What is the meaning of Genesis 27:5? Rebekah was listening “Now Rebekah was listening…” (Genesis 27:5a) • Rebekah is not merely within earshot; she is intentionally attentive. She knows what God foretold in Genesis 25:23—that the older will serve the younger—so she listens for opportunities to align circumstances with that promise. • Her attentiveness contrasts with Isaac’s focus on a meal (Genesis 27:4; cf. Philippians 3:19, appetite governing decisions). • Scripture repeatedly spotlights mothers who observe and ponder (e.g., Exodus 2:3–4; Luke 2:19), underscoring that God often works through quiet, watchful faith. What Isaac told his son Esau “…to what Isaac told his son Esau.” (Genesis 27:5b) • Isaac intends to pass the patriarchal blessing to Esau, despite knowing the oracle about Jacob (Genesis 25:28; Romans 9:10–12). • His partiality for Esau (“because he had a taste for wild game”) reveals how personal preference can cloud spiritual discernment (James 2:1). • By overhearing Isaac’s plan, Rebekah becomes aware that decisive action is needed if Jacob is to receive the covenant blessing (Genesis 27:10, 28–29). Esau went into the field “So when Esau went into the field…” (Genesis 27:5c) • Esau’s immediate obedience to hunt underscores his skill and impulsive nature (Genesis 25:27, 34). • The “field” often symbolizes a place of earthly endeavor (Matthew 13:38). Esau’s comfort there underlines his orientation to the temporal, not the spiritual (Hebrews 12:16). • His absence creates a providential window for Rebekah and Jacob, illustrating how God’s purposes advance even through ordinary routines (Proverbs 16:9). To hunt game and bring it back “…to hunt game and bring it back,” (Genesis 27:5d) • Isaac’s requirement for savory meat ties blessing to a physical appetite, a subtle warning about allowing fleshly cravings to steer spiritual decisions (1 John 2:16). • Esau’s hunting will take time, granting Rebekah opportunity to act swiftly (Genesis 27:9–13). • The phrase foreshadows the contrast between Esau’s effort in the field and Jacob’s reliance on promise and strategy (Genesis 27:36), echoing the broader biblical theme that blessing is secured by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8–9). summary Genesis 27:5 records the pivotal moment when Rebekah overhears Isaac’s intention to bless Esau. Her attentive listening, Isaac’s favoritism, Esau’s departure, and the hunt itself together open the door for God’s foretold plan—that Jacob, not Esau, would inherit the covenant promise—to unfold. The verse reminds us that God’s sovereignty works through everyday actions and choices, urging believers to stay spiritually alert, guard against flesh-driven decisions, and trust that His purposes will stand. |
    |