The world would condemn the treatment of Esau as being unfair.  In this day and age, an Esau would be off to human rights court pleading his case, and he would be recompensed.  However, Yahweh does not think as humans do (Isa 55:9).  To be clear we understand the position of Yahweh, it is recommended to read Paul's explanation on the matter (Rom 9:10-21).

27:27 Whereas the ‘smell of his raiment’ was deceptive in Song 4:11 the bride groom delights in the smell of the bride. Is our odour deceptive or beautiful?

27:33   We should conclude that Isaac ‘trembled very exceedingly’ because he realised that if it had not been for the deception he would have gone against what he knew was God’s will because of the comment made in Gen 25:33 to Rebekah.

27:16-17  Jacob was a deceiver and it seems that he may have learnt the trick from his mother!

V.15 In the Ancient Near East, it was the custom that a father hands down a special robe to his firstborn son.  This is Esau's goodly raiment that Rebekah took as part of her plan of deception.  The special garment would be kept in a box filled with flowers and herbs of the field such as lavender and thyme.  Sometimes whole sprigs of aromatic plants were put in.  Not only would these make the garment smell pleasant, but worms would be prevented from damaging the robe.  The beautiful aroma of meadow flowers and herbs was the smell of a field that Isaac experienced (v.27).

27:35 Whilst Esau here is concerned that the ‘blessing’ has been taken from him clearly this was a short term issue for him because when Jacob meets Esau later – Gen 33:11 – even though Jacob is concerned to make the point that he is giving Esau a blessing he is not really that interested in receiving it. He is wealthy so the things of God were of little value to him now.

I know there is a thought that there are two blessings given the first born, the double portion (the birthright) and the blessing. I believe this is may be a view developed to try and forgive Isaac for giving Esau the blessing when he had sold the birthright. But no condemnation comes God upon Jacob that I know of. It could be Jacob was taking what was rightfully his. Esau was condemned for despising his birthright, Jacob had every right to it.

This does not excuse the method use though but the punishment came upon Rebeccah. When she heard that Esau planned to kill Jacob she plans to send Esau to Laban and it says at v. "⁴⁴And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;

In the end she was deprived for there is no record that she ever saw Jacob again. Could this have been the punishment for her deception of her husband.

Psalm 32  In this Psalm we see the necessity to confess our sins to God in order to receive His forgiveness. David on this occasion is probably referring to his affair with Bethsheba.

Psa 32:7  God was David's hiding place, we must all hide in God, using Him as a cover to preserve us from our troubles. 

32:4   In speaking of God’s hand that was ‘heavy upon me’ David is saying that God was chastening him before he repented of his sin with Bathsheba. Isn’t it encouraging that our Father chastens us rather than leaves us to our own devices? He is seeking repentance so that he can forgive us. Chastening is not a vindictive punishment of a harsh God. Rather it is the behaviour of a concerned Father who s seeking to shower blessings on His children.

v4 God's hand can only be "heavy" on us if we have developed a relationship with Him, and if knowledge of His word, & of His love/grace have honed our consciences.

32:1-2 In speaking of ‘transgression’, ‘sin’ and ‘iniquity’ David reflects on the character of God – Exo 34:7 and the work of forgiveness in the Day of Atonement – Lev 16:21

32:3     The ‘roaring’ of this verse echoes David’s despair as voiced in Psa 22:1

32:5 The past tense ‘I acknowledged my sin ...’ indicates that by the time that Nathan came and told David about his sin and then that God had forgiven him – 2Sam 12:7,13– David had already repented from his sin. Nathan provided him with the opportunity to voice that repentance.

V.1 Maschil means giving instruction.  There are thirteen Psalms that are titled Maschil.  They are: 32,42,44,45,52-55,74,78,88,89,142.

V.2 Jesus is the only one to whom this verse really applies.  We can attain that status if we have our transgression forgiven and our sin covered (v.1).  This is possible through the sacrifice of Jesus, the only sinless man. 

32:7 David had been hiding his sin hoping that no one would know. But now, having come to repentance, he sees God’s forgiveness as the place where his sins can be hidden, so to speak

There is no-one happier than a sinner who doesn't get their just deserts (1). As long as you're honest about your sin (2). If not, and you try to hide it, God just turns on the thumb screws till you can't stand it (3-4). But when you finally come out in the open and confess, He forgives it all (5). That's why everyone who understands God's way of working, prays to Him straight away (6). And rather than hiding from him like Adam and Eve, they hide with Him and are delivered (7). Let's accept this teaching, and not be stubborn with God when we sin, so He has to drag us to our knees to confess (9). That kind of attitude brings so much heartache. But those who trust that God will forgive, have so much joy in that forgiveness (10-11).

