Genesis 27 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 27

WHEN:

• Isaac was born in approximately 1896 B.C. Esau and Jacob were born when Isaac was 60 years old (1836 B.C.). Isaac lived to be 180 years old and died around 1716 B.C. Utilizing details in the upcoming chapters, it seems safe to say the events recorded in Genesis 27 took place between the years 1816-1757 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Isaac – Abraham’s son and husband of Rebekah. He was blessed by God and very rich.

• Rebekah – Isaac’s wife and mother of Jacob and Esau.

• Esau – The firstborn of Isaac. He was a skillful hunter (25:27).

• Jacob – The twin brother of Esau and the favorite of Rebekah.

WHERE:

• The events recorded in Genesis 27 took place in Beersheba (Gen 28:10).

OUTLINE:

• ISAAC PREPARES TO BLESS ESAU (27:1-4):

  • Isaac was growing old and blind and feared the day of his death was near.

  • He told his son Esau to go out hunting and prepare him a delicious meal.

  • Isaac intended to bestow his blessing on Esau, his firstborn, before his death.  

• REBEKAH AND JACOB’S PLAN TO DECEIVE ISAAC (27:5-17):

  • Rebekah overheard Isaac and Esau’s conversation, and when Esau left for the hunt, she called Jacob and began devising a plan to deceive her husband into giving Jacob the blessing.  

  • She told Jacob she would cook the meat of 2 young goats in a way Isaac loved, and Jacob could take the meat to his father and pretend to be Esau.

  • Rebekah brought Esau’s clothes and gave them to Jacob, she even put the skin of the goats on his hands and neck (because Esau was a hairy man).

  • When the food was prepared, she sent Jacob in to talk to Isaac.

• ISAAC IS TRICKED AND GIVES JACOB THE BLESSING (27:18-30):

  • Jacob approached his father, and when asked who he was, Jacob lied and said, “I am Esau your firstborn.”

  • Isaac was immediately suspicious at how quickly “Esau” had been able to hunt and prepare game.

  • He asked his son to approach him so he could feel him.

    Upon touching his hands, Isaac responded, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

  • Isaac asked again, “Are you really my son Esau?” and Jacob lied again, “I am”.

  • Contented that it was in fact Esau standing in front of him, Isaac blessed Jacob.

  • Isaac pronounced a blessing of prosperity over Jacob and declared that he would be lord over his brothers.  

• ESAU RECEIVES A LESSER BLESSING (27:31-40):

  • Almost as soon as Jacob left, Esau returned with the meat from his hunt.

  • Isaac “trembled very violently” when he realized he had been deceived.

  • Isaac told Esau how Jacob deceived him and how he had already given him the greatest blessing.

  • Esau cried out “with an exceedingly great and bitter cry.”

  • He asked his father if he had any blessing left for him.

  • Isaac blessed Esau but told him he would be his brother’s servant.

• JACOB FLEES FROM ESAU (27:41-46):

  • Esau planned to kill Jacob after his father’s death.

  • Rebekah sent Jacob away to Haran, to the house of her brother Laban.

APPLICATION:

• Tricking a poor old blind man for personal gain is a disgraceful thing to do.

• But God can use people with disgraceful pasts for future good.

• Later in Genesis, we will read how God used Jacob to father the Israelite nation. His sons became the 12 tribes of Israel, and they are super important to the overall Bible story.

• Likewise, your usefulness in God’s story isn’t limited just because you have a few disgraces marring your past.