In verse 33, we see Isaac trembling violently when he discovers that Jacob has deceived him. But instead of reversing course and condemning Jacob’s treachery, he immediately reaffirms the blessing. Why would he do this?

In the first place, people in the ancient world took words a lot more seriously than we do. They understood that once something was said it couldn’t really be taken back. So, once Isaac had blessed Jacob, the blessing stuck in spite of Jacob’s trickery. Even Esau understood this, as he didn’t ask his father to take back Jacob’s blessing, only to bless him as well.

But this isn’t just an example of ancient superstition. Such a profound respect for words is enshrined in the Ten Commandments, one of which prohibits any casual or profane use of God’s name and another tells us not to lie about other people. In our own era of “fake news” and instant internet innuendo, we would all do well to take what we say a bit more seriously.

But there’s another possible reason Isaac trembled violently when he discovered that he had blessed Jacob: he could have trembled in fear. After all, he had also been sinful when he tried to thwart God’s own words, God’s prophecy that his older son Esau would serve his younger son Jacob (see Genesis 25:23). So, could it be that he trembled in fear of a God Who could use even the trickery of Jacob and Rebekah to accomplish God’s will, to insure that Jacob would receive the blessing God gave to Abraham and Isaac?

So, let’s try to weigh our words more carefully today. But let’s take God’s Word even more seriously. For the God Who spoke the universe into existence with His Word, the God Who governs all the circumstances of our lives, even using our most dishonest and selfish deeds to accomplish His good and perfect will – this God has spoken to us. Shouldn’t we listen to Him?

Genesis 27:30-40 (ESV)

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.”
32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”
35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.”
36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?”
38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.”