Jacob deceived his father Isaac.  Isaac intended to bless his oldest son, Esau; but he blessed his younger son Jacob instead.
(Genesis 27:5-29)

Isaac asked Esau to hunt and prepare one of his favorite meals first; and in exchange, Isaac would bless his son.

Can you imagine Esau as he hunted?  How his thoughts must have been filled with the anticipation of receiving a blessing as the first born son.  His expectations were for himself.  It would seem the Lord God never entered his mind.

When Esau returned from the hunt he made Isaac’s favorite dish.  He took it to his father, fully expecting to receive a blessing in return.  That is a conditional action, my friends.  You give me what I want and I will give you what you want.

Is there an area in your life where conditional actions govern you?

Jacob quickly left after receiving the blessing from Isaac.  As soon as he left his father, Esau walked in with a fragrant dish for Isaac.  Esau fully expected Isaac to greatly appreciate his effort in providing his father’s favorite meal.  He also fully expected to receive the blessing Isaac had promised him.

Isaac reacted – he “trembled violently” and told Esau what had just occurred with Jacob.

Esau also reacted – “he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, ‘Bless me, even me also, my father.’”  (NASB Genesis 27:30-35)

Esau’s expectations were not fulfilled.  He blamed Jacob.  Remember, Esau gave away his birthright to Jacob, willingly and intentionally. Genesis 25:27-34

(NASB) Genesis 27:36-38 “Then he said, ‘Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times?  He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.’  And he said, ‘Have you not reserved a blessing for me?’
37 But Isaac replied to Esau, ‘Behold, I have made him your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him.  Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?’
38 Esau said to his father, ‘Do you have only one blessing, my father?  Bless me, even me also, O my father.’  So Esau lifted his voice and wept.”

~ Take it to heart ~

  Esau did not turn to the living God, the Lord God whom Isaac and Rebekah worshiped.  He did not seek God or pursue His will.

Esau’s expectations were not fulfilled… are your expectations fulfilled?  If not I would encourage you to read “The Pursuit of God” by A. W. Tozer.  He wrote this book on his knees.  You are encouraged to read this book on your knees one chapter at a time.

  Pursue God – He is waiting to welcome you,
to meet with you and to comfort you.