Prophetic Prospective Daily Devotional

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him.


In our devotional reading for today I have selected only a portion of the entire chapter for our extended reading. However, let me suggest that you read the whole chapter for all the background.

You will see how Jacob and his mother connived to “steal” the “blessing” from Esau. What is so interesting about the manipulation by Jacob and Rebekah for both the taking of the “birthright” and the “blessing” did not have to take place since the Lord told Rebekah that Esau, the older son, would serve Jacob, the younger son, while the boys were still in her womb, Genesis 25:23.

As we go over the reading for today let me share some thoughts that may give you insight into the plan of God for the future. Verses 26 to 33 record Isaac giving Jacob the “blessing”. Isaac repeated what God had told his father Abraham in Genesis 12:3, that “cursed be everyone that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee”, verse 29.

Esau was very upset when he found out that Jacob had received the blessing and wanted his father to give him a “blessing” also. In fact, Esau cried an “exceeding bitter cry” almost demanded from his father a blessing also, verse 34.

Isaac did, in fact, give Esau a blessing, verses 39-40. Part of that blessing was that he would serve his brother Jacob. This made Esau very mad, enough so, that he purposed in his heart to kill his brother Jacob after the death of their father, verse 41.

It was at this time that Rebekah decided it best for Jacob to go live with her brother in Haran, verse 43, until Esau’s “fury turned away”. This trip would result in Jacob marrying his two cousins, Rachel and Leah, and having with them the twelve sons that would become the “twelve tribes of Israel”.

We see in this chapter of Genesis the beginnings of so much of Bible prophecy. The “line of promise” would be passed from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob and that was in the “blessing” that Isaac bestowed upon his son Jacob.

Also, the two brothers would become two “nations” in the world, in the last days. Jacob’s descendants would become Israel of today, the Jewish State. Esau’s family-line can be traced to the Palestinians of today. The stage is set for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, and seemingly in the near future.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, I am amazed at how the ancient Jewish Prophets were able to “pre-write” history. Thank you for this tangible proof of how prophecy was fulfilled, and will be fulfilled in the future.