The ruse planned by Rebekah and Jacob was successful. Isaac laid his hands on Jacob (thinking he was Esau) and pronounced the following blessing:
"May God give you the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Gen 27:28-29)
One detail that catches our attention in verse 29 is Isaac's reference to "your brothers" and "your mother's sons"---both plural, when Jacob had only one brother, and his mother had only one other son. This detail suggests the possibility that Isaac was referring not just to Jacob himself, but also looking ahead to a special descendant of Jacob whom peoples would serve and to whom nations would bow down---the future Messiah! (A similar blessing is given to Solomon---and ultimately to the Messiah---in Ps 72:11.)
Christian scholar Kevin Chen discusses Gen 27:28-29 as a Messianic prophecy in his recent book The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch (IVP 2019).
Even though Isaac had intended the blessing for Esau, he and his family were confident that God would confirm this blessing upon Jacob. "Yes, and he shall be blessed," Isaac says of Jacob in v. 33.
Looking back, it appears in hindsight that God's will was worked out by a circuitous means in Gen 27. Esau did not seem to value or be in tune with his family's special mission, as evidenced by his lack of concern for the family birthright.
This does not mean, however, that Esau did not figure in God's plan. Esau and his descendants would have much to contribute, and Esau would have additional time to learn and grow. His choice of wives changed when he finally became aware of his parents' preferences in the matter (Gen 28:6-9).
In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on Sept 12, 2020, Kyle Kettering reflected on Esau's life.
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