What Happens in Genesis 27–28? Jacob’s Deception, His Dream, and God’s Covenant
Genesis 27 focuses on Jacob, the son of Isaac (who was the son of Abraham), who deceives his father. In the process, we are taught an important lesson about blessings and sacraments.
Genesis 28 also focuses on Jacob. In this chapter, Jacob has a dream where the Lord tells him that his descendants will be numerous. After he awakes, Jacob calls the place awesome and uses the stone he used for a pillow as an Altar to mark the place. Do you think it is strange to use a stone as a pillow?
Genesis 27-28 Summary
One has to wonder if the family of Abraham is really the chosen family of God. Jacob, in Genesis 27, deceives his father, Isaac. Isaac is old and blind, and commands his sons Jacob and Esau to go hunting and prepare for him a tasty meal. Both of his sons go out, but Jacob returns first. Jacob lies and says he is Esau upon his return and prepares a meal for Isaac.
Isaac blesses Jacob, then, after the meal, Esau returns. Esau is angered that Isaac gave Jacob the blessing and demands one for himself. He gets one, but the blessing for Jacob cannot be rescinded. That is an important lesson for us: blessings and sacrifices cannot be taken back even if we want them to. This sordid story in Genesis also tells us that if such a flawed family is the chosen family of God, we are in good shape.
In chapter 28 of Genesis, Jacob is again the focus. He travels to Harran and stops for the night about halfway. He decides to sleep and has a dream. The Lord tells him, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”
“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Symbolism and Meaning
Like the other stories in Genesis, this one about Jacob is very significant. First, we are taught that blessings cannot be taken back. Isaac wants to take his blessing to Jacob back, but he cannot. This is extended to sacraments for us. Like blessings, they leave an indelible mark on the soul and cannot be undone, even if we renounce them.
The dream Jacob had in Genesis chapter 28 is also very meaningful. In the dream, God tells him he will have numerous descendants. Those descendants have become the Israelites. The same ones that are in the new.
Parting Shots
Genesis is the first book of the Bible, and the Bible is the most-read book in the world. As such, it is not surprising that important stories are written in there. These stories about Jacob both teach us that sacraments are forever and that the current Israelites are the descendants God told Jacob about.
