Righteous Jacob

By Dr. Derek Carlsen

Jacob’s life is a litmus test that reveals whether Scripture alone is shaping our understanding or whether extra-Biblical ideas are influencing our conclusions. What most people believe about Jacob illustrates that they have read into Scripture something that is not in the text (i.e., that hasn’t actually been revealed).

Isaac and Rebekah

Jacob was born to Isaac and Rebekah along with his twin brother, Esau. Isaac only had one wife, unlike the other patriarchs, and so he wasn’t caught up in the distractions associated with multiple wives. His focus was upon Rebekah and when it became evident that she was barren, Isaac asked the Lord to open her womb (Genesis 25:21), which He did, though they had to wait 20 years (Genesis 25:20,26).

A Troubled Pregnancy

The joy of conception was soon darkened by a tumultuous pregnancy, which would have concerned both her and Isaac. Rebekah sought the Lord and He said, “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23). Relieved that she was not having a miscarriage, but rather that twin boys wrestled in her womb, she would, naturally, have informed Isaac about this revelation.

The Covenant Line

Isaac was no stranger to God’s sovereign election with respect to the covenant line where the younger child was chosen. Abraham was Terah’s youngest son and Isaac was younger than Ishmael. Moreover, Ishmael and Isaac would become nations that would be hostile toward each other, which was manifested early on and thus they were separated (Gen.21:11-14). God revealed that this pattern would continue with Esau and Jacob when He said, “The elder shall serve the younger.” Jacob was the chosen one.

Clutching the Heel

There is possible play in Jacob’s name which Esau used in his anger calling him a “supplanter” (Genesis 27:36). However, Victor Hamilton has said, “Scholars are agreed that the name Jacob is an abbreviated name, of which the longer form is ‘Jacob-el’… The meaning would be ‘May El protect (him)’ or ‘El will protect (him).’”^[1] “May God protect” is an appropriate name for a child that had so much resting upon his shoulders and clutching the heel could easily depict his tenacity in pursuing God’s blessings (e.g., Genesis 32:24-32).

That’s not Translating

When Bible subheadings are ignored and we allow Scripture alone to tell Jacob’s story, the traditional “deceiver” accusations that are flung at him don’t stick, and what becomes evident is that the text has to be manipulated in order to maintain such a narrative. For example, In Genesis 25:27 we read, “So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.” Some commentators have said that Jacob being characterized as a mild, quiet, or a plain man, who dwelt in tents, is telling us that he was lazy.

The Hebrew word that is translated above as “mild” is not a complex word—‘tam.’ Gesinius in his Hebrew Lexicon says that this word means “whole, upright, always in a moral sense” but he then says that there is a peculiar use of this word at Genesis 25:27 and proceeds to change the meaning here to something along the lines of mild or placid. Why not allow ‘tam’ to say what it obviously means—perfect, upright, blameless?

Gordon Wenham in his commentary on Genesis says that the word ‘tam’ is a term signifying the highest moral approval, however, such a moral sense is inappropriate in Genesis 25:27. Upon what basis does he change the meaning of this word for Jacob? Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon says this word occurs 13 times and is translated by the Authorized Version 12 out of the 13 as perfect, undefiled and upright and then once it is translated as ‘plain.’ Is this translating or manipulating? We need the courage to let Scripture tell us about Jacob—he was a righteous man.

Parkhurst, in his Hebrew Lexicon, says this word ‘tam’ means completeness, perfection, complete soundness and he lists Genesis 25:27 without any further qualification, in other words, he has no doubts that this is how it should be translated with respect to Jacob. This is the same word that is used to describe Job as he is introduced in Job 1:1 and the same word that God uses to describe Job to Satan. God said, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless [tam] and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8).  The same word is used for Noah who was perfect in his generation, a man that walked with God (Genesis 6:9). This word is also used with respect to Abraham (Genesis 17:1).

