As Isaac, a patriarch of great faith, grew old, his sight faded. Unable to see, he called out for his elder son, Esau. Isaac didn’t know when his life would end, but he wanted to enjoy his favorite meal one last time; Esau being a skilled hunter, he was the perfect choice to fetch it. His request was simple: kill a game animal, prepare it as delicious food, and bring it to him, so Isaac could bless Esau before his death.

Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, overheard this conversation from her place in the home. As soon as Esau left, she turned to her younger son, Jacob. She informed him of Isaac’s wishes and instructed him to bring two young goats from their flock so she could prepare them into a meal Isaac loved. Despite his hesitations about impersonating his hairy brother, Jacob obeyed his mother, trusting in her wisdom and strength.

Rebekah then dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and even put the highly textured skin of the goats on Jacob’s hands and neck to mirror Esau’s hairy skin. Her preparations and careful deception completed, she handed Jacob the meal she had prepared.

Jacob approached his blind father. When Isaac asked who he was, Jacob told him he was Esau. Suspicious of the quick return, Isaac called Jacob closer and ran his hands over the disguised hands. Feeling the goat skin, he was tricked into thinking Jacob was his eldest son, hairy Esau.

Doubts still lingered, but Isaac ate the meal Jacob presented as his eldest son’s traditional game meal. He drank the wine Jacob offered him and asked to be kissed by him. Upon Jacob’s proximal contact, smelling the scent of Esau’s dress on Jacob and tasting the savory meal prepared, he was further deceived and thus he blessed him.

Isaac’s blessing was not a simple set of kind words but a divine legacy, a powerful endowment that would shape Jacob’s life, promising him of fruitful lands, grand rule, and undeniable prosperity. It secured a prosperous life not only for Jacob but all his descendants.

However, as soon as the blessing concluded, the real Esau returned from his hunting expedition. He too had prepared the much-anticipated meal and presented it to his father. The revelation of his deception struck Isaac like a bolt, causing him to tremble. However, he could not retract the blessing given to Jacob—it was done.

Devastated, Esau burst into bitter tears, begging his father for another blessing. Isaac told him that he had given everything to Jacob, from leadership to prosperity. Isaac did offer Esau a blessing – a life by the sword and servitude to his brother Jacob but also predicted Esau’s eventual emancipation.

Embroiled in fury and sorrow, Esau harbored a deadly grudge against his brother Jacob. He resolved to kill Jacob once their father was gone. Sensing turmoil, Rebekah called Jacob and instructed him to flee to Haran, where her brother Laban lived. There he could stay safe until Esau’s anger subsided.

Rebekah suffered through these trials, fearing the loss of both her sons in one day. Additionally, the prospect of Jacob marrying a local, Hittite woman distressed her. It was a time of great trial for Rebekah, who remained hopeful for her family’s future even in the face of adversity.