{"id":44239,"date":"2019-11-30T01:14:38","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T22:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44239"},"modified":"2025-05-06T00:53:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T21:53:23","slug":"the-voice-is-jacobs-but-the-hands-are-esaus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/11\/30\/the-voice-is-jacobs-but-the-hands-are-esaus\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Voice is Jacob\u2019s, But the Hands Are Esau\u2019s\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shalom!<\/strong>
As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 68:19 (ESV)<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBlessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.\u201d<\/em>
We thank God daily for His grace and help. His hand is evident in our lives, and through Scripture, we are reminded of His divine purposes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The Story of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25\u201327)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the book of Genesis, we encounter Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his two sons: Esau<\/strong>, the firstborn, and Jacob<\/strong>, the younger. Isaac favored Esau because he was a skillful hunter who often brought him game (Genesis 25:28<\/em>). Esau’s actions, such as preparing food for his father and showing care, earned him his father\u2019s deep affection. In contrast, Rebekah, their mother, favored Jacob.<\/p>\n

When Isaac was old and near death, he desired to bless Esau with the firstborn blessing. He instructed him to hunt and prepare a savory meal, just as he loved (Genesis 27:1\u20134<\/em>). However, Rebekah overheard this and devised a plan for Jacob to receive the blessing instead.<\/p>\n

Jacob was hesitant, pointing out a key issue:<\/p>\n

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\u201cBehold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.\u201d<\/em>
\u201cPerhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.\u201d<\/em>
(Genesis 27:11\u201312, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite his concern, Rebekah encouraged him to obey. She clothed Jacob in Esau\u2019s garments and covered his hands and neck with goatskin so he would feel like Esau (Genesis 27:15\u201317<\/em>).<\/p>\n

When Jacob approached his father pretending to be Esau, Isaac said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.\u201d<\/em>
(Genesis 27:22, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Deceived by what he felt and smelled, Isaac proceeded to bless Jacob, believing he was Esau.<\/p>\n

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Theological Insights: A Foreshadowing of the Gospel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Though this narrative involves deception, it is deeply symbolic and offers profound theological insights, especially when viewed through the lens of the New Testament.<\/p>\n

1. Esau as a Christ Figure<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Esau, though flawed, prefigures Jesus Christ<\/strong> in this narrative. Just as Jacob received the blessing by taking on Esau\u2019s appearance<\/strong>, we, as sinners, receive the blessings of God by being clothed in the righteousness of Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father, is the only one who perfectly pleased God:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.\u201d<\/em>
(Matthew 3:17, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Like Esau, Jesus prepared the \u201cmeal\u201d through His sacrifice (His life and death). But instead of receiving the full reward immediately, He allowed us to take His place and receive the Father’s blessing<\/strong>\u2014a substitutionary act of grace.<\/p>\n

2. Jacob as the Church<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jacob represents all of us who now bear the name of God\u2019s chosen\u2014the Church<\/strong>, the \u201cIsrael of God\u201d (Galatians 6:16<\/em>). We were not the original heirs of righteousness, but through Christ\u2019s sacrifice, we\u2019ve been grafted in<\/strong> (Romans 11:17\u201318<\/em>) and now partake in the covenant blessings.<\/p>\n

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The Only Acceptable Garment: Christ\u2019s Righteousness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In order for Jacob to receive the blessing, he had to wear Esau\u2019s garments\u2014symbolizing that only by wearing another’s righteousness<\/strong> can one approach the Father.<\/p>\n

The New Testament echoes this in multiple places:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.\u201d<\/em>
(Galatians 3:27, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cNot having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ.\u201d<\/em>
(Philippians 3:9, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Without the \u201ccovering\u201d of Christ, our spiritual nakedness remains, and we face judgment\u2014not blessing.<\/p>\n

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Following the Right Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jacob\u2019s deception worked because he followed a certain pattern\u2014clothing, scent, feel\u2014that aligned with Isaac\u2019s expectations. Similarly, for us to receive God\u2019s grace, we must approach Him through the correct spiritual process<\/strong>, not through human efforts or traditions.<\/p>\n

Jesus said:<\/h4>\n
\n

\u201cNo one comes to the Father except through me.\u201d<\/em>
(John 14:6, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We must:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Repent<\/strong> of our sins (Acts 3:19<\/em>).<\/li>\n
  2. Be baptized<\/strong> by immersion (John 3:23<\/em>) and in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38<\/em>).<\/li>\n
  3. Receive the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, who seals us as God\u2019s own (Ephesians 1:13\u201314<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Attempting to approach God without these steps\u2014without being \u201cclothed\u201d in Christ\u2014is like Jacob entering Isaac\u2019s tent without Esau\u2019s garments: it leads to rejection and judgment (Isaiah 64:6<\/em>).<\/p>\n

    \n

    Conclusion: Christ Took the Curse So We Might Be Blessed<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Just as Rebekah told Jacob, \u201cLet your curse be on me\u201d<\/em> (Genesis 27:13<\/em>), so Christ took our curse upon Himself:<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u201cChrist redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.\u201d<\/em>
    (Galatians 3:13, ESV<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    This is the Gospel: Jesus, who deserved the blessing, bore our curse so that we, who deserved nothing, might inherit eternal life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Let us not take this grace lightly. True faith must be followed by action\u2014repentance, baptism, and walking in the Spirit.<\/p>\n

    \n

    All glory to Christ Jesus, the King of Kings<\/strong> (Revelation 1:5<\/em>),
    who washed away our sins with His blood.<\/p>\n

    Be blessed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n