Jacob and Esau
Notes
Transcript
The Firstborn Son: A Foreshadowing of Christ
The Firstborn Son: A Foreshadowing of Christ
Big Idea: By examining the story of Esau and Jacob, we are reminded to value our spiritual birthright in Christ over temporary pleasures. This passage foreshadows Christ as the true firstborn Son of God.
Into: Last week I mentioned that we were transitioning from the narrative of Abraham to Abrahams descendents. Today we will begin to look at the narrative of Jacob. My goal today is to give you some perspective that maybe you have never considered before. But ultimately my Goal is to point you to Christ.
So let’s look at the text this morning.
Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah,
and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s sons were the Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
And Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were sons of Keturah.
Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac.
But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, and while he was still alive he sent them eastward, away from his son Isaac, to the land of the East.
This is the length of Abraham’s life: 175 years.
He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people.
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hethite.
This was the field that Abraham bought from the Hethites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.
Here we see that Abraham married again and had several more children. To ensure that Isaac had no challengers to the Inheritance Abraham sent them away to live in the east. Unlike Ishmael there is no indication that Abraham did this when they were children but rather as adults he sent them to their own land.
Abraham lived to be 175 years old. And when he died the scripture says this about him in verse Gen. 25:8
He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people.
later We will see that similar statements are made of his children however none of them say they died contented.
The phrase “gathered to his people can be interpreted one or two ways.
That his physical remains were buried alongside his relatives.
This is statement referring to the Afterlife of the souls being gathered to Sheol in Hebrew or Hell in greek.
Since we know that Abraham was not buried near his people we know this must then be referring to the afterlife idea.
Sheol or hell is simply the abode of the dead. The place were departed spirits were held until Christ. We can see from the account of the rich man and Lazerous in Luke 16 that there are two parts to sheol or hell. One is a place of torment and the other a place of comfort known as Abraham's bosom.
This idea makes perfect sense when we look at new testament theology. One day we know that those who have not been resurrected to life in Jesus Christ. Those that have rejected God’s offer of love; that is those who remain in the torment of sheol or hell will be forever cast into the lake of fire with no hope of escape to endure eternal torment.
Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.
Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Later in the text it tells us this very thing that Abraham was buried in the field that he had purchased.
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.
Then we are given the lines of Ishmael
These are the family records of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave, bore to Abraham.
These are the names of Ishmael’s sons; their names according to the family records are Nebaioth, Ishmael’s firstborn, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
These are Ishmael’s sons, and these are their names by their settlements and encampments: twelve leaders of their clans.
This is the length of Ishmael’s life: 137 years. He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people.
And they settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you go toward Asshur. He stayed near all his relatives.
Then we come to the the line of Isaac. Where we will spend the remainder of our time this morning.
These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac.
Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two peoples will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.
When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.
The first one came out red-looking, covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau.
After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted.
He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom.
Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.
Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.
I. Dependence on God is a Learned Trait.
I. Dependence on God is a Learned Trait.
Once again we see the issue of Childlessness. While the scriptures do not tell us why we can make an educated guess. I believe it was reminder to Isaac that the promise to Abraham that would continue through him we solely dependent not on Isaac but on God. God was both promise maker and the promise fuflfiller. The Covenant made to Abraham was and is always dependent on God to fulfill it. Issac just like Abraham would have to depend on God.
Dependence on God is a learned trait. How do we learn to depend on God? The same way we learn to depend on our parents, friends, and family.
Need in itself is not a bad thing. The needs, the trials are the very tools that God often uses to to help us learn to depend on him. I believe God is establishing this principle with Isaac and Rebekah
But after Rebekah conceives this interesting phenomenon begins to happen. look at verses
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two peoples will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.
So then why did God make this decision? Why before they were born would God make this decree. The only way for us to answer this question is to turn to scripture.
And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac.
For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—
not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.
The only answer we have is that this decision was best for God’s purposes and plan. Going back to last weeks sermon, I don’t have to know how all of this works. I just have to trust that God will do what is best in every situation.
