Back to the Beginning Week 7

Jacob and Esau

Genesis 25:19–34 NRSV

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

—> Family Dynamics

—> not just in the home but in the church

—> brothers and sisters in Christ

—> Jacobs and Esau’s

—> Esau doesn’t seem to care about the big picture

—> He is in the moment

—> Not looking to the future because for him there seems to be no guarantee of that future

Genesis 25:29–34 NRSV

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Jacob sees the big picture but isn’t in the position to be in control.

—> He wants the position of first born but its not his place.

—> Nothing Jacob does is intermittently wrong here

—> Its just not the done thing

—> In the Church today we all have responsibilities, especially in the Methodist Church, (have you seen our list of committees)

—> But along with our responsibilities we also have Jacobs and Esaus

—> those that don’t want any part of more responsibilities and those that don’t want to give up something because that’s my spot.

—> Now I will be honest and let you know we have many more Esaus then we have Jacobs, but the Jacobs are still out there.

—> So what do we do.

—> We take up our responsibility

—> What’s our responsibility?

—> Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NRSV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

—> Don’t be an Esau

Don’t wait on someone else to do this for you

Don’t try to pass off this responsibility

—> Don’t be a Jacob

Don’t do things only your way

Sometimes discipleship means letting others take the lead