Rebekah and Jacob deceived Isaac to secure the blessing for Jacob, but they were carrying out in a fleshly way what God had already sovereignly planned.
God told Rebekah before the twins were born that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Yet Rebekah and Jacob did not simply trust God; they schemed to make it happen. Jacob himself feared being found out as a deceiver (Genesis 27:12), and Isaac later said his brother came with subtlety and took away the blessing (Genesis 27:35).
Genesis 25:23 — This records God's own declaration that the elder would serve the younger, showing the outcome was planned before Jacob ever deceived anyone.
Genesis 27:35 — This is Isaac's direct statement that Jacob came with subtlety and took away Esau's blessing.
The biblical account begins before the twins are born. When Rebekah inquired of the Lord about the struggle in her womb, the Lord answered that two nations were in her womb and that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). In Genesis 27, Rebekah directed Jacob to go and fetch what she asked, saying, "Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them" (Genesis 27:13). Jacob expressed his fear to his mother: "My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing" (Genesis 27:12). When Isaac discovered what had happened, he told Esau, "Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing" (Genesis 27:35), and then recognized that Jacob was rightly named because "he hath supplanted me these two times" (Genesis 27:36).
Les explains that Jacob's cunning behavior did not catch God by surprise. When God answered Rebekah's prayer during her pregnancy, He declared that the elder would serve the younger, and Les points out that this was "the sovereign plan of God in the first place" and that "we can't fault them too much" because God intended it that way. At the same time, Les shows that Jacob was a genuine deceiver by nature; his name meant "the supplanter, the deceiver," and he lived up to that name even later with Laban. Les also emphasizes that the deception brought painful consequences: after Jacob fled from Esau's anger, Rebekah never saw her favorite son again. Finally, Les teaches that Esau was not cheated," he had no faith, he was immoral, and he deserved neither the birthright nor the blessing.
Yes. At the very beginning, while Rebekah was pregnant, God answered her inquiry and declared that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Les says that when we see Jacob seemingly conniving to get everything away from Esau, we need to remember that it was in the sovereign plan of God from the beginning and that this is the way God intended it to be.
Les says Jacob was "the deceiver, the supplanter" and that he was always one step ahead of everybody when it came to a sharp deal. His very name meant "the deceiver, the supplanter," and Isaac himself recognized this when he said, "Is not he rightly named Jacob?" because Jacob had supplanted Esau twice.
Les teaches that Esau deserved nothing. He had no faith, and he showed his immorality by marrying Hittite and Canaanite women, which was a grief to Isaac and Rebekah. According to Les, Esau was not cheated, not rooked, and did not deserve either the birthright or the blessing.
Les points out that after the deception, Jacob had to flee for his life because of Esau's anger, and Rebekah never saw her favorite son again. Les says that if anything was a curse to Rebekah, that was it. He also notes that Rebekah feared losing both sons in one day, because if Esau murdered Jacob, Esau would also face the death penalty under the law of the ancients.
Rebekah's Part and Its Cost
This clip shows Rebekah taking charge, telling Jacob to obey her and to let any curse fall on her, and it reveals the painful result that she never saw Jacob again after he fled.
Jacob the Supplanter
Les describes Jacob as the deceiver and supplanter, a man who was always one step ahead in every sharp deal, showing that deception was part of Jacob's character.
God's Sovereign Plan for Jacob
Les says that God told Rebekah the elder would serve the younger, so Jacob's conniving was not thwarting God's plan; it was the sovereign plan of God from the beginning.
The Meaning of Jacob's Name
Les explains that Jacob's name meant 'deceiver' and 'supplanter,' and that Isaac's words in Genesis 27:35-36 confirm Jacob had taken away Esau's blessing.
Jacob's Obedience in Unbelief
Les notes that even though Jacob was not yet a true believer, he still obeyed his father and went to Paddan Aram, showing his life was being shaped by God's purpose.
Isaac's Later Affirmation
Les shows that after the deception, Isaac later called Jacob, blessed him, and charged him not to take a Canaanite wife, proving Isaac was comfortable with the outcome.
Rebekah's Fear of Losing Both Sons
Les explains Rebekah's fear that if Esau murdered Jacob, she would also lose Esau to the death penalty, highlighting the tragic consequences she anticipated.
Esau's Unworthiness
Les teaches that Esau was not cheated because he had no faith and was immoral, so he deserved neither the birthright nor the blessing.
Genesis 25:23: And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
God's declaration to Rebekah before the twins were born, showing Jacob's future position was divinely appointed.
Genesis 27:11: And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
Jacob's objection that he could not impersonate Esau without being discovered.
Genesis 27:12: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
Jacob's own awareness that his actions would look deceptive to Isaac.
Genesis 27:13: And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
Rebekah's determination to carry out the plan and take any curse upon herself.
Genesis 27:35: And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
Isaac's direct acknowledgment that Jacob used deception to take the blessing.
Genesis 27:36: And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Isaac confirms that Jacob's name and actions matched, because Jacob had supplanted Esau twice.
Genesis 28:1: And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Isaac later ratifies the blessing and sends Jacob away with a further charge, showing his acceptance of the outcome.
Yes. God told Rebekah before the twins were born that the elder would serve the younger. Les says this was the sovereign plan of God from the beginning, so Jacob's later conniving did not change God's purpose.
Yes. After Jacob fled from Esau's anger, Rebekah never saw her favorite son again. Les says that if anything was a curse to Rebekah, that was it.
Les says Esau was not cheated. Esau had no faith and was immoral, marrying Canaanite women, so he deserved neither the birthright nor the blessing.