Genesis 25:21-26
21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
THE TROUBLE STARTED WITH REBEKAH
Genesis 25:27-28
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
STOLEN BIRTHRIGHT
Genesis 25:29-34
29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore, his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
a) Birthright (Bekorah) has to do with both position and inheritance. By birthright, the firstborn son inherited the leadership of the family and the judicial authority of his father.
b) Deuteronomy 21:17 states that he was also entitled to a double portion of the paternal inheritance. Esau was entitled to double what all the other male children of Isaac would receive as an inheritance and was set to be given all of his father’s authority.
c) Esau’s double portion was traded for a single portion of lentil soup.
Ephesians 1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Don’t trade your kingdom for a Snickers
STOLEN BLESSING
Genesis 27:1-13
1When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”
Genesis 27:15-16
15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.
Esau was so hairy that Jacob had to cover his neck in literal fur to fool his blind dad.
What is so important about a blessing?
Blessing - An Old Testament blessing of a father to his sons was words of encouragement and included each son’s inheritance, and prophecy concerning the future. Isaac was passing his favor from God on to his son.
The New Testament tells us that we have God’s favor when we become Christians.
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
When we become Christians we become God’s children and we become valued, favored, important
Isaac gives Esau’s blessing to Jacob
Gen 27:38 38
Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.
Gen 27:41
41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Esau was consumed with rage because of the sin of his mother and brother. So much so that he was willing to violate the commandments of God.
JACOB AND ESAU RECONCILE
Genesis 32:6-8
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”
Jacob was scared Esau would kill him for what stealing his birthright and his blessing,
Genesis 33:4
4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Esau shows mercy (compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm). Jesus teaches us the same principle in Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.” We are to forgive because we have been forgiven.
CONCLUSION
a) You may not be the favorite but you are special in God’s eyes.
b) Do not trade the temporary things for the eternal things.
c) We forgive because we have been forgiven by Jesus
