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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3
other way. Jacob was at first unwilling to practice this deception, but
finally consented to his mother’s plans.
[115]
Rebekah was acquainted with Isaac’s partiality for Esau, and was
satisfied that reasoning would not change his purpose. Instead of
trusting in God, the disposer of events, she manifested her lack of faith
by persuading Jacob to deceive his father. Jacob’s course in this was
not approbated by God. Rebekah and Jacob should have waited for
God to bring about his own purposes, in his own way, and in his own
time, instead of trying to bring about the foretold events by the aid of
deception. If Esau had received the blessing of his father, which was
bestowed upon the first-born, his prosperity could have come from
God alone; and he would have blessed him with prosperity; or brought
upon him adversity, according to his course of action. If he should
love and reverence God, like righteous Abel, he would be accepted,
and blessed of God. If like the wicked Cain he had no respect for God,
nor for his commandments, but followed his own corrupt course, he
would not receive a blessing from God, but would be rejected of God
as was Cain. If Jacob’s course should be righteous; if he should love
and fear God, he would be blessed of God, and the prospering hand
of God would be with him, even if he did not obtain the blessings and
privileges generally bestowed upon the first born.
Rebekah repented in bitterness for the wrong counsel which she
gave to Jacob, for it was the means of separating him from her forever.
[116]
He was compelled to flee for his life from the wrath of Esau, and his
mother never saw his face again. Isaac lived many years after he gave
Jacob the blessing, and was convinced, by the course of Esau and
Jacob, that the blessing rightly belonged to Jacob.
The circumstances of Esau’s selling his birthright represents the
unrighteous, who consider that the redemption purchased for them
by Christ of little value, and sacrifice their heirship to Heaven for
perishable treasures. Many are controlled by their appetite, and rather
than to deny an unhealthy appetite, will sacrifice high and valuable
considerations. If one must be yielded, the gratification of a depraved
appetite, or the high and heavenly blessings which God promises only
to the self-denying and God-fearing, the clamors of appetite, as in the
case of Esau, will generally prevail, and for self-gratification, God and
Heaven will be virtually despised. Even professed Christians will use
tea, coffee, snuff, tobacco and spirits, all of which benumb the finer