Re-bek'ah overheard the words between I'saac and E'sau, and knew that whoever brought the dish of venison to her husband would receive the blessing which belonged to the first-born. She also knew that E'sau had sold his birthright to Ja'cob, but she remembered the promise of God that the heritage should be given to Ja'cob, and that E'sau was morally and spiritually unfit to carry out the deeds which God had named in His Covenant with A'bra-ham. She felt that in some way I'saac should be thwarted in his plans, and that the blessing intended for E'sau should be given to her favorite son.
In a desperate attempt to win the birthright for Ja'cob, Re-bek'ah used a cunning scheme. The scheme was unworthy of the high purposes desired, but Divine Providence permitted it for the sake of carrying on the chosen race of God. It is true that she tricked I'saac into doing what was right, but it is always wrong to deceive; both she and Ja'cob paid dearly for their acts of deception. The evil in their deeds did not cease to be evil merely because God was able to bring some good out of a wicked action.
Re-bek'ah called Ja'cob and told him to go out among the flocks and kill two young goats, explaining that she would cook the meat into a savory dish which I'saac would think was venison, and that Ja'cob should take the meat to his father and receive the blessing intended for E'sau. Ja'cob was afraid that his father would discover the trickery, even though he was almost blind, for E'sau was a very hairy man, and his clothing had a strong odor of the huntsman. Re-bek'ah then declared that she could overcome all danger by having Ja'cob wear clothes which belonged to E'sau, and by covering his hands and neck with goat skins to give the appearance of human hair.
Ja'cob finally gave in to his mother's will, and agreed to do as he had been told. The scheme was carried out perfectly, just as Re-bek'ah had predicted. In the course of the meal which he served to I'saac, Ja'cob not only represented himself as E'sau, but actually lied to his father in the name of the LORD. Tricked into believing that he was speaking with E'sau, who was still searching for venison to bring his father, I'saac pronounced upon Ja'cob the blessings of the first-born. Among these blessings were: The promise of future security in the land of Ca'naan, prosperity and increase of both goods and family, the leadership of the Chosen people of God, and supremacy over his brother and all his kinsmen.
Before these blessings were fully enjoyed by Ja'cob, he had to travel a long, hard road of trial and suffering, had to be cured of his craftiness and deceit, and had to have his name changed from that of Ja'cob, the supplanter, to Is'rael, the contender with God. Of these events we shall learn in future chapters.
