Jacob and Esau

My wife watches some really interesting television series and most of the time the series are some that can be streamed. Many times I will walk into the living room where she is watching a show and I will sit with her and start watching the show. Well the show will appear to be something that is interesting to me and I start to watch it to see whats happening.

Then I do something that she doesn't like, I start asking questions, like who is he, how did that happen and eventually I’ll ask her for a recap of what happened previous to where she is in the story.

Well, the reason why I do that is because I missed the previous episodes that lay the groundwork for the later episodes so if a cheractor references an earlier event that the audience is expected to know, I don't know because I didn't watch it!

The Bible is a story that starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation, and to understand what is going on in the Bible clearly the reader should read the beginning, middle and end. The writers of the Bible write in a way where they reference previous events and expect the reader to know that information and to be able to build on it.

Many times, or dare I say most of the time when people are reading the Bible today they jump in random parts reading text without understanding background information needed to understand the text more fully. Just like when I jump into the television series in the middle of them while my wife is watching it, I can appreciate some parts, but I don't understand a chunk of it because I am lacking information.

To help with that, in our small group sermon times we will continue to dig into Bible Characters starting from Genesis walking through the Bible focusing on their stories and how they relate to the rest of the Word of God and how that impacts us.

Today’s format will be a bit different then our normal format. Today we will be doing a dive into Jacob and Esau.

In the last few in-home services we went over stories associated with Noah and Abraham. We followed the promised seed from Adam and Eve’s son Seth to Noah. We saw God preserve Noah’s family and the promise of the seed going to Abraham.

With Abraham we saw Gods promised seed come through Him but we also saw the setting apart of a promised nation in the Israelites with Abraham being the start of this people. There we saw God expand his promise and make a covenant with Abraham promising Him and His people the promised land and that he would be the father of many nations and that through Him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Of course this is from Jesus who would come through Abraham being the promised seed.

So today we will talk about Jacob and Esau and we will walk through their story and look at why it is important to the rest of the Bible and the overall story of the Bible. As well as what that means for us.

Big Idea- God is sovereign and he chooses who he wants to use to accomplish his will.

Take Aways

To understand the story we must read the whole book.

Gods promised seed carried through Jacob.

God choosing to save some is a display of his love and grace.

Last time we spoke about Abraham, so we will pick up from there leading into the story of Jacob and Esau.

Abraham had two sons Ishmael and Isaac but although Ishmael was the oldest son, Isaac was the promised son being born through Abraham and Sarah who was barren and way past child bearing age showing that this was done by the power of God. Now we will go into the text starting with Jacob and Esau’s father.

Genesis 25:19–21 NKJV

This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Verse 19 it talks about the genealogy of Isaac this is important because it shows the birthright being passed down from father to son . The birthright was typically passed down to the first born son and included a larger portion of the fathers estate, the responsibility to lead the clan and to have more authority then any other siblings. The birthright here was even more special because it also included being the carrier of the promised seed and the promises God gave to Abraham and Issac being performed through this line.

Verse 20 shows that Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah and it talks about her background. Rebekah’s background is significant because Abraham’s son, Isaac was not to marry foreign women but were to go to Abrahams relatives to marry. Bethuel, who was Rebekah's father was Abraham’s brother so in marrying her Isaac was being obedient to God. This mandate not to marry women from other nations did not stop with Abraham’s son but continued and is repeated later in Deuteronomy 7:3-4.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 NKJV

Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

This directive was also introduced again in the new testament with Christian’s not marrying unbelievers, in 2 Corinthians 6:14

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

This is applicable to us today as believers. We are to marry other believers and not to seek to marry those who do not follow God.

So now looking back at the text at verse 21, Genesis 25:21

Genesis 25:21 NKJV

Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

This shows us that Isaac walked with the Lord, he prayed to the Lord for offspring and God listened and allowed them to have Children. There is another important detail. Isaac’s wife Rebekah was barren, meaning that she could not have children. But the only way that Rebekah would give birth to their children was by the power of God.

So there we see the character of Isaac having faith in God and being obedient in his actions.

We will continue with the text.

Genesis 25:22–23 NKJV

But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”

This is an important part of the story that explains things that will happen in the future. Rebekah inquired of the Lord and God let her know before the babies were even born that instead of the younger serving the older the older would be under the younger the older brother would serve the younger brother.

Of course tradition would have the older being the one who oversee’s the younger, but Gods sovereignty supersedes tradition.

on to verse 24

Genesis 25:24–28 NKJV

So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

So here we see the birth of the twin brothers, and their names with Esau being named because of his hairiness and the fact that he was red at birth, and Jacob’s name also means supplanter or deceitful.

Then the author fast forwards past their childhood to them as grown men. We get a picture of the two as being twin brothers but very different with Esau being a hairy man who hunts and is in the outdoors. But Jacob is one who stayed indoors and was what the new king James calls a mild man. The original word in the Hebrew used to describe Jacob is “Tam” which means upright, well behaved, honest or one with integrity.

