Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Genesis 25



WEEK 11                                                 
 Genesis 25  

TUESDAY  Reflections

In this chapter, I am going to look at the obvious, Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of soup.

I can only guess why Jacob even asked Esau to sell his birthright. Could it be that he knew through his mother that he would someday get it, but tried to maneuver things into going his way rather than trusting God? Could it be that Jacob was tired of Esau coming and demanding to get whatever he wanted so threw this out thinking Esau would never do something so stupid? (I want to point out that Isaac had a large group of servants and herds. This was a large camp and to think that a starving Esau’s only choice was to sell his birthright to live makes no sense.) We don’t know the reason, whether it was malicious or not, what is key is Esau’s actions.

Esau’s birthright was a birthright from God, an eternal birthright. The future opportunity to be one of the patriarchs of Israel. A place of honor in the hearts of men and in the kingdom of God. Esau sold it for what he could get now.

Here is the warning: Too often in the hurry to get what we want now we sell out our future for a pittance. It seems this was the way Esau lived and he lost it all.


Gen 25:1-34

(1)  Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
(2)  And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
(3)  And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
(4)  And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
(5)  And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
(6)  But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
(7)  And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
(8)  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
(9)  And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
(10)  The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
(11)  And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
(12)  Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
(13)  And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
(14)  And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
(15)  Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
(16)  These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
(17)  And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
(18)  And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
(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 Padanaram, 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.

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