Why Did God Favor Jacob Over Esau? A Close Examination

The story of Jacob and Esau remains one of the most perplexing in the Bible. Twin brothers born to Rebekah and Isaac, yet God clearly states “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” before the two were even born.

If you’re pressed for time, here’s the essence: God’s favor ultimately rests on His sovereign choice to carry the messianic line through Jacob rather than Esau.

In this comprehensive article, we will analyze the Biblical account and theological commentaries to unravel why God especially chose to bless Jacob over his older twin.

We will examine the prophecy given to Rebekah during her difficult pregnancy, the meaning behind Jacob’s name, and most importantly, how this story ultimately points towards Christ.

The Prophecy to Rebekah Before the Twins Were Born

Rebekah’s Difficult Pregnancy Foretells the Brothers’ Future

Rebekah, the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau, endured a difficult pregnancy with the twins. They “struggled together within her” (Genesis 25:22), which was a prophetic sign of the contentious relationship between the brothers that would unfold.

Though twins, Jacob and Esau were opposites from birth. Esau was born hairy and red, a skillful hunter, while Jacob was smooth-skinned and mild-mannered (Genesis 25:25-27). Their incompatibility in the womb signaled a life of conflict.

The babies’ struggle distressed Rebekah, so she turned to the Lord for understanding. God revealed to her that two nations were in her womb and they would become two separate peoples.

The older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23), indicating Jacob’s eventual dominance over Esau.

This divine revelation illuminated God’s sovereign election of Jacob. Though born second, he would inherit the blessings of Abraham.

The prophecy highlighted how God’s purposes would prevail over customary rules of primogeniture. Rebekah’s pain ultimately disclosed God’s remarkable plan.

God Reveals His Sovereign Plan to Carry the Messianic Line Through Jacob

As the oracle foretold, the strife between Jacob and Esau began before birth. It continued as youths when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for soup (Genesis 25:29-34).

Though Esau was entitled to a double portion of inheritance as the firstborn son, he despised this right in a rash moment of hunger.

Jacob’s tricky acquisition of Esau’s birthright only heightened their animosity.

Still, in obtaining the birthright, Jacob gained a privileged status carrying great meaning for the future. The birthright blessing included the spiritual privilege of being progenitor of the messianic line.

God’s promise to make Abraham into a great nation spoke of a future descendant, Jesus Christ, who would bless all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). For this reason, the privileged lineage mattered greatly.

Despite being younger, Jacob received the treasured birthright, just as the prophecy indicated. This affirmed God’s remarkable plan to bless the nations through Jacob’s line leading to Christ (Acts 3:25). Though the brothers’ conflict was just emerging, God’s redemptive plan was being established.

The Meaning Behind the Names Jacob and Esau

Esau Means “Hairy” – A Man of the Field

Esau’s name means “hairy” which signifies he was likely a rugged, outdoor type of man. As the older twin brother of Jacob, Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah and in line to receive the greater inheritance and birthright according to customary tradition.

However, Esau showed little regard for his birthright and was called a “skillful hunter, a man of the field” (Genesis 25:27). His interests lay more in the outdoors and manual work rather than the duties and responsibilities of the household.

This seemingly carefree attitude and lack of responsibility on Esau’s part would later come back to trouble him.

As described in Genesis 25, Esau returned starving from an unsuccessful hunt one day and agreed to sell his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red stew.

To Esau, satisfying his immediate needs outweighed the value of his future inheritance. This fateful bargaining away of his birthright demonstrated further evidence of Esau’s impulsive and shortsighted nature (Hebrews 12:16).

His love for the “here and now” took priority over the lasting promises and blessings that should have been his as firstborn son.

Jacob Means “Heel-grabber” – The Usurper

In contrast to his twin brother’s name meaning “hairy,” Jacob’s name holds two meanings: “one who grabs the heel” as well as “he supplants” or “usurper.”

This was an appropriate description given the circumstances of Jacob’s birth where he was grasping Esau’s heel as they were being born (Genesis 25:26).

Beyond the literal act of grabbing his brother’s heel, Jacob’s name also foreshadowed his later cunning actions to take hold of Esau’s birthright and blessing.

The meaning “he supplants” accurately depicted Jacob’s scheming character as he dealt deceitfully with his brother on more than one occasion.

For example, Jacob shrewdly convinced his famished brother Esau to sell him the birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

Then again with his mother Rebekah’s prodding, Jacob disguised himself as Esau to trick blind Isaac into bestowing the paternal blessing upon him instead of the firstborn Esau (Genesis 27:1-29). Indeed, Jacob’s name spoke volumes about the usurping nature of his character.

Jacob Valued His Birthright While Esau Despised It

The Birthright Was the Family Leadership and Double Portion Inheritance

In biblical times, the birthright was an honored tradition passed from father to firstborn son. It included authority over the household and a double portion of the inheritance (Deut 21:17).

This gave the birthright holder significantly more property and wealth than his brothers.

The birthright also signified God’s hand of blessing and favor on the life of the firstborn. Though not a guarantee, the honor usually foreshadowed God’s choice to one day pass the spiritual leadership mantle to the birthright heir.

Esau Traded Away His Birthright for a Bowl of Stew

When Esau came in hungry from the fields, he agreed to sign over his highly valued birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Gen 25:27-34). This foolish decision showed Esau’s worldly and godless priorities in that moment.

Hebrews 12:16 later calls Esau “godless” for how lightly he viewed his birthright privilege.

