Genesis 25:19 - 28:9
November 30th, 2019
The Nations at War
Genesis 25:22 “And within her the children struggled together, and she said, ‘If all is right, why am I this way’? So she went to ask Yahweh.”
She asked Yahweh about it
How often do you feel like you have two nations warring within you?
Genesis 25:23 “And Yahweh said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body. And one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older serve the younger.’”
Who are these two nations?
Esau=Rough=Edom=Red=of the earth
Jacob=Supplanter=Heel Grabber; becomes Israel=(H3478) He will rule as God!
The Nation of Esau
Genesis 25:27 “And the boys grew up. And Esau became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field . . .”
“A man of the field” is a Hebrew idiom
Esau knew how to hunt - the ways of the world
This endeared him to his father (maybe why Isaac was blind for a time)
Genesis 27:3 “Take your weapons. . . And go out to the field and hunt wild game for me.”
His nature was such that he was impulsive, quick to act on his flesh
Genesis 25:29 “Esau was weary after being in the field.”
He quickly and without much thought or value, relinquished his birthright
He had a temporal view of life
He wanted the birthright for the gain it would give him not for the mantle (responsibility) it would mean for his life and for his generations
Esau’s Disdain for the Blessings
Lived in the moment – not valuing the “someday” promises.
Sold his birthright for some lentil stew and bread
James 1:6b - 7 …for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind. Indeed, that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
James 1:14 – 15 Rather, each person is tempted when his being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire.
When “someday” arrived, felt he’d been cheated of things that should have been his.
Sought revenge, chose blame and bitterness. Life is unfair.
Life is a struggle to hold onto what he can, feels things slip through his fingers.
The Nation of Jacob
“. . . While Jacob was a complete man dwelling in tents.” Genesis 25:27
“A complete man” is a Hebrew idiom for someone who is mature, well-rounded
“Dwelling in tents” is also a Hebrew idiom for someone who studies Torah
He wanted the birthright - he had thought through his proposition to Esau
He wanted the responsibility and the future that this brought with it (future generations)
He also wanted the inheritance of his father
Later, knowing full well, Isaac blesses Jacob again - as God caused him to actually bless him with the blessings of Abraham
Jacob leaves his home in pursuit of a wife, but makes covenant with Yahweh on the way
Jacob’s Love for the Blessings
Jacob was a planner, a man of introspection. He looked down the road and saw value in God’s promises.
Saw the birthright and blessing as a goal to be obtained, looked for opportunities.
God blesses Jacob, and he prospers. Whatever he sets his hand to succeeds.
Jacob later wrestles with God – he grabs hold and won’t let go until he receives a blessing.
He seeded into his generations.
A Costly Detour
Jacob steals the blessing, uses deception to get it. Jacob’s plan starts to fall apart.
Esau plots to kill Jacob after Isaac dies.
Rebecca sends Jacob away to her bother’s house for “a little while” while things cool down.
Isaac tells Jacob to seek a wife on his trip.
Jacob slips out of town quietly. No entourage, no bride price. Has nothing but himself (servitude) to bargain with, even though he is wealthy by all standards.
Never sees his mother again – she is not mentioned again.
He is, in turn, deceived by Laban – reaps what he sewed.
Returns home after 20 years, again wealthy, but finds Esau in command of his father’s estate, a steward in his absence. (Esau was serving Jacob all those years)
There is no mention of Jacob inheriting Isaac’s fortune. Esau apparently got the birthright back by default. (Esau throws off his brother’s yoke)
Esau’s Nation Represents
The flesh nature in us that accesses the world’s system
Sustenance that comes from the world
Going out in the field for wild game-looking for life in the world
The world takes more than it gives - we are lured in by the empty promises from it (the Vegas mentality)
Uses his weapons to find food - 2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elohim for overthrowing strongholds.”
Impulsive nature - going after our flesh impulses, not having a long-term kingdom mindset
Despising the birthright-Yahweh gave us a mantle, a firstborn blessing, but we have to choose it.
Jacob’s Nation Represents
The spirit nature in us that establishes Yahweh’s kingdom on earth
Complete - didn’t mean he was perfect, but it was how he responded to the situations before him, a mature approach; he learned from his mistakes (20-year detour) (A completed Jew)
Obedience - obeyed the instruction of his parents; Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents, for this is right, this is the first commandment that embodies a promise so it may go well with you and you may live long in the land.”
Pursuing Yahweh in all things - he pursued the birthright and the blessing; - he had to go out and get his bride
Wrestling - He is willing to wrestle and not let go; are we?
Kingdom mindset - Looking long term; how our actions affect our future generations
Isaac, no longer blind, establishes the blessing of Abraham - the will of God is carried out in the proper way-Jacob gains the blessing and is sent on his way
The older nature will serve the younger, flesh nature - The first Adam will bow to the second.(1 Corinthians 15:45) Jacob eventually leaves Laban’s house, (when Joseph is born), and wrestles with Yahweh. He comes out with a new identity and a new walk and is able to meet his enemy in order this time, with Yahweh in control.
The Nation of Yahweh
Both the blessing and the cursing are there. Which one do we pursue? Deuteronomy 30:19 (Do we end up on the 20-year detour or do we apply what we know to our everyday life?)
Do we want the inheritance from our Father? What about the birthright? Do we trust Him, or seek to “help Him” do it our way?
Do we pursue God, or do we have little trust in far-off promises?
Do we access the kingdom mindset when things are tough, or do we return to the earth, the world’s strength and solutions?
We do not have to supplant the enemy to carry out Yahweh’s plans; we simply have to ask for His will and obey His voice.
Do you really believe in God’s promises?
Do you believe enough to trust Him and wait for His perfect timing?
Take-Away Points
How is your current walk affecting your generations or those around you?
Are you finding yourself in the same patterns?
Do you blame others for issues that arise in your life?
Do you ask yourself, “What is my part in this?”
Do you seek wise counsel or the wisdom of the world?
Are you looking to God for guidance in your daily decisions? (Even the small ones like “Is this action pleasing to you?”
Do you trust in His timing and provision for the thigs He has promised you? (Rebecca and Isaac waited 20 years).
Do you take offense?
Do you feel as though what you are doing is futile or building up His kingdom?
Does Yahweh know you? “For I have known him, (Abraham), so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that Yahweh brings to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Genesis 18:19
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