Scripture as a symbol of materinl prosperity dominion in the world is thus promised- (Deut. xxxiii. 13, 28 ; Zech. viii. 12), and and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee the absence of dew and rain represented os a (a repetition of the preceding thought, with signal of Divine displeasure (2 Sam. i. 21 ; perhaps a hint of his desire to humble Jacob, 1 Kings xvii. 1; Haggai i. 10, 11)-and the the favourite of Rebekah): cursed be every fatness of the earth,-litcrally, of the fat- one that curaeth thee, and blessed be he that nesses, or choicest parts, of the earth (eh. bleaaeth thee-framed on the model of the xlv. 18)-and plenty of com and wine-i. e. Abrahamic benediction (eh. xii. 3); but not abundance of the produce of the aoil (cf. Deut. so full as that, either because Isaac felt that xxxiii. 28). after all Esau was not to be the progenitor of Ver. 29.-Let people serve thee (literally, the holy seed (llfurphy), or because, not bein"' and will serve thee, peoples; at once a prayer actuated by proper feelings towards J chovah and a prophecy; fulfilled in the political sub- and his promises, the patriarch coul<l not jection of the Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, rise to that height of spiritual benediction to Philistines, and Edomites by David ; the which he afterwards attained-eh. xxviii. 3, thought being repeated in the next clause), 4 (Keil), or bec,iuse the prerogative of pro- and nations bow down to thee (in expression nonucini the Abrahamic blessing in all its of their homage): be lord over thy brethren, fulness Jehovah may have reserved to him- -literally, be a lord (from the idea of power; self, as in eh. xxviii 14 (' Speaker's Com- found only here and in ver. 37) to thy bi·ethren. mentary'). Pre-eminence among his kindred as well as
HOMILETICS. Vere. 15-29.-The stolen blessing: a domestic drama.-2. Isaac and Jacob, or tlze successj1tl stratage;m, I. JACOB s DECEPTION OJI' lsAA0. Jacob's pcrsonation of Esau was-I. Deftly pepared. 'rhe ingenious Rebekah, having dressed him in the fragrant festal robes of the princely hunter, covered his smooth skin with the soft, silky hide of the camel-goat, and put into his hand the simulated dainty dish which she had cooked. It is a melancholy thing when either woman's wit or man's sagacity is prostituted to unholy ends. 2. Boldl'lf avowed. Entering hie father's tent, and approaching within easy reach of the mvnlid's couch, at the same time imitating Esau's intonations, the heartless impostor calls upon his aged parent to arise and eat of his son's venison, in response to hie father's inquiry olso openly declaring himself to be Esau; in which was a fourfold offence-against his venerable father, against his absent brother, against himself, and against God. Never is a lie, and seldom is a sin of any kind, single or simple in its criminality. That scheme cannot be a good one of which the first act is a lie. 3. Persistently maintained. In the face of his father's searching interrogation, careful exnmination, nnd mnnifest trepidation, Jncob brazens out the imposture he had begun, covering his first false- hood by a second, and his second by a third, in which he verges on the limits of blasphemy, allowing himself to be handled by his aged parent without betraying by a word or sign the base deception he was prnctieing, and at length capping his extraordint1ry wickedness by a solemn asseveration of his identity with Esau that cnrried with it in the hearing of Isaac much of the impressiveness and weight of an oath,-" I am thy very son Esau I " It is amazing to what depths of criminality those may fnll who once step aside from the straight paths of virtue. 4. Completely successful. Critical as the ordeal was through which he passed, he was not detected. So God sometimes allows wicked schemes to prosper, accomplishing hie own designs thereby, though neither approving of the.schemes nor holding the schemers guiltless. II. !Bile's BENEDICTION OF JACOB. The patriarchal blessing which Isaac uttered was-I. Divinely inspired as to its origin. It was not within the power of !so.no to either conceive or express it in any arbitrarily selected moment, or in any par- ticular way or place thnt he might determine. Least of all was it the production of Isaac's ordinary faculties under the physical or mental impulse of delicious viands or paternal affection. It was the outcome of an unseen afflatus l.'f the Divine Spirit upon the venerable patrinrch'e soul (Heh. xi. 20). 2. Providentially directed as to its destinatuYTI,. Intended for the firstbom, it was prono1~nced upon the younger of his sons. Had Rebekah and Jacob not interposed with their miserable trick, there is reW!on to suppose thnt God would hnve di8co,·erecl means of defeating the miRgui,lcd z2 840 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [CH, XXVII, 30-40,
patriarch's design; perhaps by laying an embargo upon hia lipa, as he did on Balaam (Numb. xxii. 38); perhaps by miraculously guiding his speech, as afterwards he guided Jacoh's hands (eh. xlviii. 14). But none the less is the Divine finger dis- cernible in carrying the heavenly blessing to its predestined recipient, that he does not interfere with Rebekah's craft, but allows it, beneath the guidance of his ordinary providence, to work out its appropriate result. 3. Ruhly laden as to its contents. It embraced-(1) Material enrichment, represented by the dew, corn, and wine, which may also be regarded as symbolic of spiritual treasures; (2) personal ad- ;ancement in the world and the Church, foreshadowing both the political supremacy 1rnd ecclesiastical importance to which Israel should afterwards attain; (3) spiritual influence, emblematic of the religious priesthood enjoyed first by the Hebrew people as a nation, and latterly by Christ, the true Seed of .Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. 4. Absolutely permanent as to its duratwn. Though Isaac subsequently learnt of the deception which had been practised towards him, he felt that the wor<ls he had spoken were beyond recall. This was proof decisive that Isaac spake not of himself, but as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. His own benediction, uttered purely by and from himself, might, and, in the circumstances, probably would, have been revoked; the blessing of Jehovah transmitted through his undesigned act he had no power to cancel. Learn-1. That those who attempt to deceive others ure not unfrequently them- selves deceived. 2. That those who enter on a sinful course may speedily sink deeper into sin than they intended. 3. That deception practised by a son against a father, at a mother's instigation, is n monstrous and unnatural display of wickedness. 4. That God can accomplish-his own designs by means of man's crimes, without either relieving them of guilt or himself being the author of sin. 5. That the bless- ing of God maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith. 6. That the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,