A Despised Birthright

Scripture tells us that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob; it doesn’t tell us that Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright. Moreover, Scripture says, “Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:33-34). The writer to the Hebrews says Esau was a profane person who for one morsel of food sold his birthright (Hebrews 12:16).

Isaac’s Treason

Isaac planned a secret ceremony whereby he would give Esau his blessing. Rebekah overheard the conversation and told Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and receive Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 27:1-29). Jacob deceived Isaac, but Rebekah and Jacob were acting in terms of God’s prophetic word that the elder would serve the younger. Isaac, thinking he was blessing Esau, was clearly warring against this prophetic word, saying, “Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.” (Genesis 27:29). When Esau found out what had happened Isaac, in great turmoil, confessed, “Indeed I have made him your master and all his brethren I have given to him as servants” (Genesis 27:37).

The Messianic Line

This was probably the biggest crisis in the whole history of God’s people, because one of the Patriarchs, who knew that his authority to pass on a blessing was irreversible, wanted to change the covenant line. Isaac attempted to disinherit the line from which Messiah was to be born. When he failed, he knew his blessing was irreversible, saying to Esau, “I have blessed him and yea, he shall be blessed.” (Genesis 27:33). 

When the writer to the Hebrews said that “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” (Hebrews 11:20), he was not saying that what Isaac was trying to do was done faithfully or by faith, but rather that Isaac believed he had authority to pass on these blessings and that they would come to pass. God had ordained to impart irreversible blessings through the hands of these patriarchs. 

A Crucial Battle

Rebekah and Jacob realized something that many people in our day fail to realize, namely, that this was one of the most crucial battles in the history of mankind. The great struggle in the womb had arrived in full blown reality. What was taking place was one of Satan’s most subtle and ingenious attempts to derail Messiah's line. Isaac left nothing of significance for Jacob, or so he thought. Despite the fact that God clearly hated Esau and had set His love upon Jacob (Romans 9:13), Isaac sought to disinherit Jacob.

Faith, Courage and Decisive Actions

Isaac wanted to give eternal dominion to the pagans over God’s chosen covenant line and there was much Jacob would have lost had he been found out by his father. Jacob was not supplanting anything; rather he was opposing someone who had declared war upon God’s clear, inescapable revelation. Rebekah and Jacob, with great faith and courage, brought their actions into line with God’s will. God’s faithful servants had to act and act quickly and they accomplished an amazing victory for the Lord. Not once does Scripture find fault with Jacob for his actions. Likewise, there was nothing in Jacob’s dealings with Laban that were unethical; it was God who prospered the herds and made Jacob a wealthy man. Jacob was an honest man. Rachel stole idols from her father when Jacob left Laban’s service, but Scripture makes it clear that Jacob knew nothing about it (Genesis 31:32). Jacob was a righteous man not a sly deceiver.

One Sure Truth

Our traditions and preconceived ideas about things, including doctrines and ethics are held firmly and unless we are self-consciously looking to Scripture to show us how we are to think about all things, then we won’t know if we have embraced false ideas. Just because there are millions of different and conflicting ideas, doesn’t mean there is no truth and that ultimately we have to doubt everything. There is one truth and the fact that men have multiple ideas about what truth is, doesn’t mean God’s revelation is contradictory or unclear; the problems are peoples’ hearts that refuse to bow to the authority of God’s revelation. As we bow to Scripture and allow Scripture to interpret itself, we can and will arrive at truth; an unshakable truth; a certain truth. The more consistently we follow where Scripture leads, the more light we will have. It is only in God’s light that we see light; it is only in God’s truth that we find truth, but for that to happen we have to have absolutely no confidence in the flesh, i.e., in our own wisdom and traditions. Just because we have thought in a certain way about something for a long time doesn’t mean that we are correct. Every thought must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ; His word alone is the sure guide that will lead us into all truth.

^[1] Hamilton, V. P. (1995). The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 (p. 178). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.