Genesis 27:41-46 - Exposition

The stolen blessing: a domestic drama.-4. Rebekah and Esau, or fratricide frustrated.

I. THE MURDEROUS DESIGN OF ESAU .

1. The ostensible reason . "Because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed Jacob." No argument can justify willful and deliberate homicide; least of all an excuse so lame and feeble as that of Esau. The blessing Jacob had obtained was one which he himself had formerly despised and practically sold; If Jacob had been guilty of stealing it from him, as he imagined, it was only what he had been attempting to do with reference to Jacob. Besides, in so far as the blessing was an object of desire to Esau, viz; for its material advantages, he had himself received a blessing not greatly dissimilar. There was therefore no sufficient cause for Esau's hostility towards his brother.

2. The impelling motive . "Hate"—the essential spirit of murder ( Matthew 5:22 ; 1 John 3:15 ). Esau's causeless hatred of Jacob was typical of the world's enmity against the Church: in its ground, the Church's enjoyment of the blessing; in its spirit, bitter and implacable; in its manifestation, persecution and oppression ( 1 John 3:13 ).

3. The decorous restraint . "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother." Wicked men who resist all the influences of piety are not always able to surmount the barriers of public opinion. Though Esau had no scruples on the score of conscience as to killing Jacob, he had some scruples on the ground of decency as to doing it while his father lived. Persons who have no religion not infrequently do homage to the appearance of religion.

4. The providential discovery . Though Esau originally resolved on Jacob's murder in secret, he appears to have inadvertently disclosed his purpose to another, who forthwith communicated his intention to Rebekah. Those who have secrets to keep should tell them to no one; but Divine providence has wisely and mercifully arranged that guilty secrets should be ill to keep. "Murder will out."

5. The inglorious defeat . The information brought to Rebekah enabled her to counterwork Esau's design, and thus a second time was Esau outwitted by a woman. It is obvious that some sons are not so clever as their mothers.

II. THE PRUDENT COUNSEL OF REBEKAH .

1. Hastily formed . The shrewd sagacity of Isaac's wife at once perceived an outlet from the snare. The woman's wit that had cheated Isaac was not likely to be baffled with blustering Esau. Calling Jacob from the herds, she told him of his brother's murderous design, and detailed her own scheme for his protection.

2. Clearly explained . He should immediately betake himself to Haran, and seek shelter for a season beside his uncle Laban and his cousins. Though Rebekah does not mention the propriety of looking for a wife, it is apparent that the possibility of Jacob's finding one was present to her thoughts.

3. Skillfully urged . Arguments were not long in coming to Rebekah's aid.

4. Adroitly carried through . Securing her son's compliance, there was still the difficulty how to obtain the assent of Isaac. This she does by leading Isaac himself to suggest the propriety of Jacob's going north to Padan-aram in search of a wife; and to this she turns the thoughts of Isaac by expressing the hope that Jacob will not imitate his brother by marrying daughters of the land, a calamity, she informs her husband, which would render her already miserable life scarcely worth retaining. It was prudent in Rebekah to direct the mind of Isaac to the propriety of getting Jacob married, but there is not wanting a trace of that craftiness which was Rebekah's peculiar infirmity.

Learn—

1. That the world's hostility to the Church is wholly unreasonable and unjustifiable.

2. That wicked devices against God's people are sure eventually to be overturned.

3. That bad men sometimes wear a semblance of religion.

4. That good mothers grieve for the wickedness of bad, and work for the safety of good, sons.

5. That while wicked matches in their children are a burden to gracious parents, it should be a parent's aim to secure pious wives for their sons, and Christian husbands for their daughters.

HOMILIES BY F. HASTINGS