What is your first thought when it comes to Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah?

The deceiver?

The trickster?

The heel grabber?

The mama’s boy?

These are some of the qualities that came to my mind. But after looking into it, I think most of my initial observations were wrong.

Before they were even born, the LORD told Rebekah that each of her boys will become a nation (Genesis 25:23). Jacob becomes the head of the nation of Israel, while Esau’s descendants are known as the Edomites. The LORD also revealed that the older brother, Esau, will serve the younger, Jacob.

In the ancient Israelite culture, the birthright – a double portion of all the father has – belonged to the firstborn son (Dt 21:17). After the father’s death, the firstborn son would receive twice as much as any other son, and will become the head of the family.  

After the account of their birth, the next time we see the twins they are in their late teens. “Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Genesis 25:27-28, ESV).

Isaac and Rebekah each had their favorite son. But favoritism is never good for relationships. We are told Rebekah loves Jacob, but it appears Isaac loves Esau for what he can do for him. Namely, providing him with the delicious meat he loves.

Favoritism is never good for relationships.

Esau was hungry, thirsty, and tired after a long day hunting in the countryside. As he nears  home, a wonderful aroma wafts towards him. He’s been out all day, in the hot sun, providing for his family and he is starving!

“Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!’ Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright now.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’” (Genesis 25:30-32).

Seeing his hungry brother, Jacob remembers the words his mother spoke to him. The words she heard from the LORD. “The older shall serve the younger.” Perhaps she encouraged Jacob to look for an opportunity such as this. Here is his chance to help fulfill prophesy. He will give Esau some stew – in exchange for his rights as the firstborn. 

“Jacob said, ‘Swear to me now.’ So [Esau] swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob” (Genesis 25:33).

It is often said that Jacob stole Esau’s birthright, but if we look closely, we see that was not the case. The birthright was destined to belong to Jacob. Scripture tells us “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen 25:34). If Esau had valued his birthright, he would have never parted with it in exchange for a mere bowl of stew!

Genesis 25:27 describes Jacob as a quiet man. The Hebrew word translated as “quiet” is tom. I was surprised to learn that tom means guiltless, without sin, upright, honest.^[1]  

Jacob was guiltless, without sin, upright, honest.

Jacob did not steal Esau’s birthright.

He did not trick him.

Esau sold the birthright to him.

Jacob bought it, fair and square.

“When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him…‘Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die’” (Genesis 27:1-4).

Wait a minute! Let’s think through this. What do you think happened after Jacob bought Esau’s birthright? Wouldn’t he be eager to share his good fortune with his mother? And do you think Rebekah kept this news to herself? Or did she tell Isaac that the prophecy has come into being?  Jacob is now the rightful owner of the birthright!

Rebekah was fuming! Isaac knows the prophecy. The older will serve the younger! She herself told Isaac the birthright now belonged to Jacob! And here he is going behind her back to bless Esau. And Esau. Oh that Esau! Did he ever mention to Isaac that he sold the birthright to Jacob? Of course not! It is time she took matters into her own hands! Where is Jacob?

Rebekah overhears Isaac and instructs her favorite son, Jacob, to bring her two goats. She then makes a delicious meal for Jacob, disguised as Esau, to bring to Isaac. This way Jacob will receive Isaac’s blessing before Esau returns.

If Jacob is guilty of being deceitful, maybe everyone in the family was:

         Rebekah was listening in on Isaac’s conversation with Esau.

Jacob disguised himself as Esau, albeit at his mother’s command.

Isaac surely knew of the sale of the birthright to Jacob.

Esau “failed to mention” the sale of his birthright to Isaac.

What if everyone in the family knew Jacob was now the son who should receive the blessing?

What if Isaac knew the blessing now belonged to Jacob, but planned to give it to Esau anyway? Regardless, Esau neglected to tell Isaac that the birthright now legally belonged to Jacob. Instead, he went out hunting, expecting to receive the birthright (that he had already sold) upon his return.

What if Rebekah and Jacob went through with their plan only so the birthright would be given to the rightful owner, Jacob?

“See to it that no one…is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who SOLD his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:15-17, ESV).

What do you think?

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^[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).