By faith Isaac blessed, &c.] This also was a work of faith, Vers. 20 to give a blessing concerning things to come. 1For whereas the thing is not yet effected, but the naked word only appears, there faith must needs be said to reign. But in the first place we are to observe what good use this blessing had of which he speaks. For to bless, is generally taken to pray that good may come to those for whom we pray. But there was another thing rather in the blessing of Isaac; for it was as if he had put the person of his son Jacob into the possession of that land which God had promised to him, and to his heirs. But what of all this? Surely he had nothing ⟨p. 266⟩in this land but the right of burial. These high words then, Let peoples obey thee, and let the nations do thee service, seem to be ridiculous, Gen. 27.29. For what authority was he able to give another, who was scarcely free there himself? We see then that this blessing is grounded upon faith, because Isaac had nothing to give his sons but the word of God. Objection. Yet notwithstanding some may doubt whether there were any faith in the blessing of Esau, seeing he was a reprobate, and rejected of God. Answer. The solution is easy, because faith did chiefly show it self in this, when he discerned between the two twins begotten of him, & that in such sort that he gave the first place to the lesser. For in governing himself according to the oracle of God, he took away from the eldest the ordinary right of nature. Now the condition of the whole nation depended upon this, that Jacob was the elect of God, and this election was ratified and confirmed by the blessing of the father.
By faith Isaak blessed, &c.] This also was a worke of faith, Vers. 20 to giue a blessing concerning things to come. 1For whereas the thing is not yet effected, but the naked word onely appeares, there faith must needes be said to reigne. But in the first place wee are to obserue what good vse this blessing had of which he speakes. For to blesse, is generally taken to pray that good may come to those for whom we pray. But there was another thing rather in the blessing of Isaak; for it was as if he had put the person of his sonne Iacob into the possession of that land which God had promised to him, and to his heires. But what of all this? Surely he had nothing ⟨p. 266⟩in this land but the right of buriall. These high words then, Let peoples obey thee, and let the nations doe thee seruice, seeme to be ridiculous, Gen. 27.29. For what authoritie was he able to giue another, who was scarcely free there himselfe? We see then that this blessing is grounded vpon faith, because Isaak had nothing to giue his sonnes but the word of God. Obiection. Yet notwithstanding some may doubt whether there were any faith in the blessing of Esaw, seeing he was a reprobate, and reiected of God. Answere. The solution is easie, because faith did chiefly shew it self in this, when he discerned between the two twins begotten of him, & that in such sort that he gaue the first place to the lesser. For in gouerning himselfe according to the oracle of God, he took away from the eldest the ordinarie right of nature. Now the condition of the whole nation depended vpon this, that Iacob was the elect of God, and this election was ratified and confirmed by the blessing of the father.
- 1Isaac.Isaak.
