didn’t just offer to take the curse upon himself, he did!

Galatians 3:13 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Oh but the truth gets even sweeter than just the cursed removed…

Clothed In Christ’s Righteousness

Here’s such a sweet truth that should make you want to jump out of your pew this morning..

What did Rebekah put on Jacob to deceive Isaac that he is Esau? 

Skins of an animal. 

When was the first time this ever occured in the Bible? (This is called the law of first mention)

Genesis 3 in the garden!

Our first parents sinned and were full of shame and sin and when they put their trust in the promise, God covered them in skins!

God covered their sin and shame with animal skins, which could only happen through sacrifice. 

This is the first foreshadow of the gospel in the Bible!

That one day, the lamb of God, who is the the son of God, will come and be the willing sacrifice for sinners and those who trust in Christ will have their sin and shame covered!

So God chooses to look at all of us sinners who are trusting in Christ as if we never sinned like Christ. 

And in our passage, what was Jacob clothed in? 

Both in animal skins and his elder-brother’s clothes!

So we who are trusting in Christ, are clothed in the covering of Christ and wearing his clothes. 

So when God pulls you close, he doesn’t smell your sin, he smells the sent of his Son!

God does this, not because he is fooled like Isaac, in fact, He knows exactly what He’s getting with us!

He sees us through and through, all of our shame, all of our secrets: past, present and future…
But the heavenly Father chooses to lavish his love upon us!

We are blessed not because of our schemes, performance, or birth order but because we too are clothed in our elder brother’s clothes. 

This older brother, the original first born, does not begrudge sharing his covering or his inheritance with you, he wants you to wear his covering!

Isaiah 61:10 ESV

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

The Firstborn Blessings

And in Christ, consider this amazing truth: you get the SAME inheritance and blessing as Jesus, the Son! 

Remember Isaac’s blessing? 

Our inheritance isn't just earthly grain and wine. 

When Jesus returns, all Christians inherit the new heavens and new Earth with Jesus at the center. 

We get to reign with Him – not through might, but through His love – secure forever, free from sin and death, never to die. 

And even before His return, we receive the living water of Christ – having all that we truly need, guaranteed His spiritual protection until glory! 

Despite all our faithlessness and flaws, we are given this unimaginable firstborn inheritance.

PAUSE

God’s Kind of Favoritism

All of us are someone’s child, and we may be experiencing the pain of favoritism or the pain of a dysfunctional family, what do we do about this?  

On this mother’s day, you may have felt your mom favor someone else over you. 

Maybe you think, “What was wrong with me.” 

Why wasn’t I good enough. 

There is one who is not like our earthly parents…

Romans 2:11 NLT

11 For God does not show favoritism.

Why? 

Because God has unlimited love and mercy for his children, He is able to treat each of us freely and graciously without strings!

Literally, no one can do this but him. 

That doesn’t mean we will all have the same rewards in heaven or the same outcomes in life, but He can treat each of us with the affections like we are his only child, not because of our works but because of his joy to choose. 

You don’t have to earn his favor, it’s already been earned for you. 

You don’t have to scheme for the blessing, your name is on the deed! 

So in one sense, every one of God’s adopted children are his favorites. It’s a divine-favoritism. 

I am God’s favorite!
And so are you! 

Only God can do that! 

And not only does he cover us and favor us, he gives us His Spirit!

And over time, by his strength,  we can choose

• integrity over deception, 

• trust over control, 

• and agape love over favoritism!

Praise God! We have so much!!!

Gospel Invitation

Perhaps you see yourself in this story today….

If you're tired of the scheming, the striving, the sin,  the brokenness, and the feeling of not belonging…

Jesus invites you today to come to him – to turn away from your sin and your self-reliance – and to put your trust and allegiance in Him. 

Trust that he loves you and took the curse for you. 

And to trust His grace can cover all your mess and for you to join the greatest family ever, 

one where every one is a favorite and there is no insecurity about how the Father feels about you. 

Would you come to Him today? 

We’d love to pray with you afterwards (There’s a team here for you). 

Imagine

Imagine what our church community would look like if we truly grasped that God’s plan is unstoppable, even when the world is falling apart of even when we are screwing up?

We would be so full of trust and be free from scheming and feeling like manipulating situations. 

Imagine if we believed we were truly God’s favorite and didn’t need to earn love or blessing? 

We would be so secure and free to love others without favoritism!

We would be free to be real, cast off our masks, because we all know we are deeply loved and accepted. 

Imagine if we knew how secure our future was? 

We would be free to live radically on this earth, not trying to make this earth our only heaven.  

Jesus Conclusion: Glory in Christ

 God works out His plan even through the dysfunctions of His people, ultimately pointing us to THE Firstborn Son who makes all his adopted kids His favorites, clothes them with his righteousness, and secures them an eternal blessing. 

Receive this truth this morning! 

Benediction 

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Page .  Exported from Logos Bible Study, 3:09 PM May 14, 2025.