II. When we learn to depend on God, we learn to trust His divine plan.
II. When we learn to depend on God, we learn to trust His divine plan.
Life is much more peaceful and satisfying when we learn to trust depend on him and trust in his plan.
In verse 8 of this chapter we see this referring to Abraham
He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people.
Abraham was not a perfect man but he was a man that learned to trust in God’s plan. The picture painted for us here is one of peace and readiness to meet God.
How many of us have learned to trust in God’s plan. How many savior. When we live by God’s plan and trust him for it. We will have contentment in life and in death.
God’s plan is perfect. Which brings us to the next point.
III. God does not need man to enact His will.
III. God does not need man to enact His will.
When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.
The first one came out red-looking, covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau.
After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
We immediately begin to notice characteristics of the boys that were born to them and the foreshadowing of what is about to come in the next chapter.
But Right from the beginning, the author tells us that Esau was born first but Jacob was literally hot on his heals.
We see that Esau became a great hunter and was favored by his father.
While Jacob was a quiet man and favored by his mother.
The word used for “Quiet” is the same word used elsewhere when describing Job. It has the sense of perfect, complete, and blameless.
I have often heard this particular event as the first of Jacob’s deceptions.
But the description of Jacob here seems to suggest otherwise. It seems the author is contrasting the character of the two brothers.
We see that same picture again when Samuel anoints David to be the next King of Israel. God has Samuel bypass his older, stronger brothers to anoint David.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
God is contrasting the character of David verses his brothers. I would suggest the author is doing the same thing here. Just as David and Abraham was not a perfect men. We will see the Jacob is far from it as well yet God had chosen them to lead.
But shortly after the account of the twins birth we see this account.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted.
He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom.
Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.
The Birthright in the Ancient near east was the right to inherit everything. It was automatically given to the eldest Son. It was both his right and his responsibility to lead the family as the patriarch and to provide for those under his care.
Often as we have seen through out history it was used to the advantage of the one who inherited it. Kings would use their position to for their own self interest not to serve the ones under their care but to exploit them.
Now when it comes to this passage of scripture I am of the minority opinion. If Rachel loved Jacob it is very possible that Jacob knew of the prophecy that he would be the one to inherit.
So when I look at this account I see no trickery or deceit coming from Jacob but rather him taking into his own hands what he believed God has said about him. Just like his father did with taking Hagar as his wife to have a son.
I mean after all if a man is willing to sell his inheritance, and Isaac was a very wealthy man, for a bowl of stew; Is he really fit to lead a family?
But we know from Abrahams example that this approach to God’s will, will only cause trouble. It doesn’t change God’s will but it does change the course of our life.
Our sin has no bearing on the providence of God, but our choices do affect the course of Human life.
Now many of us are tempted to look at Esau and shake our heads. I mean this guy was a fool. He traded his whole future for a bowl of soup.
But how many of us are Esau.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,
knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.
“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.
We are promised reward. We are promised an inheritance. It is ours for the taking in Christ Jesus. But how many of us will trade the rewards of heaven for the temporary satisfactions of this life.
I am not necessarily just talking about those things that are
generally considered sinful. I want you to think bigger than the individual sin. I want you to consider the whole of your life.
A bowl of soup was not sinful but not valuing the inheritance was....
You see if you do not value the inheritance promised to you. You are like Esau, In God’s eyes you despise it. How often do we live our lives without any thought of the reward and that God has offered us?
What you value will determine what you strive for.
What you value will determine what you strive for.
At least Jacob recognized the value of the birthright and strived to obtain it. He might of done it incorrectly but at least he recognized its value.
Esau on the other hand had no sense of it’s worth and lived like it.
Is your life ordered around the things of God. Does this verse truly describe you.
I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Church family it is worth the striving. The inheritance is worth it because we have a good king who has promised us
While in a broken world God may had chosen the younger over the older there was coming a day when he would set all things right. Jesus Christ, the true first born of creation.
In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
Yet he did not use his position to just rule over us he used it to serve us through his sacrifice on the cross and his ressurection from the dead.
It is in him that we have the inheritance of eternal life and the promise of reward.
