HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-14.-The stolen blessing: a domestic drama.-1. Isaac and Rebekah, or plotting and C()?tnte:rJ?lotting. L TnE SCHEME OF Is.u.o. 1. Its sinful object. 'fhe heavenly oracle having with no uncertain sound proclaimed Jacob the theocratic heir, the bestowment of the patriarchal benediction on Esau was clearly an un- holy design. That Isaac, who on Mount Moriah had evinced such meek and ready acquiescence in Jehovah's will, should in old age, from partiality towards his firstbom, or forgetfulness of Jehovah's declaration, endeavour to thwart the Divine purpose according to election affords a melancholy illustration of the deceitfulness of sin even in renewed hearts, and of the deep-seated antagonism between the instincts of nature and the designs c,f grace. 2. Its secret character. The com- mission assigned to Esau does not appear to have been dictated by any supposed connc-ction between the gratification of the palate, the reinvigoration of the body, or the refreshment of the spirit and the exercise of the prophetic gift, but rather by a desire to divert the attention of Rebekah from 11uppoeing that anything unusual was going on, and so to secure the necessary privacy for carrying out the scheme which he bad formed. Had Isaac not been doubtful of the righteousness of what he had in contemplation, he would never have resorted to manrouvring and secrecy, but would have courted unveiled publicity. Crooked ways love the dark (John iii. 20, 21). 3. Its urgent motive. Isaac felt impelled to relieve bis soul of the theocratic bless- ing by a sense of approaching dissolution. If it be the weakness of old men to imagine death nearer, it is the folly of young men to suppose it farther distant than it is. To young and old alike the failure of the senses should be a premonition of the end, and good men should set their houses in order ere they leave the world ( eh. m. 6; 2 Kings xx. 1; Isa. =viii. 1). 4. Its inherent weakness. That Isaac reckoned on Rebekab's opposition to his scheme seems apparent; it is not so obvious that he calculated on God's being against him. Those who meditate unholy deeds should first arrange that God will not be able to discover their intentions. II. THE STRATAGEM OF REBEKAH. 1. The design was legitimate. Instead of her behaviour being represented as an attempt to outwit her aged, blind, and bed-ridden husband (for which surely no great cleverness was required), and to stealthily secure the blessing for her favourite, regard for truth demands that it should rather be characterised as an endeavour to prevent its surreptitious appropriation for Esau. 2. The inspiratwn was religious. Displaying a considerable amount of woman's wit in its conception and execution, and perhaps largely tainted by matemal jealousy, Rebekah's stratagem ought in fairness to be traced to her belief in the pre-natal oracle, which had pointed to Jacob as the theocratic heir. That her faith, however mixed with unspiritual alloy, was strong seems a just conclusion from her almost reckless boldness (ver. 13). 3. The wickedness was inexcusable. Good as were its end and motive, the stratagem of Rebekah was deplorably wicked. It was an act of cruel imposition on a husband who had loved her for well-nigh a century; it was a base deed of temptation and seduction, viewed in its relations to Jacob-the prompt- ing of a son to sin against a father; it was a signal offence against God in m11ny ways, but chiefly in the sinful impn.tience it displayed, and in the foolish supposition that his sovereign designs needed the assistance of, or could be helped by, human craft in the shape of female cunning. III. THE RIVAL AC00MPLICEB. 1. The confederate of Isaac. The guilt of Esau consisted in seeking to obtain the birthright when he knew (1) that it belonged to Jacob by Heaven's gift, (2) that he had parted with any imaginary title he ever had to expect it, (3) that he was utterly unqualified to possess it, and (4) that he was endeavouring to obtain it by improper means. 2. The tool of Rebekah. That Jacob in acting on_ his mother's counsel was not sinless is ~vinced br the .fa~t t~at be (1) perceived its hazardoua nature (vers. 11, 12), (2) discerned its cnmmahty, and yet (3) allowed himself to carry it through. Lessons :-1. The wickedness of trying to subvert the will of Heaven-exemplified in Isaac. 2. The sinfulness of doing evil that good may come-illustrated by the OB. XXVII. lli-29.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 337
cond~ct of Rebek~h. 3. The criminaJity of following evil counsel, in opposition to the light of consc1ence and the restramts of Providence-shown by the conduct of both Esau and Jaoob,