Some key reasons Esau likely acted so carelessly include:

• He lived for momentary physical fulfillment, rather than seeking God’s righteous plan.
• He failed to trust God would meet his needs if he waited patiently.
• He took his birthright blessing for granted instead of valuing it.

Hebrews 12 Warns Against Being Godless Like Esau

The writer of Hebrews holds up Esau’s poor example as a warning for believers. Esau’s godlessness revealed itself in bitterness, immorality, and contempt for spiritual things (Heb 12:14-17). This showed he was not truly part of God’s family after all.

Hebrews 12:16-17 says Esau “found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” Sadly, his tears and regret came too late. He had already shown where his heart stood through his actions.

As the Genesis account and the Hebrews passage demonstrate, God could clearly see Jacob valued his future inheritance while Esau cared little for spiritual things. Thus, God’s favor fell on Jacob rather than Esau based on where each brother’s heart stood.

Jacob Receives the Firstborn Blessing Through Deceit

Rebekah and Jacob Conspire Together to Trick Isaac

When Isaac was old and his eyesight was poor, he decided it was time to give his blessing as firstborn to his son Esau. Isaac’s wife Rebekah overheard this plan and decided to intervene, as she favored their younger son Jacob.

Rebekah hatched a scheme with Jacob to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing instead of Esau. She told Jacob to bring her two young goats so she could make a tasty dish for Isaac.

Rebekah then took Esau’s best clothes and put them on Jacob, covering his hands and neck with goatskins to mimic Esau’s hairy skin.

When Jacob brought the meal to Isaac, he lied and said he was Esau so that Isaac would bless him as the firstborn. Though Isaac was suspicious, the disguise worked and he gave Jacob the irrevocable blessing (Genesis 27:1-29).

Jacob Lies to Get the Blessing of the Firstborn

Jacob was complicit in the deception, going along with his mother Rebekah’s scheme. When serving the meal to Isaac, Jacob directly lied by claiming to be Esau. Genesis 27:19 says, “Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your firstborn.'”

This was a bold-faced lie, showing Jacob’s willingness to cunningly seize what he wanted. Jacob also exploited his elderly father’s poor eyesight and memory decline.

Though Isaac was confused and asked him, “Are you really my son Esau?” (v. 24), Jacob continued lying, asserting he was Esau.

Jacob’s lies and manipulation worked, as Isaac blessed him, saying, “May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you” (v. 29). Jacob prioritized his own interests over integrity, gaining the invaluable firstborn blessing through deception.

Esau’s Bitterness Morphs to Murderous Rage

When Esau returned from hunting and realized what had happened, he was devastated that Jacob had stolen his blessing. Genesis 27:34 says Esau “burst out with a loud and bitter cry” upon learning how Jacob had deceived their father. Esau begged Isaac for any blessing, but it was too late.

This fueled intense anger and bitterness in Esau. He thought, “as soon as my father dies I will kill Jacob” (Genesis 27:41).

Esau’s bitterness festered into a vengeful resentment and murderous rage toward his brother. Jacob’s deceit caused irreparable damage between the brothers.

However, later in life they eventually reconciled after a tearful encounter where Esau embraced and kissed Jacob (Genesis 33:4). Though forgiveness came, the effects of Jacob’s lies cast a permanent shadow on their relationship.

Ultimately This Account Points to Christ

God Does Not Condone Jacob and Rebekah’s Sin

The account of Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing is an example of human brokenness. Though God used this situation to further His plan, He does not condone the deception and betrayal committed by Jacob and Rebekah.

Their actions were driven by a lack of faith in God’s provision and impatience with His timing. However, this passage reminds us that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28).

Even when His people act out of weakness and sin, He remains sovereign and able to accomplish His purposes.

But He Used Their Weakness to Achieve His Purpose

Despite Jacob and Rebekah’s deception, God’s favorable blessing on Jacob was part of His sovereign plan. Through Jacob would come the 12 tribes of Israel, the nation set apart to reveal the one true God to the world.

God also reaffirmed His choice of Jacob later in his life following Jacob’s encounter with God at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22). Here God reiterates the covenant promises spoken over Jacob, showing this was not merely the result of human scheming but divine ordination.

Though Jacob was a grasper and deceiver, God transformed him into a man of faith. This account displays God’s astounding grace in accomplishing His purposes through weak and sinful people.

Through Jacob Came the Nation of Israel and Eventually the Messiah

Jacob fathered the 12 sons who formed the 12 tribes of Israel. God blessed this nation with the Mosaic Covenant, the temple, the sacrificial system, and the Messianic bloodline.

The ultimate purpose in choosing Jacob was that the Messiah would come through his descendants.

As Paul wrote, “Christ, who is God over all, forever blessed! Amen…came according to the flesh from the Israelites” (Romans 9:4-5). Jesus Himself said, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).

Though God did not condone Jacob’s deception, He used Jacob’s weakness to bring about His redemptive plan for all nations through the Messiah.

Conclusion

In the end, the account of Jacob and Esau serves as a sober reminder that God hates sin, yet He can use even our crooked ways to accomplish His will.

Esau represents the profane person who scorns holy things, while Jacob inhabits a place of struggle and grasping, dependent wholly on God’s grace rather than his own devices.

This strange story foreshadows that one day, the Lion of Judah would come through Jacob’s line to crush the head of the serpent and redeem all who, like Jacob, cling to Him in their wrestling. Our sovereign God specializes in using flawed people – so take heart!