Alot of times when we are reading this story or when we heard it spoken of we think of Jacob as being a weak soft man who stayed in the house. That is not so.

How many of you are familiar with the term “manly man”? How many of you are familiar with the “bad boy” persona?

Well in this story Esau is the manly man who is outside killing stuff working with his hands and he is also a bit of a “bad boy” which we will see a bit more of this later in the story.

Jacob is the studious obedient son who tries to do what is right and seeks to stay out of trouble.

Now in verse 28 it shows that Isaac and Rebekah had their favorite children. This verse is not a prescriptive verse, that means this isnt saying parents should pick favorit children to put over the others. This verse is only telling us the reality of the situation, it is descriptive, not prescriptive.

However we also know from above that God told Rebekah before the babies were born that the older would serve the younger. Meaning Esau would end up serving Jacob. So although the Bible does not tell us for her motivation to favor Him, we know he was a well behaved man and he was going to be in power over his family eventually.

Back to the text

Genesis 25:29–30 NKJV

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

So Esau was called Edom because Edom means red in Hebrew and the red stew is what he desired. Esau is also the father of the Edomites this is important because we will see the Edomites play a role in the Bible story later on throughout the Bible. But this shows their Origen.

Genesis 25:31–34 NKJV

But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

So here we see Esau come into the house hungry asking his brother for some of the food that he cooked. But Jacob wants to make a deal.

how many of you have ever traded things with your siblings or made deals with them?

When you made the deal you were trying to get something that you thought was voluble right?

Well that's what is going on here in a way, Jacob knows Esau has a birthright that is very valuable and he asks to trade for it.

The problem here is that it is an unequal trade.

If you had 10 million dollars coming to you along with several other desirable perks would you trade it to your sibling for a meal worth 20 bucks at most?

Exactly.

This just happened, the little brother traded a bowl of soup for the older brothers birthright meaning what he was to inherit as the oldest son and much more.

When the Bible says that Esau despised his birthright its saying that he treated it like it was worthless and insignificant.

But we know from the beginning of the story when Rebekah was pregnant with the boys that God had already said that the older would serve the younger.

So more time went by, years went by and in the meantime Esau shows his Character, we will pick up at Genesis 26:34-35

Genesis 26:34–35 NKJV

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.

So here we see that when Esau was forty years old, like his father he sought to get married. But instead of taking one wife he took two wives, and instead of honoring the command to take wives from among his people he took wives from the people of cannon which they were not supposed to do. And these women were a problem for Esau’s parents Isaac and Rebekah.

we will go to Gen 27:1-4

Genesis 27:1–4 NKJV

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

So here years after Esau sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of soup, his father is calling him to bless him. This blessing is to pass on the birthright of the oldest son to him.

Genesis 27:5–13 NKJV

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.” And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.” But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.”

So here we see that Rebekah heard that Isaac was going to give the birthright and blessing to the first born and she got the second born primed and ready to intercept the birthright.

The Bible does not say but perhaps she remembered what the Lord said about the Older serving the younger. Or maybe she saw the character of Esau and thought he should not get that blessing because he is bringing trouble to the household concerning these foreign women who were problems etc.

What we do know is that God said this was going to happen and it was his will for things to turn out this way.

Genesis 27:14–29 NKJV

And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.” Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.” He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed. Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!”

So here it was, the prophecy that God told Rebekah was coming to fruition, Isaac had blessed his younger son to be served by his older son and to have the birthright of leading the family and he also would be the carrier of the promised seed.

We also see some aspects of the story from earlier played out like the meaning of their names. Esau was named this because he was hairy and he was called Edom because he sold his birthright for red soup, he also happened to be red when he was born.

Jacob engaged in deceit in order to get his brothers birthright at his mothers instruction, and his name meant supplanter, or deceiver.

But all of this was ordained to happen and was told to Rebekah years before.

Now this passage is not saying we should do what is wrong to get what we believe God has for us, but is describes the events that happened.

now we will continue to see what happened to Esau.

Genesis 27:30–40 NKJV

Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.” And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.” And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?” And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

So what God told Rebekah in the beginning would happen happened.

This shows us the Charector of God and his sovereignty. God chooses who he chooses to use how he see’s fit, He is Lord of all.

Paul refers to this story in Romans when he is speaking of those who are chosen by God to be his and those who were not.

Romans 9:6–18 NKJV

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

This is also true of God today. Now it is important to know and to see that we all deserve the wrath of God, and in his act of saving anyone is an act of grace and mercy.

So as we come to a close I will briefly summarize what came of these two brothers in the end.

Esau’s offspring became the Edomites and Jacob was eventually renamed Israel by God and he was the father of 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel.

Take Aways

To understand the story we must read the whole book.

Gods promised seed carried through Jacob.

God choosing to save some is a display of his love and grace.