LastCall: (Genesis 25:12-34) "Sell me your birthright" -Bob Caldwell

Amazing Grace   “But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’” -Genesis 25:31-32 We have been introduced to Jacob and Esau, the twins born to Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob will end up with both the birthright and the blessing of leadership over the family line that came down from Abraham to Isaac and now to Jacob. From Jacob will come the 12 sons who will begin the 12 tribes of Israel. This also introduces us to the concept of grace. It is the grace of God that is clearly seen in how God uses and blesses those who, like Jacob, do not deserve it. Clearly at this point in his life, Jacob did not deserve to be given the birthright, which placed him as head over all that Isaac had been given by his father Abraham. This was to be given to the firstborn, which would have been Esau. Yet God revealed even before Jacob and Esau were born that the undeserving Jacob would be given what should belong to Esau (v. 23). Not only was Jacob unworthy because he was the second born of the twins, but also because he sought to fulfill God’s prophetic declaration by stealing Esau’s birthright and blessings by using unkindness and deceit (25:30-32, 27:1-35). It is true that God will in the end put Jacob through many years of trials to transform his deceitful character, but even that was an act of God’s grace. This principle of God choosing, using, and transforming us on the basis of grace is key to understanding what God is doing in each of our lives. From salvation to our usefulness in God’s work in this fallen world, it is based solely upon the grace of God. We would do ourselves and those around us a big favor to not forget this. This basic truth protects us from the poisonous power of pride. It is by grace and grace alone that any of us are saved from sin’s judgment and given a part to play in God’s purposes in this world (Eph. 2:8-10).
Genesis 25:12-34  The Families of Ishmael and Isaac 12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. 17 These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren. 19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?|” So she went to inquire of the LORD.
Ishmael’s Descendants (Verses 12-18) v. 13 Nebajoth – This tribe is mentioned in Isaiah 60:7 as wealthy owner of flocks. Nabatoeans are believed to be related to the Nebajoths and at one time held possession of Arabia, Petroea, with the capital at Petra. Kedar – This tribe is also mentioned in Isaiah 60:17 as wealthy herdsmen. In Isaiah 21:17 they are called skilled. v. 14 Dumah – This tribe is related to modern Dumat el Jendel in the Arabian highlands. They were a trading people. v. 15 Jetur, Naphish – They were neighbors of the tribes of Israel to the east of the Jordan (1 Chron. 5:19). v. 16 Towns – This is a term for unwalled encampments and villages. v. 18 Havilah – According to Genesis 10:29, Havilah was on the borders of Arabia as far as Shur. The Ishmaelite moved in their nomadic wanderings through most of the Arabian Desert. Isaac’s Genealogy (Verses 19-34) v. 19 Generations Of Isaac – This begins a new section of Genesis as it picks up the godly line of Abraham being passed on to Isaac. v. 20 Padan Aram – This means “the flat land of Aram,” and refers to a large plain, which was surrounded by mountains where the city of Haran was located. v. 21 Barren – Rebekah had gone 20 years without being able to bear children. Isaac Pleaded – It seems God withheld the fruit of the womb so that the seed of promise would not be the result of natural events but of divine intervention. v. 22 Why and Like This – Rebekah knew her pregnancy was the result of God’s blessing. Yet not knowing she had twins, she wondered about what appeared to be a physical problem.
23 And the LORD said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Esau Sells His Birthright 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
v. 23 Older Shall Serve the Younger – This was not the normal expectation in their culture. It was assumed that the oldest would naturally receive the position as head of the family clan at the eventual death of the father. v. 25 Esau – “Esau” (Heb.) Means hairy or rough feeling. v. 26 Jacob – “Yaaqob” (Heb.) Means heel-catcher or supplanter. This was a prophetic declaration that foretold how Jacob would replace Esau as the natural heir. v. 27 Man of the Field – Esau was a strong and aggressive hunter. Plain – “Tam” means complete, whole, upright and/or simple. v. 29 Sod – Means to boil something. Stew – “Nawzeed” (Heb.) a boiled soup. v. 30 Edom – This is the nation that rose out of Esau’s family line. The name itself means red. The Edomites caused much trouble to the Israelites in the years to come (Num. 20:20, 21:2; 2 Sam. 13:14; Ps. 137:7; Joel 3:19). v. 31 Sell Me – Jacob must have been told by his mother of the prophetic description and future of her two sons (refer to v. 26), and had been waiting for such a moment as this to capitalize on Esau’s compulsive character. Birthright – This position in the family carried with it both temporal and spiritual blessing. The holder would be considered the patriarch or head of the clan, and would receive a double portion of the family inheritance (Deut. 21:17, 1 Chron. 5:1-2). v. 32 Point to Die – This statement by Esau must have been an exaggeration since all he would have had to do was enter the family tent and eat from the provisions that would have been there. It seems he wanted to satisfy his immediate craving for this good smelling food to feed his hunger. v. 34 Despised His Birthright – This gets to the core of this whole transaction. Jacob took advantage of what he perceived to be a disregard by Esau for the leadership and calling upon himself and the family. Hebrews 12:16 tells us Esau was a profane man. The word profane refers to that which is unholy and of no spiritual value.

Michael James Stone

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