Jacob and Esau

The War Within

An amendment to last weeks sermon regarding the ability, by the Spirit, to say no to sin. Where is that ability found and to where do we look?

“God has given to all the creatures He has made some peculiar form of strength - one has such swiftness of foot that at the baying of a hound it escapes from danger by outstripping the wind. Another, with outspread wings, is lifted beyond the fowler. A third, with horns, pushes down its enemy and a fourth, with tooth and claw, tears in pieces its adversary. To man He gave but little strength compared with the animals among which He placed in Eden and yet man was king over all because the Lord was his strength. So long as he knew where to look for the source of his power, man remained the unresisted monarch of all around him.”

Abraham’s death is already accounted for in the preceeding verses. However, this is out of chronological order so that the reader can continue on with the promise coming through Isaac. According to the age of Abraham at the birth of Isaac, the age of Isaac at the birth of his twins, and the full number of Abrahams years, we can easily deduce that the twins were 15 when their grandfather died. Thus, we can also assume they had heard the promise made to their grandfather by Yahweh Himself. So the question remains on the minds - how will this be accomplished? The question on the mind of all those involved, including Rebekah. Gen. 18:19 tells of the command from the Lord for Abraham to command his children and household after him to keep the ways of the LORD. For many are called but few are chosen.

Romans 9:10-13

Romans 9:10–13 ESV

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Malachi 1:2-3

Malachi 1:2–3 ESV

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

Why Jacob?

John 15:16-17

John 15:16–17 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Ephesians 1:3-6

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Rev. 13:8; 17:8

Revelation 13:8 ESV

and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 17:8 ESV

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

What of prevenient grace? The idea that God saves based on the foreknowledge of who will freely believe?

Ephesians 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Jacob means “El protects” However, he tarnishes this name and therefore his given name is close to a pun meaning “to betray, deceive or seize by the heel” That is the reason Moses gives for why his name is Jacob, even before he commits deceitful acts.

The sons will be divided into two nations but the division is already taking place in the hearts of the parents. Not united in seeking the best for all their children, but instead taking to themselves that son which most appeals to them.

The deceiver is going to catch the hunter for the sake of the birthright. In the ANE the oldest son received double the inheritance rights over all his siblings. In this particular case, Jacob could also assume that the promise of God was to continue on through the firstborn. Deut. 21:15-17

Deuteronomy 21:15–17 ESV

“If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

Esau displays a sort of contempt or indifference to the promise of Yahweh and the rights of firstborn. Therefore, he does not show any ambition to seek, see, or be a part of the things of God. He values momentary pleasure over eternal gain, or service to Yahweh.

Heb 12:15-17

Hebrews 12:15–17 ESV

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.