Jacob and Esau

Genesis 25:19-34

“And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.” (Genesis 25:19-20)

Abraham’s brother, Nahor seems to have been the progenitor of the Syrian people. By Isaac’s time they were already well established in Padanaram, a part of present day Syria. Sixty five years after Abraham left Haran, Isaac married Rebekah. After almost twenty years of marriage, Isaac began to get concerned that they weren’t going to have children and prayed that God would give them one.

“And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.” (Genesis 25:21-22)

God didn’t just give one, he gave twins, It was not what Rebekah expected and when it started producing unexpected discomfort from their movements, she prayed, asking God what the problem was.

“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 25:23)

God informed her that she had twins and that they would be totally different, and eventually produce two very different tribes, with one much stronger than the other, and the younger becoming the dominant tribe. Many parents are surprised at how different one baby is from another from the moment they are born. Their basic temperment is set before thay are born, but the parents get to develop and direct it as the child grows. It is this inborn difference that creates many of the problems with modern society, which treats children as if they were parts on an assembly line, stamped out by some machine.

“And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 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 25:24-26)

Esau and Jacob were born four hundred fifty years after the flood, probably about 2150 BC. or a little before. They were different in every way. Esau was red and hairy, looking almost like he had a fur coat, even when he was born. Jacob, on the other hand was almost hairless at birth, and other women probably did like the Navajo women did with my son, rubbing his head and saying “no hair”. They were just as different in temperament as they were in appearance.

“And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:27-28)

From the beginning, Esau was a man’s man. He loved hunting and probably other sports and devoted as much time as possible to enjoying himself. Even the his name, Esau, meant “rough.” With his love for adventure and lots of exciting stories, he appealed to his father in a way Jacob did not. Isaac also loved the fresh game Esau caught. Jacob was quieter, gentler, and more serious by nature, preferring to care for the livestock and do things around the house. These traits endeared him to Rebekah, who was probably frustrated by Esau’s tendency to ignore people’s feelings and things that needed to be done . Competition for their parents attention developed, as it always does, and because the parents favored one over the other, became more intense than normal.

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 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.” (Genesis 25:29-34)

Boys were fully grown and Esau had spent considerable time and energy hunting, climbing and hiking, leaving him feeling exhausted. When he got home, like most teenagers or young adult men who’ve worked hard, he felt like he was dying of hunger. The sight of Jacob cooking red lentils called his attention to his hunger and he demanded some right away. He got the nickname Edom or “Red” because of his craving for the red lentils pottage.

“And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.” (Genesis 25:31)

As his father’s favorite, Esau had probably gotten into the habit of lording over Jacob a little and his imperious manner irritated him. Unless the father specifically designated a younger son to do so, the eldest son inherited the bulk of the estate and the father’s position as his birthright. This would include all God’s promises to Abraham about Isaac’s descendants. Jacob offered to trade his lentils for the birthright.

“And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:32)

Esau wanted the food now, and wasn’t about to wait to fix his own or placate his brother. He totally ignored the long term consequences of his actions to satisfy a temporary craving. He literally said the birthright meant less to him than a bowl of soup. How many people today do the same thing. Alcoholics buy liquor and allow their families to go hungry, gamblers buy lottery tickets rather than making their house payment, men have an affair that will destroy their marriage, and people don’t make their house payment so they can buy a new television. Later they will regret the decision, but it is too late then.

“And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 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 25:34)

Although he probably hadn’t expected Esau to agree, Jacob wasted no time taking advantage of Esau’s lack of forethought and closing the deal. As soon as Esau got the food, he ate it and went on his way without a second thought, making it clear that what he had traded off didn’t really matter to him. The drunk, the Gambler, and the man who bought a TV all despise their home by putting something ahead of it. Later Esau felt buyer’s remorse, that Jacob had stolen the birthright, but it was his own decision.