Genesis 27:26-39
This story picks up with Jacob entering his father Isaac’s tent to receive the blessing of the firstborn son. The problem is that Jacob is not the firstborn; that honor belongs to his older brother Esau, but Isaac is blind and can’t see the difference and Jacob is a deceiver by nature, so the story unfolds. Isaac blesses Jacob with the “right-hand” blessing, meaning that Jacob gets the favored blessing, while his brother will be relegated to whatever is left-over. Jacob is going to get out of town before Esau comes in and finds out about this transaction, by which time it will be too late.
There is a lot that could be said about these two brothers: what they represent and how they live their lives, but for purposes of this devotion, let’s look at what constituted their blessings, as given by their father Isaac. Pay attention to the wording, starting with Jacob. Note the similarities and the important differences:
Jacob – “God give thee the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine” (Genesis 27:28).
Esau – “Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above” (Genesis 27:39).
The first and most obvious difference is that Jacob’s blessing comes as a gift from God, while Esau’s denotes his own works. There are two basic ways for the believer to attempt to live: by grace and favor or by works and effort. When your blessings come from nothing that you do then you are living in the abundant favor of God. When you play a part in what you get, whether it is due to your consecration, or your attendance or your devotion, then you are a recipient of what you deserve, with no regard to favor.
Next we see the order with which God mentions the blessings: Jacob receives the dew of heaven followed by the fatness of the earth, while Esau gets them in the opposite order. The provision of grace is always from above, while the provision of works is always from beneath us, where our hands labor. The ark had one window and it was at the top of the vessel so that Noah and his family could not see the waters beneath them, only the heavens above. Grace and favor rains your provision from God, so that the economy of this world and the provision of man cannot affect you. Feast off of heaven and not earth and you will be full, longer.
Finally, God promises to GIVE the good things to Jacob with “plenty of corn and wine”, while Esau is only promised to be able to DWELL in these things. The believer who rests in grace and favor will see manifold blessings come their way as a gift from God, while others will feel content simply to dwell near God’s goodness. Some Christians seem content to struggle through life, dependent on the world’s system, with heaven as their ultimate reward. We were saved to live for more than heaven! You and I are to have life more abundant (John 10:10), and corn and wine on the way!
God has destined you to receive the “right-hand” blessing. Be a recipient of grace and favor by faith today; receiving nothing by your works. The dew of heaven is ready for you. You are His beloved!
This story picks up with Jacob entering his father Isaac’s tent to receive the blessing of the firstborn son. The problem is that Jacob is not the firstborn; that honor belongs to his older brother Esau, but Isaac is blind and can’t see the difference and Jacob is a deceiver by nature, so the story unfolds. Isaac blesses Jacob with the “right-hand” blessing, meaning that Jacob gets the favored blessing, while his brother will be relegated to whatever is left-over. Jacob is going to get out of town before Esau comes in and finds out about this transaction, by which time it will be too late.
There is a lot that could be said about these two brothers: what they represent and how they live their lives, but for purposes of this devotion, let’s look at what constituted their blessings, as given by their father Isaac. Pay attention to the wording, starting with Jacob. Note the similarities and the important differences:
Jacob – “God give thee the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine” (Genesis 27:28).
Esau – “Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above” (Genesis 27:39).
The first and most obvious difference is that Jacob’s blessing comes as a gift from God, while Esau’s denotes his own works. There are two basic ways for the believer to attempt to live: by grace and favor or by works and effort. When your blessings come from nothing that you do then you are living in the abundant favor of God. When you play a part in what you get, whether it is due to your consecration, or your attendance or your devotion, then you are a recipient of what you deserve, with no regard to favor.
Next we see the order with which God mentions the blessings: Jacob receives the dew of heaven followed by the fatness of the earth, while Esau gets them in the opposite order. The provision of grace is always from above, while the provision of works is always from beneath us, where our hands labor. The ark had one window and it was at the top of the vessel so that Noah and his family could not see the waters beneath them, only the heavens above. Grace and favor rains your provision from God, so that the economy of this world and the provision of man cannot affect you. Feast off of heaven and not earth and you will be full, longer.
Finally, God promises to GIVE the good things to Jacob with “plenty of corn and wine”, while Esau is only promised to be able to DWELL in these things. The believer who rests in grace and favor will see manifold blessings come their way as a gift from God, while others will feel content simply to dwell near God’s goodness. Some Christians seem content to struggle through life, dependent on the world’s system, with heaven as their ultimate reward. We were saved to live for more than heaven! You and I are to have life more abundant (John 10:10), and corn and wine on the way!
God has destined you to receive the “right-hand” blessing. Be a recipient of grace and favor by faith today; receiving nothing by your works. The dew of heaven is ready for you. You are His beloved!
