Pointing to Jesus (Genesis 27)

Summary:

Genesis 27 narrates the deception by which Jacob secures Isaac’s blessing. 

Isaac, old and nearly blind, intends to bless his firstborn, Esau, before dying. 

He asks Esau to hunt and prepare a meal. 

Rebekah overhears and orchestrates a plan for Jacob to impersonate Esau. 

She prepares food, dresses Jacob in Esau’s clothes, and covers his skin with goatskins to mimic Esau’s hairiness. 

Jacob deceives Isaac, who, despite suspicion, blesses him with the covenantal blessing of prosperity, dominion, and favor, tied to the Abrahamic promise. 

When Esau returns, he discovers the deception and weeps, receiving a lesser blessing. 

Furious, Esau plans to kill Jacob, prompting Rebekah to send Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran for safety.

Pointer to Jesus:

Jacob’s receiving the blessing despite his unworthiness (vv. 18-29) serves as a type of Christ’s mediation of covenant blessings to the elect. 

Though Jacob’s deception highlights human sinfulness, God’s sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau (Romans 9:10-13) before birth (Genesis 25:23) points to divine grace, not human merit. 

This foreshadows Jesus, the true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), who perfectly fulfills the covenant and secures its blessings—prosperity, dominion, and favor—for His people, not by deception but by His righteous obedience and atoning death (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 5:19). 

Jacob, as the chosen heir despite his flaws, typifies the elect who receive unmerited grace through Christ.

Reflection:

This example reminds Christians that our inclusion in God’s covenant blessings stems from His sovereign grace, not our worthiness, as seen in Jacob’s story.

 In daily life, it encourages humility, trusting in Christ’s perfect righteousness rather than our flawed efforts. Despite our sins, like Jacob’s deception, God’s electing grace ensures our security in Christ, inspiring us to live with gratitude, pursue holiness, and rest in the assurance that Jesus, our mediator, has secured our eternal blessing.