Jacob steals Esau’s blessing. In the Old Testament, particularly the Torah, of Pentateuch, we see a “forsaken firstborn” motif. God favored Abel, not cain. He loved Jacob and hated Esau (cf Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:13). What was selfish ambition for Jacob was intentional divine providence for God. The forsaken firstborn motif is most clear in the story of Jacob and Esau, and it reminds us of the insufficiency of human nature. The first Adam fell short of the glory of God. The blessing placed on the younger son foreshadows the coming of the second Adam. The forsaken firstborn motif is typology that points to Christ as the ultimate heir of all things that were given to Adam in Genesis 1. Those who are in Christ are co-heirs with Him despite their sin, like we see in Jacob.

We recognize that the turn of world history and the faith is not about any human person gaining any reward (like a mansion in heaven or a gift of the Spirit). Instead, the gospel is about Christ receiving what is rightfully His from the Father.