11:20
We now get a brief mention of Abraham’s immediate descendants. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, and we are told this was done by faith with regard to their futures. This is a rather odd incident, for we know that Jacob, at Rachel’s instigation, deceived Isaac into giving him the primary blessing. When Esau came for his blessing, expecting to receive the blessing for the firstborn, Isaac refused. One might think that he could revoke the blessing on Jacob, as it had been obtained under false pretences. However, Isaac stuck with the original blessing, and I think we must take it that is where the faith came in.
11:21
Jacob had a very varied life. He actually blessed all his sons, but here it refers only to Joseph’s sons. The blessing of all of Jacob’s sons is recorded in Gen 49. In Gen 48 Joseph asks Jacob to bless his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob gave Ephraim the greater blessing, much to Joseph’s displeasure (Gen 48:17). The mention of Jacob leaning on his staff represented his life as a stranger and wanderer. God had been leading him the whole way.
No comments:
Post a Comment