Genesis 25:19-34 - the family line continues
Read: Genesis 25:19-34
In this passage we are introduced to the next generation in the family - Jacob and Esau. There are many things to take from this passage, but I am going to draw out three main ones: the nature of God's promises, the short-sightedness of Esau, and Jacob the plotter.
The nature of God's promises
Our first theme concerns Isaac and Rebekah, who waited 20 years for a pregnancy. They would have been all too aware of the promises that God made to Abraham, but I wonder if, as the years rolled on, they began to doubt. Clearly it seems they did not follow in Abraham and Sarah's footsteps and try and take matters into their own hands, but rather they prayed, and God answered (25:21). Was prayer a constant through the time of childlessness or something they came to in desperation? We don't know and can only guess. However, that prayer expressed two things - a longing for God's promises to come into fruition, but also a trust in God that they would.
Even when we know God has ordained something, we often need to wait patiently for it. We may even be reminded of Peter's words in his second letter:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
God often has wise reasons for making us wait. In the verse above that reason is for as many people to come to salvation as possible. God's reasons for making Isaac and Rebekah wait may have been different. It may have been to develop their faith, or may have been for another reason as well. We will not always know the reasons for God's wisdom, but we do know this: we can trust in his promises, however long they take. It is not worth getting impatient, but in his mercy God gives us prayer as an outlet for that struggle, to help us draw near to him.
The short-sightedness of Esau
It could be remarked that neither of the brothers seemed like a good contender for the patriarch of Israel (although we'll come to Jacob later). Esau was favoured by his father for obvious reasons - firstly as the firstborn, a reflection of the surrounding culture, and secondly as his skill as a hunter provided plenty of wild game his father was fond of.
However, the events that unfold would have certainly shown Esau as foolish and short-sighted to the contemporary audience. Unable to see past his immediate need and desire for food, he sells his legal entitlement to the larger share of the inheritance and his status. His folly is referenced by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 12:16-17) as a warning to flee from immorality. When referenced in Hebrews the parallels are clear - we must not give up our inheritance - that is, Jesus Christ and the eternal life he gives - for temporary gain. We have been blessed - let's not throw it all away by rejecting God's promises.
Jacob the plotter
Finally, we turn to Jacob - a key founder in the nation of Israel. Who is he - a man of strong character and deep faith? It certainly does not appear so in this passage. Jacob is scheming and self-seeking - constantly chasing his brother's status and trying to usurp, so much so that he was even born holding his brother's heal!
The tension between the brothers that we see start here in this passage shows how sin plays out in the lives of all. Esau looked to his strength and stomach, Jacob to his status, but both prioritised their own desires, growing, as we see in later chapters, to resent each other. However, we also know that God went on to fulfil his promises through Jacob. When we consider this alongside being introduced to this rather morally dubious man, we are reminded of God's ability to change and work through all kinds of people. We will await to see how Jacob's story unfolds.
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