Esau And Jacob

Though tried in a similar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy. Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was to be “as the stars” [Genesis 26:4 ].

But in answer to their mutual prayers (1 Peter 3:7), Rebekah was divinely informed that she was to be the mother of twins, who should be the progenitors of two independent nations; that the descendants of the younger should be the more powerful and subdue those of the other (Romans 9:12; 2 Chronicles 21:8).

Genesis 25:19-34 KJV

[19] And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:

[20] And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan–aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

[21] And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

[22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire 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 garment; 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 venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

[29] And Jacob sod pottage: 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, Behold, 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.

Genesis 25:19 KJV

And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:

Genesis 25:20 KJV

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan–aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness.

Genesis 25:21 KJV

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer.
The fulfilment of God’s promise is always sure, yet it is often slow.
The faith of believers is tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for are more welcome when they come.

Genesis 25:22 KJV

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

Isaac and Rebekah kept in view the promise of all nations being blessed in their posterity, therefore were not only desirous of children, but anxious concerning every thing which seemed to mark their future character.
In all our doubts we should inquire of the Lord by prayer.

In many of our conflicts with sin and temptation, we may adopt Rebekah’s words, “If it be so, why am I thus?” If a child of God, why so careless or carnal?

If not a child of God, why so afraid of, or so burdened with sin?

Genesis 25:23 KJV

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.

Genesis 25:24 KJV

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Genesis 25:25 KJV

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:26 KJV

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.

Genesis 25:27 KJV

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

Esau hunted the beasts of the field with dexterity and success, till he became a conqueror, ruling over his neighbours.
Jacob was a plain man, one that liked the true delights of retirement, better than all pretended pleasures.
He was a stranger and a pilgrim in his spirit, and a shepherd all his days.

Genesis 25:28 KJV

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Isaac and Rebekah had but these two children, one was the father’s darling, and the other the mother’s.
And though godly parents must feel their affections most drawn over towards a godly child, yet they will not show partiality.
Let their affections lead them to do what is just and equal to every child, or evils will arise.

Genesis 25:29 KJV

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

Genesis 25:30 KJV

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.

Jacob’s pottage pleased Esau’s eye. “Give me some of that red;” for this he was called Edom, or Red.
Gratifying the sensual appetite ruins thousands of precious souls.
When men’s hearts walk after their own eyes, Job 31:7, and when they serve their own bellies, they are sure to be punished.
If we use ourselves to deny ourselves, we break the force of most temptations.

Genesis 25:31 KJV

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Yet although we must be of Jacob’s judgment in seeking the birth-right, we ought carefully to avoid all guile, in seeking to obtain even the greatest advantages.
This would be the language of profaneness, with which the apostle brands him, Hebrews 12:16; and this contempt of the birth-right is blamed, ver. Genesis 25:34.
It is the greatest folly to part with our interest in God, and Christ, and heaven, for the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world; it is as bad a bargain as his who sold a birth-right for a dish of pottage.

Genesis 25:32 KJV

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

It cannot be supposed that Esau was dying of hunger in Isaac’s house.
The words signify, I am going towards death; he seems to mean, I shall never live to inherit Canaan, or any of those future supposed blessings; and what signifies it who has them when I am dead and gone.

Genesis 25:33 KJV

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

We have here the bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the right, which was Esau’s by birth, but Jacob’s by promise.
It was for a spiritual privilege; and we see Jacob’s desire of the birth-right, but he sought to obtain it by crooked courses, not like his character as a plain man.
He was right, that he coveted earnestly the best gifts; he was wrong, that he took advantage of his brother’s need.
The inheritance of their father’s worldly goods did not descend to Jacob, and was not meant in this proposal.
But it includeth the future possession of the land of Canaan by his children’s children, and the covenant made with Abraham as to Christ the promised Seed.

Genesis 25:34 KJV

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.

Believing Jacob valued these above all things; unbelieving Esau despised them.
Esau ate and drank, pleased his palate, satisfied his appetite, and then carelessly rose up and went his way, without any serious thought, or any regret, about the bad bargain he had made.
Thus Esau despised his birth-right.
By his neglect and contempt afterwards, and by justifying himself in what he had done, he put the bargain past recall.
People are ruined, not so much by doing what is amiss, as by doing it and not repenting of it.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

ESAU AND JACOB