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Q1. The Blessing of Abraham


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Jacob possessed the birthright and father's blessing. Whether Isaac agreed with it or not, this was irrevocably true. As the years had passed, he may have either resigned himself to it or come to embrace it with understanding of God's plan. He still loved this son and wished him no harm. And so he pronounced the blessing on Jacob that had been given by Yahweh to Abraham, who had conferred it to him. It was God's covenant promise of a vast lineage of descendants, specific land to possess, and a spiritual impact/influence of blessing on the entire world. Isaac specifically spoke of God's blessing to make Jacob's offspring into a "company of peoples" (ESV) that would take possession of the land God gave to Abraham.

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Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob's deception? How does this blessing compare to other blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What are the main elements of Isaac's blessing?

Isaac had before blessed him unwittingly; now he does it designedly. This blessing is more full than the former; it is a gospel blessing. This promise looks as high as heaven, of which Canaan was a type. That was the better country which Jacob and the other patriarchs had in view.

Jacob had blessings promised both as to this world and that which is to come; yet goes out to a hard service. This corrected him for the fraud on his father. The blessing shall be conferred on him, yet he shall smart for the indirect course taken to obtain it. Jacob is dismissed by his father with a solemn charge. He must not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan: those who profess religion, should not marry with those that care not for religion. Also with a solemn blessing.

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Isaac blessed Jacob as the blessed "first-born" son. As we encountered in the previous lesson, Isaac did not recall the "first-born blessing". As written in this lesson, he maybe encountered that Jacob was more spiritual then Esau or that the life is managed by God. The Isaac

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Isaac had received the blessing from God,in it's full,three element,form.He accepted his responsibility as family patriarch and gaurdian of that blessing,as well as the weight of his own words.An interesting note: he appears to give only the [two] elements of progeny, and real estate, in blessing his spiritual successor, with the Abrahamic blessing,(similar to the blessings,as received by Abraham,at Hebron).God himself,adds the 3rd element,from which we all derive our blessings.Righteousness,in witholding judgement of Jacob's deception, for the one to whom judgement belongs,is a great gift,given to Isaac,along with peace in his heart.Isaac is truely blessed,as an instrument of God's will.

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Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob’s deception? How does this blessing compare to other blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What are the main elements of Isaac’s blessing?

The first blessing from Isaac to Jacob was much like a "legally signed document" of our day. It was binding because it was signed, though against Isaac's wishes. The second blessing from Isaac may have been his way of helping Jacob realize that yes, Isaac does know that God is in charge, and, that God wants Jacob to know His blessing belongs to him.

How do the blessings compare? They are technically the same...which is God's way of showing the world His word is unchanging.

The main elements of Isaac's blessing: Fruitfulness (Jacob will multiply), Land (Canaan), World (the whole world will be blessed because a Messiah from Abraham's seed will save all who call upon Him.)

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Thanks,Y'all ! Good Sunday Morning ! It's a pleasure to meet with a worldwide study group on this subject. As I read though everyone's answers, and try to get the "enlarged view",I see Isaac and Rebekah's love for God,each other, and their son, acting on us.Even though we are mostly not direct biological "children of Israel",by God's love,through Jesus Christ,we may receive that love,from our Lord,who remembers that love for a thousand generations.

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Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob's deception? How does this blessing compare to other blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What are the main elements of Isaac's blessing?

Genesis 28:3-4;3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. 4 May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham."

Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob's deception?

I think that Isaac realized that when the Lord told Rebekah in Genesis 25:21b-23, "The LORD said to her,

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Issac realizes that Jacob is indeed God's chosen. The blessing is very similar to the other blessings, in that it contains thoughts of land, descendants, and future peoples of the world.

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Q1 As a parent, no matter how bad your child is you will always love him and that is

what happened to Isaac. In spite of Jacob's deception, Isaac still blessed him

because of Rebekah's pestering to send Jacob away so that Jacob would not take

a Canaanite woman as a wife which also favours the father. Isaac also realized that

Jacob is indeed the son through whom God's promise to Abraham will be fulfilled.

The blessings of Abraham and Isaac were directly from God whereas Jacob's first

blessing by Isaac was through deceit and his second blessing was by Isaac's own will.

We can see that all the blessings are similar in the sense that what God had blessed

Abraham and Isaac and as parents they would naturally want to part these blessings

of God onto their children.

The elements of Isaac's blessings are:-

Fruitfulness - numerous descendants, abundance.

Land - the land of Canaan

World - the nations of the world will be blessed

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Isaac blesses Jacob because he still loved him despite his (Jacob's) deception. Furthermore, Isaac became more aware that Jacob was the son God had promised to produce the nation of Israel.

Isaac's blessings to Jacob are similar to the ones of Abraham & Isaac because they contained the same elements- possession of land, producing many descedants and being a blessing to the world. This confirms the sequential fulfilment of God's proghesy.

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I think that Isaac will have realised later, that when he first blessed Jacob that it was God speaking through him, and as he talked with God afterwards, God would confirm this.

Isaac now realises that Jacob is God's chosen one for the covenant blessing, and so he gives this blessing freely.

It is a blessing for many descendants, a promise to possess the land of Cannan and a promise that God will bless all nations through Jacob. The same blessing as was given to Abraham and Isaac is now given to Jacob.

Love Greta

:wub:

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