Genesis 27:1-4
1When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
The last verse of Genesis 26 says that Esau made life bitter for his parents. The first verses of chapter 27 show Isaac taking pains to bless Esau before he dies. We are not told a great deal about Isaac in the accounts that include him, but what we are told are magnificent incites into a man of great faith and obedience. Here we see a father preparing to bless a son who has been mostly trouble to him for a very long time. Esau no doubt makes his parents lives bitter because he is bitter himself regarding the incident with Jacob and the birthright (Gen.25:19-34).
But Isaac is a real father. No matter how badly his son has treated him he still wants the best for him and wants him to receive all the good that he can possibly pass on to him. It is a poor parent who takes revenge upon a child who has been trouble. Isaac is an example here of a loving father, who, despite how his heart has been broken by his son, still reaches out to him with all the love of his heart.
What a picture this is, also, of God’s love for us. Our lives are testimonies to rebellion, disobedience, ignorance of God, selfishness and greed. And despite the ways that we spurn our Father, He reaches out to us and loves us. The supreme demonstration of this is of course the cross. Hear at this point the words of Paul in Romans 5:8 “… while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”.
Our love to God is a poor response to an immense love to us that was lavished on us when we were shaking our fists in His face. His love triumphed over our wickedness. May we imitate the love of God to us, to our children and to others whom God puts in our path for the purpose of showing His great love to.
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