Isaac's two "blessings"

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greenbaggins

Puritan Board Doctor
Jeremiah Burroughs notes the switching of the order in heaven and earth between Jacob's and Esau's blessings:

Mark it, Isaac blessed them both with the dew of heaven and fatness of the earth (this could be disputed, LK). But in Jacob's blessing the dew of heaven was first and the fatness of the earth was second; while in Esau's blessing, the fatness of the earth was first and then the dew of heaven. Note that a godly man stands in need of earthly things. As Christ said, "Your Father knows you stand in need of these things." But the great thing, in the first place, that a godly heart minds is the dew of heaven, and then second the blessing of the earth. Now a carnal heart thinks that it has some need of the things of heaven; it will acknowledge that. But it's the fatness of the earth they desire, and then the dew of heaven (A Treatise on Earthly-Mindedness, SDG 1991, p. 8).​
 
I think we get caught up in the narrative of how Jacob obtained the blessing, because it is such a great narrative, and fail to notice the beauty of the blessing itself. "God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth." It's a beautiful blessing, but not a line I hear recited much.
 
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