#72 Ingredients Genesis 27

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and eyes were dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, "my  son." And he answered him, "here I am." Then he said, "behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die." Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother saying, 'bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.' Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death." And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver; and I hall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing." But his mother said to him, "Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me." And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 

Isaac had gone blind in his old age and may have felt this was an indication that he needed to bless his son soon. He actually lives 43 more years, but it would also appear that he is taking it upon himself to bless the son of his choosing. God has spoken to his wife, Esau bartered his birthright for some beans, and he has married women that grieve his mother and father. This is the son of Isaac's pride, and the beans are one thing, but ignoring the word of the God who speaks to you, hmm. I suppose I'm not much different. The word of God is there for me to read or recall whenever I want to, but when I don't is that the same as not listening? When I hear the word of God, and choose my own way, is that not the same arrogance as here? When my wife speaks to me from the word of God and I am not moved in my resolve, then have I not told her that the word of God is of low account to me?

Isaac's disobedience does not justify his wife's trickery, and Jacob is at first not willing to be cursed by his father. His mother, who has received the word of God, now puts so much weight on the Patriarchal blessing, that she will take any curse upon herself. Jacob is reassured in this, but also in that he is obeying the words of her voice. She told me to do it. I was just doing what I was told. In the corporate world this is considered and asset, but I have always preferred a different approach. It is impossible to know all things and predict every outcome perfectly. When I have the choice to hire, I always look for the person who will stand up to me when I am wrong. This may stunt my corporate rise, but I make and help those above me not just make a decision, but make the right decision. When I am in the position of having to listen to a yes man, I can't put the same amount of weight on his words. I have to find other counsel and it slows the process down, but the counsel of the man who wants what's right over your approval will keep you from a poor decision. Jacob could have disobeyed the words of his mother and been justified in it. God would have dealt with his father and brother.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1 NKJV