[111]The Bible does not clearly show that Isaac knew God had foreordained that this birthright should belong to Jacob, nor that he knew Esau had sold it to Jacob; therefore we can excuse the old father for thinking it was his duty to bestow his blessing upon his son Esau.  Rebekah the mother, however, knowing of both these reasons why Jacob was entitled to the birthright, knowing that Esau did not appreciate it, and knowing of his wrongful intent to deprive his brother Jacob of the privileges and blessings incident to the birthright, advised Jacob what to do in order to protect his own rightful and proper interests.  The mother therefore was carrying out God’s will in this respect.  She was doing what all honest persons should do—­try to protect the rights and privileges of those that are near and dear to them.  She therefore directed Jacob to slay two kids of the goats and bring them to her and she prepared some savory meat; and then, in order that the blind father might not obstinately refuse to aid them in carrying out the divine purposes, and in order that he might think he was blessing Esau, the mother Rebekah fastened upon the arms of her son Jacob the skins of the kids and also put the skins about his neck that he would appear as a hairy man like unto his brother Esau.

[112]Jacob then came in before his father and presented the savory meat.  His father kissed him and laid his hand upon him and gave to Jacob his blessing.  The old father then spoke in prophetic phrase, evidently under the direction of the Lord, saying unto his son Jacob:  “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee:  be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee:  cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee".—­Genesis 27:29.

[113]Almost immediately Esau returned from the field and found that Jacob had received his father’s blessing and that he (Esau) had been unsuccessful in carrying out his purpose of defeating the open and fair transaction which he had made with Jacob when he had sold his birthright.  He hated his brother Jacob and determined to kill him as soon as his father Isaac was dead.

[114]It seems rather strange that many Christian people have severely criticized Jacob and his mother Rebekah in this transaction.  It has evidently been due to the fact that they were ignorant of the record.  No part of Jacob’s action in connection with the birthright is reprehensible.  Everything with reference to Esau is reprehensible.  God subsequently showed that Esau pictured the peoples of earth who are Christians in name only, but not in truth and in fact, who are hypocritical, and who persecute the true Christians; while Jacob pictured or foreshadowed the true followers of Christ who have been misrepresented and persecuted by the merely nominal Christians.  God showed his approval of the conduct of Jacob and his mother Rebekah, and showed that it was his purpose and intention that Jacob should receive the blessing