Gen 27: Jacob deceitfully taking Esau's blessing, then fleeing to Laban for fear of revenge by Esau

This is the beginning of the struggle between Esau and Jacob. Esau was punished for his contempt of his birthright: "See that no one is...godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears" (Heb 12:16-17)

• v1-4: Isaac prepared his will and was about to declare Esau his heir, not knowing about the prophecy made to Sarah concerning his two sons.
• v3-4: Isaac instructed Esau to go hunting and to make a meal for him, in order to receive a fresh instance of his son's filial duty and affection to him.
• v5-10: While the end result was in line with God's plan and purpose, the means were in no way justifiable. Even if it was not wrong to deprive Esau of the blessing (he himself had forfeited his birthright), it was wrong of Jacob to take advantage of Isaac's handicap and to deceive and lie to him. The blessing was thus obtained fradulently.
• v11-12: Jacob was aware of the risk - that if found out he might bring upon himself a curse instead.
• v13: Rebekah could've done better by telling Isaac about the prophecy, and how Esau had forfeited his birthright, and perhaps Isaac would willingly and knowingly have conferred the blessing upon Jacob. God left her to her own devices, so that He might have the glory of bringing good out of evil, of serving His own purposes even out of the sins and follies of humankind.
• v18-20: Note the art and confident air with which Jacob managed this web of lies. He even used God's name in the lie - "The Lord your God gave me me success". This is Jacob, the Israel. Jacob could have been found out if Isaac trusted his own ears, for the voice was Jacob's voice, and yet his hands were Esau's. He spoke the language of a saint, but did the works of a sinner.
• v26-29: Isaac embraced, praised, prayed for and prophesied over his son. Jacob was blessed with plenty (abundance), power (lord over his brother) and favour. We too, as heirs, are blessed with abundant grace, dominion over all principalities, and favour.
• v30-34: Esau denied the covenant blessing. He prepared everything as his father had directed him, and when he learnt that Jacob had stolen it, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry.
• v33: "I blessed him - and indeed he will be blessed!" Isaac, filled with the spirit, must have somehow known that God had sealed the prayer and blessing, or else he could have taken it back and blessed Esau instead.
• v40: This prophecy was fulfilled in 2 Kings 8, when the Edomites revolted.
• v41: The malice Esau bore towards Jacob is not unlike Cain's jealousy of his brother Abel.
• v42: Rebekah heard about it.
• v43-45: She sent him away.