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incurring the divine displeasure and of debarring his younger son
from the position to which God had called him. She had in vain tried
the effect of reasoning with Isaac, and she determined to resort to
stratagem.
No sooner had Esau departed on his errand than Rebekah set about
the accomplishment of her purpose. She told Jacob what had taken
place, urging the necessity of immediate action to prevent the bestowal
of the blessing, finally and irrevocably, upon Esau. And she assured
her son that if he would follow her directions, he might obtain it as
God had promised. Jacob did not readily consent to the plan that
she proposed. The thought of deceiving his father caused him great
distress. He felt that such a sin would bring a curse rather than a
blessing. But his scruples were overborne, and he proceeded to carry
out his mother’s suggestions. It was not his intention to utter a direct
falsehood, but once in the presence of his father he seemed to have
gone too far to retreat, and he obtained by fraud the coveted blessing.
Jacob and Rebekah succeeded in their purpose, but they gained
only trouble and sorrow by their deception. God had declared that
Jacob should receive the birthright, and His word would have been
fulfilled in His own time had they waited in faith for Him to work for
them. But like many who now profess to be children of God, they
were unwilling to leave the matter in His hands. Rebekah bitterly
repented the wrong counsel she had given her son; it was the means of
separating him from her, and she never saw his face again. From the
hour when he received the birthright, Jacob was weighed down with
self-condemnation. He had sinned against his father, his brother, his
own soul, and against God. In one short hour he had made work for
a lifelong repentance. This scene was vivid before him in afteryears,
when the wicked course of his sons oppressed his soul.
No sooner had Jacob left his father’s tent than Esau entered.
Though he had sold his birthright, and confirmed the transfer by a
solemn oath, he was now determined to secure its blessings, regardless
of his brother’s claim. With the spiritual was connected the tempo-
ral birthright, which would give him the headship of the family and
possession of a double portion of his father’s wealth. These were
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blessings that he could value. “Let my father arise,” he said, “and eat
of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.”