Daily Devotions
Genesis
"A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated." Proverbs 14:17
Text: Genesis 27:1-46
GREAT BITTERNESS OF HEART
Esau may have been married, but he remained quick-tempered. His reaction to the discovery that he had been cheated of the firstborn blessing was terrible to behold.
“When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried
with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father,
‘Bless me – me also, O my father!'”GENESIS 27:34
What was Esau looking for when he asked his father to bless him?
1. Was he looking for a spiritual blessing from God?
The Scriptures have not given any intimation that Esau was a wonderfully spiritual man. He was prepared to sell his birth-right for some bread and a bit of lentil stew (Cf. Genesis 25:29-34). He had ill-advisedly, perhaps even thoughtlessly, married two Hittite women, much to the grief of his parents (Cf. Genesis 26:34). He was probably not looking for a spiritual blessing.
2. He was probably looking forward to being made the head of the Family
Esau was the firstborn. He had expected to be made the head of the family. He must have figured that he had all the “qualities” that would have made him the natural leader. He was strong. He was a good hunter. He was brave. What more was needed to lead a nomadic tribe?
3. He was looking for the special blessing from his beloved father
There was a very strong bond between Isaac and Esau. The bond of love between father and son was very strong. But of course, Esau looked forward to receiving that special word of blessing from his beloved father. The blessing would represent so much! To have his father’s blessing would be the summit of his relationship with his father!
Esau must have felt that he had been robbed by his brother! Seldom had he felt so helpless! The frustration that gnawed at his very soul could not be easily assuaged, even if he “cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry”!
PLEADING FOR AN EQUIVALENT SECOND BLESSING
Did Isaac have only one blessing to give? Could he not find another blessing somewhere? How little Esau understood the nature of the firstborn blessing! He had sold his birthright so cheaply once before. Did he not know that when he despised his birthright then, he could not expect that he would obtain the firstborn blessing. That would be impossible. These thoughts seemed to have been too deep for Esau to fathom!
Isaac did not have an equivalent second blessing! He could only sympathise with Esau. He lamented that Jacob had stolen his brother’s blessing.
“Your brother came with deceit and has taken away
Your blessing.”GENESIS 27:35