Jacob Deceived Isaac Story Summary

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Bible Story: Jacob Deceived Isaac

Bible Text: Genesis 27:1-45

Story Truth(s):

  • Jacob stole Esau’s blessing by deceiving Isaac.
  • Sin divided Jacob’s family.
  • God still used Jacob.

Story: Esau and Jacob were twins. Esau was the first born, and his father’s favorite. Jacob was his mother’s favorite. He was a quiet man, while Esau was a skillful hunter. In Genesis 27, the story of Jacob and Esau shows how sin can divide a family.

When Isaac was old and nearing death, he called Esau to him. Isaac said, “I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons… and go out to the field and hunt games for me 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” (Gen. 27:2-3, HCSB). Esau grabbed his bow and set out to obey his father.

Rebekah heard her husband’s words. She loved Jacob more than Esau, and she wanted her younger son to receive his father’s blessing. She called to Jacob and convinced him to deceive his father. Wearing his brother’s clothes and the skins of a goat so he would seem hairy like his brother, Jacob approached Isaac with the food his mother prepared and pretended to be Esau.

At first, Isaac was suspicious. He heard Jacob’s voice and didn’t think he was Esau, but then he felt his hands and smelled his clothes, and tasted his food, and blessed Jacob with Esau’s blessing. Jacob deceived Isaac and stole his brother’s blessing.

Esau was not happy. When he returned home and discovered what Jacob did, Esau was mad enough to kill his brother. Jacob had to run away from Esau’s anger.

In the Jacob and Esau story, we see many sins. Rebekah and Isaac didn’t teach their children about God’s unconditional love, and Rebekah even encouraged Jacob to lie. We also see how jealousy, deception, and anger can destroy a family. Sin divided Jacob’s family, but God was still able to redeem their story because God is bigger than our sin. God used Jacob to father His chosen people.

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