Why did Rebekah use "the skins of the young goats" on Jacob's hands? Setting the Scene “Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.” (Genesis 27:15-16) Why Does Verse 16 Mention Goat Skins? Isaac, now old and nearly blind, intends to confer the irrevocable patriarchal blessing on Esau (Genesis 27:1-4). Rebekah overhears the plan and remembers God’s earlier word: “the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). She therefore outfits Jacob so that, by touch, Isaac will mistake him for hairy Esau. • Esau’s Distinctive Hairiness – At birth: “Esau came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat” (Genesis 25:25). – Goat skin mimics the coarse texture of Esau’s arms and neck. • Isaac’s Limited Senses – Eyesight gone (Genesis 27:1). – Hearing still sharp; Jacob must also speak like Esau (v. 19). – Smell: Esau’s clothes (v. 27). – Touch: primary test; hence the goat skins (v. 21-23). • Quick Availability – Two young goats are already being prepared for the meal (v. 9). Their freshly skinned hides lie ready at hand, perfectly sized for forearms and neck coverings. God’s Sovereignty Amid Human Schemes • Prophetic Context – The blessing belongs to Jacob by divine decree (Genesis 25:23). – Human actions—whether Esau’s impulse to trade his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) or Rebekah’s deception—cannot overturn God’s word (Numbers 23:19). • Moral Reality – Scripture presents the facts without endorsing the deceit. – Later law names deception a sin (Leviticus 19:11). – Yet God weaves even flawed human choices into His redemptive plan (Romans 8:28). Immediate Outcome • Isaac’s Verification Steps – Smell test: Esau’s garments (Genesis 27:27). – Touch test: “The hands are the hands of Esau” (v. 22). – Result: The patriarchal blessing transferred to Jacob unchanged and irreversible (v. 33). Long-Range Consequences • Family Division – Esau plans revenge (Genesis 27:41). – Jacob flees to Haran, enduring twenty years of exile (Genesis 28–31). • Personal Refinement – Jacob later experiences deception himself (Genesis 29:20-27), reaping what he has sown (Galatians 6:7). – In wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24-30), he emerges with a new name, Israel, and a humbler heart. Lessons for Today • Outward Appearance Can Mislead – “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) – Integrity matters more than clever strategy. • God’s Purposes Stand – Even when people act with mixed motives, God’s promises remain unbroken (Isaiah 46:10). – Our calling is to trust His timing rather than manipulate circumstances. • Sin Carries Fallout – Forgiveness is real, yet consequences often linger. – Choosing honesty spares heartache for ourselves and those we love (Proverbs 10:9). In summary, Rebekah used the skins of the young goats to imitate Esau’s hairy skin so that the nearly blind Isaac would, by touch, affirm Jacob as the rightful recipient of the blessing. Scripture records the incident plainly, highlighting both the certainty of God’s foretold plan and the sobering cost of deception. |
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