As Isaac got older, he became blind, and thought
he was going to die soon. So he decided to give
the family blessing to Esau. He said, “Go hunt for
wild game and prepare it the way I like. After I
eat, I’ll give you the family blessing.”
Rebekah overheard this and told Jacob. She
said, “Go get two young goats. I’ll prepare them
as a meal for your father, and make it the way that
will please him. You serve it to him and get the
blessing.”
Jacob said, “Esau is a hairy man, and I have
smooth skin. If my father touches me, he’ll know
that I’m trying to trick him. He’ll give me a curse
instead of a blessing!”
Rebekah said, “Let your curse be on me! Go
and do as I’ve said.”
So Jacob went and got the two young goats
and gave them to his mother. She gave him
Esau’s hunting clothes to put on. After she
prepared the meal, she covered Jacob’s arms
with goatskins – as well as the back of his neck.
Jacob took the food to his father’s tent. He
said, “Father.”
Isaac turned his blind eyes toward him. “Yes,
son, who are you?”
“I’m Esau. Please, sit up and eat so you can
give me the blessing.”
Isaac said, “I’m surprised you’re back so fast!
“Your God was with me and gave me success.”
Isaac said, “Come close to me so I can make
sure you’re really Esau.” So Jacob stepped
closer and Isaac reached out and touched his
arm. It was hairy like Esau’s arm. Isaac then
reached around to the back of Jacob’s neck.
Once again he found it was hairy.
He said, “Son, I’m confused. Your voice
sounds like Jacob, yet your skin feels like Esau.
Are you really Esau?”
“Yes, father, I’m Esau.”
“Well ... uh ... please, serve me the meal.”
Jacob served the food to his father. It tasted
exactly the way Esau would have prepared it.
Still Isaac was not convinced. So he asked his
son to come and give him a kiss. When Jacob
leaned over to kiss his father, Isaac smelled the
clothes his son was wearing. It had the smell of
the outdoors. He said,
“The smell of my son is like the
smell of a field - blessed by God!
May God give you of heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness:
an abundance of grain and new wine!
May nations serve you
and people bow down to you.
You’ll be the master over your brothers
The sons of your mother
will bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed,
and those who bless you be blessed.”
Soon after Jacob left the tent, Esau came in
with the meat he had prepared. “Father, sit up
and eat the meal I’ve prepared for you. Then you
can give me the blessing.”
Isaac looked up. “Who are you?”
“I’m Esau, your firstborn son! Please, sit up.”
Isaac began to tremble. “Then who brought
me a meal of wild game? I gave him the blessing.
And… indeed, the blessing is his.
Esau was shocked. He shouted, “Bless me
too, my father!”
“Ah, your brother deceived me and took
your blessing. I’ve made him your lord. All of his
relatives will serve him. I’ve given him everything
– all of our grain and new wine. What else can I
possibly give you?”
As Esau left his father’s tent, he said, “After my
father dies, I’ll kill Jacob!”
Rebekah heard this, and rushed to tell Jacob.
“You must leave. Go to my brother’s house! I’ll send
for you once Esau gets over his anger. Go quickly. I
don’t want to lose both of you in one day!”
She then got Isaac’s permission for Jacob’s trip.
Isaac agreed that Jacob should go to Rebekah’s
country and find a wife.
© God Child