Genesis 36: Edom the strong pioneer
Before delving into the further exploits of Jacob's family, we take a slight diversion with an account of the nation of Edom - Esau's family, including genealogy and chronicles of Edom's tribes and rulers. Is this just 'all very interesting' but little more? Setting out the important names of the Edomites helps to put Israel's history in context (as the two nations were often at war), but is that the only reason?
In line with the blessing set out by Jacob, Esau settled 'away from the fat of the land' in the harsh climate of Seir, but nonetheless enjoyed greater autonomy than his brother's family who quickly became dependent on Egypt and then eventually enslaved. The nation had kings long before Israel who appeared to rule out of their own merit rather than through lineage.
I was reflecting with my husband the other day on the images of manhood represented in Esau and Jacob. The accounts we read earlier in Genesis (chapters 25 and 27) seem to suggest that Esau was very much the 'alpha male' type whereas Jacob was an indoor 'mummy's boy'. Neither comes out too well in the aforementioned chapters, but the ancient world would have presumably not been surprised that Esau's legacy at this point appears to be a nation that is strong and self-sufficient, not living 'soft' but surviving in the harsher environment. As mentioned above, Jacob's legacy is a people that are dependent and soon to be enslaved. But all this is irrelevant when it comes to the judgement, grace and mercy of God. For all Edom's self-sufficiency, they were nothing without God. The 'natural order' of things was usurped with the brothers' birth, and continued to be as God unfolded his plan for these two nations. As is written much later:
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’Finally, as we have already see several times in Genesis, the inclusion of genealogies from nations other than the Israel line show that God is God of all Nations, not the local or national god that was so often the object of worship in contemporary times. This is reflected in the fact that there are multiple prophecies addressed to Edom (including the whole short book of Obadiah) - these prophecies, like others of their type, set out the nation's sin and impending judgement. This sounds harsh, but in reality it speaks of God's love - it is a warning, and that warning is a light shining on the truth which enables repentance. God may have chosen Israel to be his witness, but his salvation through that witness is offered to all - as God promised to Abraham - all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 11:3).
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