GENESIS 31:43-49 This passage of Scripture is often used as a covenant of fellowship or a benediction. However, the context clearly indicates that it was not a covenant of fellowship but a covenant of separation. Laban said to Jacob, “This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I...

GENESIS 29:1-12 His experiences at Bethel began a new life for Jacob. After he had established a memorial to God, “Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east” (Gen. 29:1). The phrase “Jacob went on his journey” is literally “Jacob lifted up...

GENESIS 28:10-17 As Jacob lay under the stars while away from home that first night, he was alone with his own thoughts. No doubt he reflected on all that had happened. Perhaps he asked himself, Was it really worthwhile? Will I ever return to claim the birthright and blessing for...

GENESIS 28:1-5 After Rebekah’s plea to Isaac that Jacob not be allowed to marry a Hittite woman, Jacob was sent away with Isaac’s blessing. Isaac probably did not know that Esau had sworn to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. However, Isaac lived several years after this time, and nothing ever...

GENESIS 27:41-46 Rebekah urged Jacob to flee to her brother and stay there until Esau forgot about the stolen blessing. Notice that Rebekah said to Jacob, “That which thou hast done to him” (Gen. 27:45). Jacob was guilty of stealing the blessing from Esau, but Rebekah had devised the plan....

GENESIS 27:30-40 Esau was bitter toward his brother because he had taken advantage of him twice. Desperate to have something, Esau asked his father, “Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?” (Gen. 27:36). Isaac answered, “Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given...

GENESIS 27:18-29 One lie always leads to another lie. Jacob kept adding sins to his previous ones. First, he impersonated his brother. Second, he lied to his father when he said, “I am Esau.” Finally, he even went so far as to bring the name of the Lord into his...

GENESIS 27:1-17 One faithless act leads to another. Having schemed to secure the birthright, Jacob deceived his father in order to secure the blessing, which was a vital part of the birthright. Jacob needed not only the birthright from Esau but also the blessing from his father. One was of...

GENESIS 25:34; HEBREWS 12:14-17 After Esau had sold the birthright to Jacob and had finished eating and drinking, he “rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34). The word “despise” means “to look down on with contempt or aversion.” It also means “to regard as...

GENESIS 26:30-33 When we are abused by the unbelieving world, we need to remember the words of Psalm 37:5-6: "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as...