The Case Against Jacob

Judge: We’ve heard the arguments from the prosecution as to why Jacob is charged with deception for stealing the blessing from Esau. Now we’ll hear from the defense.

Jacob’s Attorney: Thank you your honor. I am here today to make a case that perhaps Jacob is not as deceptive as we may think. I would like to make the case that in fact Jacob was justified in receiving the blessing from his father, even though he was not the oldest. It was Jacob who actually followed God’s plan for Israel. I will make my case and we’ll let the jury decide.

Judge: Please proceed.

Jacob’s Attorney: Thank you, your honor. It is well known that even before Jacob and Esau were born, that God intended Jacob to receive the blessing. In fact God told their mother Rebekah, and I quote, “And the older shall serve the younger.”

Esau’s Attorney: I object! That is hearsay!”

Jacob’s Attorney: Your honor, I am quoting scripture.

Judge: Continue.

Jacob’s Attorney: Genesis 25:21:23 tells us that when their mother inquired of the LORD, The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.” This makes it clear that the Lord intended Jacob to receive the blessing, even before they were born!

Esau’s Attorney: Objection! It’s a well-known tradition that oldest receives the blessing and this does not excuse Jacob’s deception in stealing the blessing from Esau, the rightful owner.

Judge: You make a valid point, counselor. I advise you to stay focused on the charge of deception against Jacob.

Jacob’s Attorney: Understood. So let’s talk about the day they were born. I submit to the court that it is known that Esau is the stronger. The Lord also told Rebekah that, and I quote, “And one people shall be stronger than the other (Genesis 25:23).” This only proves that Esau used brute force to steal the first-born rights from Jacob by exiting the womb first.

Esau’s Attorney: Objection! There’s no evidence to support that statement.

Jacob’s Attorney: On the contrary. It is a fact that Jacob was born with his hand holding Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26). The poor boy was bullied inside the womb and pushed aside at the time of birth. He was only trying to stop Esau from stealing the firstborn position by being the first one out of the womb.

Esau’s Attorney: Your honor! The evidence for that accusation is slim. An infant merely holding his brothers heel at birth proves nothing.

Judge: I agree. Strike that statement from the record. The jury will ignore it. Proceed on a different track counselor.

Jacob’s Attorney: Sorry your honor. So let’s talk about their father and how he was biased, to the point of loving Esau more than Jacob for the simple reason he had a taste for game (Genesis 25:28). Again, it further points to how Jacob was minimized in his own house!

Esau’s Attorney: Objection! It’s also well known that their mother loved Jacob more.

Jacob’s Attorney: But the father had authority over the household.

Esau’s Attorney: To grant Esau what was rightly his by tradition — the blessing!

Jacob’s Attorney: Agreed. But let’s talk about the character of Esau and his flippant attitude toward his birthright; his disregard for the responsibility that comes from the birthright and the blessing. To be a man of character who accepts the responsibility to lead Israel according to God’s will.

Judge: Counselor. Do you have a point to this speech?

Jacob’s Attorney: I do. I submit to the court Esau’s actions as recorded in Genesis 25:29-34: “When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” It clearly shows Esau’s lack of responsibility, his lack of character which only shows why God intended Jacob to receive the blessing.

Esau’s Attorney: Your honor, this trial is about a stolen blessing that we seek to restore. Esau’s character is not on trial here. Jacob and his mother have already admitted to committing the deception.

Jacob’s Attorney: That may be true, but their motive was for selfless purposes. As I stated earlier, it was in accordance with the prophecy at Esau’s and Jacob’s birth that the older would serve the younger. Jacob and His mother were only following through on God’s intent.

Esau’s Attorney: According to their interpretation! I think we all agree that we should wait on the Lord and not act for Him when we see fit!

Judge: We’re getting off track here. Let’s stick to the case and the charges.

Jacob’s Attorney: Sorry your honor, but Esau’s Attorney only reinforced my point.

Judge: Stay on topic.

Jacob’s Attorney: Your honor, I only wish to point out that Easu did exactly what his attorney claimed Jacob did.

Judge: Okay. Proceed just this once, but I’m warning you — no more diversions.

Jacob’s Attorney: Understood. I want to point out that when Easu was 40, he married two Hittite woman, not woman from his father’s lineage as God intended (Genesis 26:34). He himself did not wait on the Lord to provide. The record clearly states, and I quote Genesis 26:35, “and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” Easu knew this was wrong because the record also shows, and I quote Genesis 28:8, “So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac.” So he married a daughter of Ishmael, his uncle, to try to make up for his mistake.

Easu’s Attorney: Your honor. I do not see the relevance here. What does his personal life have to do with anything?

Jacob’s Attorney: It demonstrates his character and reinforces the fact that Jacob was justified in receiving the blessing. It was his desire to only maintain the integrity of Abraham’s lineage.

Easu’s Attorney: And Jacob is hardly a man of character. He was aptly named from day one as a deceiver.

Judge: Stop! Both of you! Does the defense rest?

Jacob’s Attorney: Yes your honor.

Judge: Any closing statements?

Easu’s Attorney: None your honor.

Jacob’s Attorney: None your honor.

Judge: Then I release the jury to deliberate and return with a verdict.

Two hours pass and the jury returns.

Judge: Has the jury reached a verdict?

Jury Chair: We have your honor. We find Easu and Jacob guilty of being human and prone to sinful behavior. We further find that only God is righteous and that we are all in need of salvation from him.

© 2022, CGThelen