As with Abraham, the “child problem” continued with Isaac. In this case, it was parental favoritism: Esau by Isaac, Jacob by Rebekah. But divided parental sympathies also mirror divine plans ...

In the sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham called G^d’s bluff. ... but she was three years old and family. Stringencies can disrupt. Jacob needed to be deceitful to his deceitful brother.

By providing Jacob the blessing of Abraham, Isaac bestowed on Jacob the blessing of possessing the gate of his enemies. Let’s look at the two of Isaac’s blessings together.

Clockwise Top L-R: Sarah Leading Hagar to Abraham. ‘Isaac Blessing Jacob’.Old Testament. Book of Genesis. Jacob in his uncle Laban's house and the father of his two wives Leah and Rachel Getty ...