Twin brothers Esau and Jacob were in competition for most of their lives. Because Esau was born first, he was considered the oldest and was given the birthright and was expected to receive a special blessing from their father Isaac.
However, Jacob wants it all for himself and in Genesis 25:24-34, he tricks Esau to trading his birthright for a bowl of stew! Although he was very weak, tired, and hungry, perhaps this was very foolish of Esau. Yet, Jacob is clearly more to blame for tricking his brother by taking advantage of Esau while he was in a vulnerable state.
Later in Genesis 27:1-46, as Isaac comes close to death, he wants to pronounce the special blessing over Esau. Their mother Rebekah, however, feels Jacob deserves the blessing. Rebekah is also very much in the wrong to trick her own husband. Now that Isaac is blind, mother and son deceive Isaac by creating fake hairy arms for the younger twin so he will feel like Esau to Issac, and thus he gives Jacob the blessing intended for Esau.
Now Jacob, whose name literally means supplanter (to supersede another especially by force or treachery & to take the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power - Merriam Webster Dictionary), has stolen two things that belonged to his brother. He has rightly made an enemy of Esau and now must flee because his twin now wants him dead.
May I never be so jealous or greedy that I try to trick someone into giving up a blessing from God or try to deceive someone to give me what I want that is rightfully theirs. May I always be honest and earn all I need or want, not try to steal them. May I be content with what I have and always be happy for others. Thank you, God, for all you have given to me, especially your love and the gift of salvation!
(Genesis 25:27-37) And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:" therefore was his name called Edom.
And Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright.:
And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?"
And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day;" and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
(Genesis 27:1-46) And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, "My son:" and he said unto him, "Behold, here am I."
And he said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death... make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die."
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother... Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death... only obey my voice, and go fetch me them."
And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
And he came unto his father... And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me..."
And Isaac said unto Jacob, "Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him...
And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting... and said unto his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me."
And Isaac his father said unto him, "Who art thou?" And he said, "I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau." And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, "Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed."
And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father."
And he said, "Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing."
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 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