Mat 17:1 - "After six days" - Mark 9:2 has the same number; but Luke 9:28 says after eight days. The reason for this difference seems to be the following: Matthew and Mark reckon the days from that mentioned in the preceding chapter, to that mentioned in this; Luke includes both days, as well as the six intermediate: hence, the one record makes eight days, the other six, without any contradiction.

"A high mountain" - This may be one of the mountains of Galilee; but whether Mount Tabor or not, is uncertain. Some think it was Mount Hermon. Yet others think it was Mt Nebo, and this may be credible as Moses had been buried there, and Elijah had also been taken to that side of Jordan at the conclusion of his mission with Israel. These three men - Moses, Elijah and Jesus ["Joshua"], are all related to an "exodus." Moses brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt - 1 Samuel 12:6. Elijah will bring the nation of Israel out of Catholic Europe - Malachi 4:5-6; Ezekiel 20:33-44. And Jesus has brought us all out of sin and death - 2 Timothy 1:10.

In the vision of the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah are seen together with Jesus. Is not this vision showing Peter, James and John that Moses (the Law) and the Elijah (Prophets) have qualified Jesus as the Messiah? (Luke 16:31). Consistent with this statement, Peter, James, and John were told not to talk of this vision until Jesus had risen (Matt 17:9).

Why were Peter, James and John selected to see this vision (and to be present with Christ on other occasions)?

Peter was the most prominent of the twelve apostles, and early ecclesial leader; James was the first of the apostles to be martyred; and John was the last remaining apostle. Is this information significant?

:1 - It seems that there are 3 types of people that will be in the Kingdom, as indicated in v. 1:

Peter - preaches(teacher)
James - loses life for gospel
John - caregiver(took care of Mary)

v.4 - The word for tabernacle <4633> is used of all sorts of aspects of God's dwelling with mankind throughout the New Testament:

The tabernacle in the wilderness (Acts 7:44, Heb 8:5, 9:2,6,8,21, 13:11)
The temple/tabernacle of the time of David (Acts 15:6)
The true tabernacle of the better covenant (Heb 8:2, 9:11)
The Most Holy Place (Heb 9:3)
Temporary dwelling places (Heb 11:9)
God dwelling with men (Rev 21:3)

17:1    This chapter should be seen as following on from the previous chapter. The transfiguration is what Jesus was talking about in Matt 16:28.

Jesus was extremely fair and straightforward with His disciples.  He warned them how He must be killed, but would rise again the third day (Matt 17:22,23). He did not want them to think, like some of the people did, that He was going to be king straightaway.  They were “exceeding sorry”, but still stayed with Him.

17:2 The high mountain was probably Mount Tabor as Jesus had been in Caesarea Philippi recently _ Matt 16:13.

The transfirguration was a glimpse of the Kingdom of God as seen by 7 beings: God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John, after six days (hence the 7th day). 7 is the number of perfection.

In Rom 3:21 maybe Paul is referring to this occasion:

17:5  The phrase ‘in whom I am well pleased’ is a quotation from Isa 42:1 confirming that Isaiah is speaking of Jesus.

17:2 The shining of Jesus’ face echoes that of Moses – Exo 34:29.

If you were introducing your son, a prince, to his future subjects, and you only had one thing to say, what would it be? Look after him? Respect him? Stick with him? Serve him?

God said one thing about Jesus on the Mountain, and it was "listen to him!". How strange.

But God has a long memory, and He was merely carrying on a conversation He had with His people centuries before. At mount Sinai God wanted to teach them about Himself so that they could be His people. But it all went wrong. They were so afraid of God they cried out: "let not God speak with us, lest we die!". In effect they were saying: "God is so vindictive, and we are so sinful, that He's bound to kill us as soon as look at us!".

The only solution to this deplorable situation was to provide someone who could tell them everything God wanted them to hear, yet in a non threatening way. God needed to show that He was really a loving, caring, gracious Father rather than some angry vindictive despot. He also needed to show them that forgiveness and mercy were always available. Only then would He be able to get His original message accross. In Exo 20:19 Israel asked for Moses to speak to them instead of God, and in granting their request God said...

( Exo 19:5-9 > Exo 20:18-21 > Deut 18:15-19 > Matt 17:5 > Heb 1:1-3 > 12:18-25 )

17:15  If Israel were faithful ‘fire’ and ‘water’ would not be a threat to them – Isa 43:2. So this child represents Israel who, because they are astray from God, were unable to experience the promise that Isaiah gave.