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Genesis 27
1. Many years have passed. What does verse 1 tell us about Isaac?
Why does he call for Esau and not for Jacob?
Knowing that his days are numbered, what does Isaac want to do?
Why do you think he asked Esau to prepare a meal for him using wild game?
In what way or ways are Isaac’s actions similar to Esau’s?
2. Isaac wants to give Esau the blessing that belongs to him as the firstborn. What can you learn about this blessing?
What does it mean to you for a father to give a blessing to his son?
Does this mean Isaac did not have a blessing for Jacob? Please explain.
Do you think fathers today can still give A blessing to their sons? To their daughters? If so, why do you think more do not?
3. Look back at Genesis 25:23. Do you think Rebekah told Isaac about this prophecy? Please explain. What does this verse say?
If Isaac knew what God had said, why do you think Isaac was going to give the blessing to Esau and not to Jacob?
4. Now it is time for a pure opinion question. Briefly describe this family that is the beginning of God’s chosen people.
5. Verse 5 tells us that Rebekah heard what Isaac said to Esau. Do you believe this was an accident or was intentional eavesdropping? Please explain.
Knowing what God said about her two sons and favoring Jacob over Esau, what do you think went through Rebekah’s mind when she heard that Isaac was going to bless Esau?
6. Believing time is running out, Rebekah decides to take matters into her own hands. What does she tell Jacob that Isaac is going to do?
What is her plan?
For those of you who cook, is it possible to make two goats taste like wild game? If so, what does this tell us about Rebekah?
Does Rebekeh seem to exhibit any remorse or hesitation when devising this plan?
What does the phrase “the end justifies the means” mean to you? What is the “end” that Rebekah is using to “justify the means”?
Can you think of any situation where the ends would justify the means? Please explain.
7. How do you explain Rebekah’s favoring Jacob over Esau?
Why do you believe God remains silent on this subject?
8. Read verse 10. What is Jacob’s main objection to his mother’s plan?
What does this tell us about Jacob?
Jacob seems to understand the power of his father’s blessing. Yet, he does not seem to mind deceiving Isaac. How do you explain this?
What is Jacob’s greatest fear if he is caught?
What does this tell us about the power of blessings and curses?
Read Deuteronomy 27:18. How does this verse illustrated Jacob’s fear?
This verse shows us that God’s law existed long before He “gave” the law to Moses. What does this mean to you?
9. How does Rebekah calm her son’s fears?
What does she have Jacob do to fool her husband?
How do Jacob and Rebekah plan on imitating Esau’s hairy nature?
Now, how do you picture Esau?
10. Now comes the moment of truth. Jacob approaches his father with his meal. What does Isaac ask when he hears his son?
What does Jacob answer? What do you think of Jacob, who lies to his father in order to gain a blessing?
11. Isaac is a little suspicious. What does he ask Jacob?
Look carefully at Jacob’s answer in verse 20. What makes this lie so bad?
Why do you think Jacob did not mind using God to give credence to his lie?
Why do you think God does not intervene?
12. Verse 21 is very interesting. Why do you think Isaac wants to touch his son to see if he is really Esau?
What does Isaac think of his son Jacob?
Why might Isaac be suspicious?
What do you think Jacob was thinking as he walked over to his father?
Even after touching Jacob, Isaac has doubts. What troubles him?
What finally convinces Isaac that he is speaking to his son Esau?
However, once again, Isaac asks Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?” He understands the power of the blessing he is going to give, and he obviously wants to give it to Esau. How do you think this made Jacob feel?
Do you think Jacob is feeling nervous or justified? Please explain. 13. What do you think is going through Jacob’s mind as his father ate the meal and drank the wine?
After the meal, Isaac asks for a kiss from his son. Why do you think he does this?
What finally convinces Isaac that Esau is standing before him?
What do you think Isaac means when he says he smells the smell of the open fields?
14. Now comes the blessing, the blessing that both sons so earnestly desired. What was the first part of the blessing?
Why do you think Isaac began by asking God to bless his son with the dew of heaven?
The rest of the blessing seems quite short. List the four parts of this blessing.
How does this blessing mirror God’s blessing of Abraham in Gen. 12:3?
Look carefully at all Isaac prayed over his son. Which part or parts was Jacob most desiring?
15. Look back at what God spoke to Rebekah concerning her two sons while they were still in the womb. This blessing is in line with God’s words. Were Rebekah and Jacob justified in deceiving Isaac to gain this blessing? Please explain.
Read Romans 9:10-12. What do these verses mean to you?
16. As soon as Jacob receives the blessing, he leaves. Why?
What does Esau say to his father as he presents the meal?
What is Isaac’s reaction when Esau tells Isaac who he is? (See verse 33.)
What does Esau realize as he listens to his father?
What does it mean to you that Esau let out a “loud and bitter cry?”
What did Esau ask Isaac to do?
What was Isaac’s answer?
What does it mean to you that Jacob will still be blessed even though he did it by deceiving his father?
17. What does Esau say about his brother in verse 36?
According to Esau, how had Jacob deceived him twice?
Had Jacob deceived him twice? Please explain.
Based upon his accusations, what might Esau have told his father about how Jacob came to have his birthright?
Of this family, who seems to be the most honest?
18. When asked if he saved even one blessing for Esau, what does Isaac say?
What does it mean to you when Isaac says “I have made…” and “I have guaranteed…”? What does this tell you about the power of Isaac’s blessing?
Esau continues to beg for a blessing. Finally, how does Isaac bless him?
What does this “blessing” mean to you?
Read Hebrews 12:17. What does this tell us about Esau?
19. What was the result of Jacob’s stealing his brother’s blessing?
What does it mean to you that we will reap what we sow? In what ways are Jacob and Rebekah reaping what they had sown?
Do you think Esau truly wanted to kill Jacob?
When does Esau plan on killing his brother?
Verse 42 tells us that someone learned what Esau was plotting and told Rebekah. What do you think was really going on?
Once again, Rebekah takes matters into her own hands. What does she tell Jacob to do?
Why send him to Laban?
What do you think she means when she says, “Why should I lose both of you in one day?” (See Genesis 9:6.)
20.What does Rebekah say to her husband in verse 46?
Why do you think she said this to him?
Is she still trying to deceive her husband? Please explain.
21. What have you learned about raising a family from this chapter?
What have you learned about the power of a blessing?
What have you learned about the promises of God? |