Find the Gospel in the Story
In Luke 24, Jesus taught his disciples that every story in the Bible points directly to him! He explained that we simply need to look for the gospel pattern of "suffering followed by glory." That is, we need to look for something that points to his suffering on the cross, followed by something that points to the glory of his resurrection! Use the gospel chart below to help you find "the story within the story!"
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Jacob Steals the Blessing from His Brother |
Jesus Shares the Blessing with His Brothers |
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1. Esau was to receive the blessing of the firstborn by his blind father Isaac (Gen 27:1-4). |
1. Jesus was to receive the blessing of the firstborn by his impartial Father God (Psa 21:6; Rom 9:5). |
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2. Isaac asked for a savory meal from Esau’s venison before he blessed his firstborn son Esau (Gen 27:3-4). |
2. The Father was aware of our great sin. His judgment would have placed us under his curse (Gal 3:10). |
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3. Jacob prepared a savory meal for his father, Isaac, while Esau was in the field (Gen 27:8-9). |
3. Jesus prepared a savory meal for his Father while we were estranged, a meal of his own body and blood (1 Cor 11:23-26). |
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4. Jacob disguised himself as Esau, wearing goat hair around his neck and arms and dressing in Esau’s clothes, offering a savory meal to his father (Gen 27:15-16). |
4. Jesus for our sake took on our identity before his Father. He took on the bestial aspect of our sin, dressing in our own garments of unrighteousness (John 3:14). |
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5. The blind Isaac tested his son to confirm his identity. Then he conferred an irrevocable blessing on Jacob, taking him for Esau (Gen 27:30-33). |
5. Father God impartially tested Jesus in all things. He conferred on Jesus the curse of our death. Jesus shared his garments of perfect virtue with us, that we might share his blessing (1 Pet 2:24; Gal 3:13). |
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6. Esau returned from the field, but learned that Isaac had given his blessing to his brother Jacob (Gen 27:34-35). |
6. When Jesus returned from the grave, we learned that the Father had blessed him so that we might share in his blessing (Eph 1:3-5, 11-14). |
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7. Esau cried out to his father Isaac in grief that Jacob had supplanted him of his birthright and his blessing (Gen 27:36). |
7. We cried out to the Father in faith and thanksgiving, for Jesus has given us to share in his birthright and his blessing (Rom 8:15). |
Gospel Study Notes
The accounts of the birthright and the blessing each center on a type of eucharistic meal, which furthers the gospel pattern. Esau claims he is at the point of death when Jacob makes the lentil stew (Gen 25:32). Isaac claims to be at the point of death when he requests the meal of game that will prompt his blessing (Gen 27:2-4).
Connection #1
Esau had the right to receive the blessing of the firstborn of Jacob (Gen 27:1-4). Jesus had the right to receive the blessing of the firstborn (only begotten) Son of God (Psa 2:7; Rom 9:5).
Connection #2
Isaac announced his intention to bestow his blessing on Esau (Gen 27:3-4). Father God knew of our sin, which placed us in the way of his judgment and curse (Gal 3:10).
Connection #3
Jacob prepared a savory meal to represent himself as his brother in order to supplant Esau in the blessing of Isaac (Gen 27:8-9). Jesus prepared a savory meal for his Father, a meal of his own body and blood (1 Cor 11:23-26).
Connection #4-5
Jacob assumed the identity of his brother before his father, all to dispossess Esau of his father’s blessing (Gen 27:15-16). Jesus assumed our sinful identity before his Father, all to take away our curse and share with us his blessing (1 Pet 2:24; Gal 3:13).
Connection #6
Esau was dispossessed by Jacob’s deceit (Gen 27:34-35). The guileless Jesus (1 Pet 2:22) willingly and openly took our sinful identity onto himself, suffering the just punishment of our sins on the cross (1 Pet 2:24), all to share his perfect righteousness with us when God raised him from the dead (Rom 4:25).
Connection #7
Esau cried out to his father that his brother had disposed him of both his birthright and blessing (Gen 27:36). Jesus dispossessed himself of all privilege (Phil 2:5-11) in order to share his birthright and blessing with us (Rom 8:15)! What a Savior! How in every way he is greater than Jacob (John 4:12)!
Gospel Takeaways
Jacob esteemed the birthright and blessing of Abraham’s covenant, while Esau despised them. But Jacob’s method of dispossessing his brother Esau was by deceit. We like Esau, had no regard for the benefits of the Lord’s covenant of grace. We like Jacob, were filled with deceit. But Jesus, who was without guile, satisfied in perfect justice our sin and curse before his Father in order to share his blessing with us. Is Jesus not greater than Jacob to our grateful hearts?
Genesis 27:1–29 (Listen)
Isaac Blesses Jacob
27:1 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, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 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.”
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”
14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,
“See, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven
and of the fatness of the earth
and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
(ESV)
