Isaac is now old, blind, and he believed near his death. He calls to Esau and asks him to hunt and prepare food from the hunt. Esau is to bring the food to Isaac and Isaac would then bless Esau before he dies. It should be noted that the purpose of the blessing was to designate the heir to the divine promises of Abraham and Isaac. Typically, this is given to the firstborn who has the firstborn birthright. However, remember that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34).

Issac’s wife was listening when Isaac poke to Esau. Here we must remember that while Isaac loved Esau, Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28). It is likely that Isaac talked much about the promises of God to his offspring. So, while Isaac intends the blessing to pass on to Esau, Rebekah wants the blessing to pass on to Jacob. Rebekah tells Jacob to go to the flock and kill two young goats in order that she can prepare them as food, in order that Jacob takes the food to and receives the blessing from Isaac. Jacob states that he is smooth, not hairy like Esau and Isaac will think Jacob is mocking him and the deception could bring a curse upon him. Rebekkah took some of Esau’s best garments and put them on Jacob, and the skin of the young goats to cover Jacob’s arms and neck, and Jacob went to Isaac.

Isaac asked how game had been found so quick, which Jacob answered was due to God granting him success. Isaac recognized Jacob’s voice but because the arms felt hairy like Esau’s Isaac was deceived. Isaac blessed Jacob (whom he thought was Esau) asking for prosperity, but also nations to bow down to Jacob. The last part was most interesting. Isaac said “May you be the master of your brothers and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:29).

After Jacob, left his father Esau returns from the hunt. Esau prepares the food and brings it to Isaac expecting to be blessed. Upon Esau returning, Isaac realizes that he had been deceived by Jacob. Esau now realizes that he has twice been cheated by Jacob, which is a play of words as the Hebrew word for Jacob means heel (Jacob was holding Esau’s heel on birth Genesis 25:26), but it also is a connotation of to cheat.

Esau pleads with his father to bless him also. Isaac says, “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above. You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.” (Genesis 27:40). Contrast this with the blessing Jacob received. These words enrage Esau, and he vows to kill Jacob after a period of mourning when Isaac dies. However, Rebekah learns of Esau’s plans and convinces Jacob to go to her brother Laban in Haran, and she would send for Jacob when Esau’s anger settles down. She convinces Isaac of this as well by telling him that Jacob should not take a wife from the Hittite women in Canaan.

Isaac listens and sends Jacob to Paddan-aram to find a wife at the house of Betheul, to find a wife among the daughters of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. As he dismisses Jacob, Isaac again blesses Jacob with the divine blessings passed to Abraham and himself by God including possession of the land of Canaan.

Esau heard that Jacob was sent to Paddan-aram to have a wife from there because Jacob should not take a wife from the women of Canaan, Esau determined that neither should he have a wife of the Canaanite women and went to Ishmael for a wife in order to gain the approval of Isaac and Rebekah, but he kept the two Hittite wives he already had.

On the journey, Jacob stopped to rest. There Jacob dreamed of a ladder that went from Earth up to Heaven, with angels ascending it and descending it. Jesus will later identify Himself as the ladder to Heaven saying, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51). Jacob then hears the Lord who promises to give Jacob’s offspring the land of Canaan and multiply his offspring like He had promised Abraham and Isaac. He additionally promises to be with Jacob and bring him back to Canaan and not abandon him.

On awakening, Jacob affirms that he was in the presence of God calling the place “the house of God” and ”the gate of Heaven”. Taking the stone he had laid his head on, Jacob set it as a pillar and poured oil on it naming the place Bethel. His vow at this point is conditional that if God stays with him providing food and clothing, then the Lord will be his God. This is quite ironic being he was affirming that he was at the house of God and the gates of Heaven.

Jacob journeys on and eventually arrives at a well, where Jacob encounters shepherds of Laban, and also Rachel with her father’s (Laban’s) flock of sheep. He rolled the stone from the well to water the sheep. He then kisses Rachel and weeps telling Rachel that he is a kinsman of her father and Rebekah’s son. Laban embraced Jacob and brought him into his house. Laban asked Jacob what he would like for pay in working for him. Jacob loved Rachel and told Laban that he would work for him for 7 years in exchange for marrying Rachel.

Keeping his promise Jacob worked for 7 years for Laban, and at the end of the7 years asked for Rachel as his wife. However, Laban deceived Jacob and sent Leah instead. Upon learning of the deception, Jacob confronted Laban, who asked Jacob to finish the week, and he would give Jacob Rachel as well if Jacob would work another 7 years for him.

We now learn that Leah was hated, possibly because of the way that Laban deceived Jacob. But the Lord took notice, so why Leah conceived, Rachel was barren. The first was Reuben ” “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” The second was Simon, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” The third was Levi, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” And the fourth was Judah, “This time I will praise the LORD.” at which time Leah ceased bearing children.