Genesis 25:19-28:22

Genesis 25:19-28:22

I am choosing to read 2 days tonight. I do not want to get more behind in my readings.. So, today's readings cover the time of Jacob cheating Esau out of his blessing for food to the point where Jacob manipulates his father and is given Esau's blessing. Then, Jacob is forced to flee for his life.

Isaac's sons, Jacob and Esau, fought each other even when they were still in the womb. The boys were different: Esau was a hunter; Jacob was content at home working within the tents. One day, Esau was starving and Jacob would only give him food in exchange for his birth right (25:31-34)… At the core, this is what would bring great problems between the two. Jacob would steal Esau's blessing, and become a great nation being served by his brother's nation..

Isaac and Abimeleck
 

In time of famine, Isaac and his family move to Gerer. While there, Isaac lies and says Rebekah is his sister (if it sounds familiar, it is because Abraham did the same thing). The truth is found out, and Abimeleck is concerned. "What if they had been guilty for doing things to them?" This was Abimeleck's concern. The family stayed in that nation, and became too successful to stay there. They were forced out. Isaac moved, and sought to reopen the wells that Abraham had made. Finally, Isaac and his people are given space. God appeared to Isaac reminding him that God isn't going to leave them…. Then, an oath is made between Abimeleck and Isaac.

Back to Jacob and Esau

Esau and his wife were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. This led to a great act of betrayal. The entire family is affected. Esau's choice affects Isaac and Rebekah. Also, would affect Jacob too.

Rebekah conspires with Jacob to steal Esau's blessing. Rebekah overhears Isaac telling Esau what to do in order to be given his blessing. While Esau is out looking to make the perfect meal for Isaac, Jacob stole his blessing. It took both of them to pull it off. They had made his meal, and was ready to go to say "I am Esau" when it is Jacob. Isaac seemed to question whether it was Jacob or Esau. He knew it was the voice of Jacob with the hands of Esau. Jacob had made his hands hairy.

Then, the blessing. Is. Given.

Esau would be the servant of Jacob. His decedents would serve Jacob's. Esau came in with his game, and had no blessing. Instead, he would be cursed. Esau wept. He was heart broken. He was full of anger. Scripture says: "Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” (27:41)

Jacob had no choice but to flee, or to allow revenge to happen…
Notice Rebekah's word:  "Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (27:46) She obviously had a time of struggling with Esau's wives. Not only were they different, they rejected the One true God! They were filled with wrong doing. Her heart was also breaking..

Jacob is again blessed by Isaac, and given a command in what kind of woman not to choose from. Isaac sought to protect Jacob. Esau learned about all of this. He knew that Canaanite women were despised by his father, so he went taking for himself a wife from the family of Ishmael (Isaac's Egyptian brother; this is huge!). He just wanted to seek disobedience and do wrong in the eyes of the Lord and his family. He chose to react.

Jacob's Dream

God promises to stay with Jacob. He will not leave Jacob. Just as he promised Jacob, that same promise still remains. He will not leave us. He will continue to stay with us no matter what. God provides for us no matter what may be going on in our lives. For Jacob's family, there was a lot going on. Still, God continued to work through those circumstances! As I keep seeking Him, He will continue to work mightily in my life! In the midst of circumstances it can be really hard, but my eyes need to stay on Him. Circumstances can look incredibly bad, and God can work through them in ways I cannot even imagine!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20