The Conflict between Esau And Jacob

Topic: Struggle
Passage: Genesis 25:1–34

February 22, 2019

Commentary

Twenty years after Sarah’s death Abraham decided to get married again to a woman named Keturah (vv. 1-4). Abraham had six sons with her. One of these sons was Midian, the father of the Midianites, future enemies of Israel. Abraham wisely decided to secure the succession of the covenant through Isaac. He gave all that he had to Isaac (v.  5). He also dispersed his other sons by giving them gifts and sending them away (v. 6). Abraham died at age 175 (vv. 7-8) and was buried in the cave with his wife Sarah (vv. 9-11). Ishmael founded 12 tribes who have contributed much to the world’s culture. Ishmael was 137 when he died (vv. 12-18). 

With Abraham dead, his son Isaac, is now the center of interest. He was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (v. 19). However, Isaac never matches his father, either spiritually or in personality. Much less is spoken of him than of either Abraham or Jacob. Nevertheless, he is still counted among the great patriarchs of the Israelite nation and given an important place in history. God supernaturally provided a son for Isaac; in fact, it is the first record in the Bible of the birth of twins. Like Sarah, Rebekah was barren (v. 21). However, in contrast to Abraham, Isaac prayed and God responded.

The competition between these two boys was fierce. As soon as Rebekah conceived a battle was raging within (vv. 22-26). Birth did not heal the breach between the brothers. As the years went by the rivalry between them grew. The natures of these two boys were exactly opposite from one another (vv. 27-34). Because of Esau’s very appearance Rebekah was repelled by him and gave her love to Jacob. However, Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his venison (v. 28). One day Esau came home hungry when his brother Jacob was cooking some stew and sold his birth rights as the first-born son to his brother (vv. 30-34).

Application

The struggle that troubled this family provides a warning to parents who show favoritism to one child over another. I pray that this will never happen in my family or the generations to come. 

Genesis 25:1– 34 (NET)

1 Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

5 Everything he owned Abraham left to his son Isaac. 6 But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to the east, away from his son Isaac.

7 Abraham lived a total of 175 years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his ancestors. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar, the Hittite. 10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

12 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.

13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their settlements and their camps—twelve princes according to their clans.

17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors. 18 His descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which runs next to Egypt all the way to Asshur. They settled away from all their relatives.

19 This is the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

20 When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 But the children struggled inside her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she asked the Lord, 23 and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

24 When the time came for Rebekah to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out reddish all over, like a hairy garment, so they named him Esau. 26 When his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for fresh game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Now Jacob cooked some stew, and when Esau came in from the open fields, he was famished. 30 So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me some of the red stuff—yes, this red stuff—because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31 But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew; Esau ate and drank, then got up and went out. So Esau despised his birthright.