Biblical Relationships:Jacob and Esau

Pastor Jim Ennis

July 08, 2012

Genesis 25:19-34 Seeds of Discord

“Never violate the principles of God in order to gain or maintain the blessings of God.”

~ Charles Stanley

Two nations, ISRAEL and Edom, are in your womb as well as two peoples, hunters and shepherds.

The conflict that began in the womb was intensified by the parent’s favortism.

The birthright, usually reserved for the firstborn son, meant he would inherit a double portion of the father’s estate. In this case however, God chose the younger son, Jacob, to receive the birthright and to carry on the messianic line.

Genesis 27Family Ties and Family Lies

In this crisis, each family member had a role to play and each one suffered for it.

Both parents were guilty of favortism.

Isaac was disobedient to God and was wrongly deceived by Rebekah and Jacob.

Esau broke his oath when he sold his birthright to Jacob, nor did he value it. But he was also robbed of his father’s blessing.

Rebekah was guilty of manipulating Jacob and ended up losing her favorite son.

Jacob conspired in deceiving his father and the home-body was exiled for twenty years.

Genesis 28:1-9; 29:14-35: The fall-out extends to the next generation as these two brothers choose wives out of their brokenness.

Esau married out of anger and spite.

Hebrews12:14-17

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

 

Jacob married out of deep neediness.

Immature love says, “I love you because I need you.” Mature love says “I need you because I love you.”

~ Unknown

The new cast of family characters include Laban and his two daughters, Rachel and Leah, who had their own rivalry of competition and jealousy.

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

A sign of GRACE in this dysfunctional family: Leah, who is unloved by her husband but very much loved by God realizes how blessed she is and learns to “praise the Lord.”

To Ponder: Identify the signs of God’s grace in your life and/or family.

Jacob’s name means “SUPPLANTER.” Jacob’s new name Israel, indicates

“God PROTECTS,” “God PROVIDES.”

“Forgiveness means that I am continually willing to forgive the other person for not fulfilling all my NEEDS and DESIRES. Forgiveness says, ‘I know you love me, but you don’t have to love me UNCONDITIONALLY, because only God can do that.’ I too must ask forgiveness for not being able to fulfill other people’s total needs, for no human being can do that.” ~ Henri Nouwen

But NONE of this is possible without PRAYER!

“Prayer is WARFARE till the last breath”

~ Monk Abba Agathon, from Kathleen Norris, Acedia & me

“Drink deep and full of the love of God and you will not demand the IMPOSSIBLE from earth’s loves; then the love of WIFE and child, of HUSBAND and friend, will grow holier and healthier and simpler and grander.” ~ Oswald Chambers

To Ponder: Am I expecting people, careers, things, etc, to fill me in a way that only God can? Do I really know how much God loves me?

Brothers Playing Catch on Christmas Day

Only a little light remains. The new football feels heavyand our throws are awkward

like the conversation of brotherswho see each other occasionally.

After a few exchanges,confidence grows,

the passing and catchingfeels natural and good.

Gradually, we move farther apart, out in the field,

the space between usfilling with darkness.

 

He leads me,lofting perfect spirals

into the night. My eyesfind the clean white laces of the ball.

I let fly a deep passto his silhouette. The return throwcannot be seen,

yet the ballfalls into my hands, as if

we have established a codethat only brothers know.

~ Gary Short