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Siblings’ Rivalry (Jacob and Esau) Genesis 25:19-34 (KJV)
taste of wild game, so his heart leaned his elder son. Jacob was more inclined to- ward the domestic affairs of the family, which Rebekah appreciated.
The Birthright Despised (Genesis 25:29-34) The bargain that the two
brother struck would not have held up in any court of law because there were no other human witnesses. Esau was prepared to receive the blessing of the firstborn, de- spite having sold it to Jacob.
However, what God saw in Esau was a man more con- cerned about physical and temporal matters, that about spiritual an d eternal things. Jacob was not perfect or guiltless, but his heart was on those things that God values. In despising his birthright, Esau turned his back on the covenantal promises that God had made with Abraham and later confirmed with Isaac.
Conclusion
It’s easy to follow the bright lights and immediate gratification of the world. Spiritual things take second
place to television, social media, weekend outings and sporting events. We forget that we are spiritual crea- tures who need fellowship with our Creator and that He has called us to be His chil-
dren pursuing His best plan for our lives.
No redeemed believer should be casual regarding the riches God has given us. Resist the temptation of im- mediate gratification.
The Scriptures
Genesis 25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Re- bekah to wife, the daughter og Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, be- cause she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children strug- gled together within her; and shesaid,Ifitbeso,whyamI thus? And she went to en- quire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy gar- ment; and they called his name Esau.
26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his veni- son: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pot- tage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Be- hold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
It’s ironic that this week’s lesson talks about birthrights and the outcome of the sib- lings’ rivalry, while the Pres-
ident of the United States is contemplating the use of his pen to change the 14th Amendment of the Constitu- tion that guarantees birthright citizenship to those babies born in the U. S.
The Birthright Divinely Bestowed (Genesis 22:19-23)
Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah to be his wife. As time passed, they discovered that she was not able to have children. Isaac prayed for her, and after 20 years of marriage, Isaac re- ceived an answer. Rebekah conceived – not just one baby, but two.
The twins did not seem to get along, even before birth. Rebekah did not know what was going on in her, but she took her concerns to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord told her that the twins’ struggle mirrored what their relationship would be like throughout their lives. They would not get along personally, and ul- timately, their descendants would not either. They would separate and become two dif- ferent nations that would find themselves at war with each other.
Which boy would be the one to inherit all the prom- ises that God had given to Abraham and Isaac? Custom would dictate that the first- born would inherit the prom- ises, but God had other plans. He had selected the younger to be stronger and rule the older. Centuries passed before his prophecy came to fruition.
The Birthright Disputed (Genesis 25: 24-28) The boy born first was all
red and hairy, so they named him Esau. Then came the next boy, who followed so close in time that he held his brother’s heel. As a result, they named him Jacob, the root of which in Hebrew means to supplant. It was the younger’s aim to dispute the birthright of the elder just as God had told Rebekah. As the boys grew older, other characteristics distinguished them. Esau became an out- doorsman and a skilled hunter. Isaac appreciated the
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