Genesis 25:20-21- And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Isaac and Rebekah wanted to have children. But, just like Sarah, it didn't seem like it was happening. So, Isaac went to ask God. Isaac knew that his relationship with God was good enough to be able to ask him for things that he wanted. When our relationship is good with God, we know that we are able to ask God for our wants and needs.
God answered Isaac's request and allowed Rebekah to get pregnant. But something was up!
Genesis 25:22- And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Rebekah had a lot of movement. Now, pregnant women can feel the baby moving in their tummy. Have you ever had your hand on a pregnant woman's belly and felt the baby kick? Well, Rebekah's baby was kicking a lot! And she wondered about it. So guess what she did?
She went to ask God. It's not good enough for just a husband to have a relationship with God. A wife needs her own personal friendship with God. God wants to hear from boys and girls all about their problems, and their needs, and their wants.
Genesis 25:23- And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Guess what? God answered Rebekah, too! Both Isaac and Rebekah had a good enough relationship with God that they could not only talk to God, but also hear God answer them.
Did you understand God's answer? God told Rebekah that there were 2 nations in her tummy.
Genesis 25:24- And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Twins! That's why there was so much movement! Boy, they must have been fighting a lot! You see, these boys would both have a lot of children, and those children would become nations- 2 nations were born that day.
Genesis 25:25-26- And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
So, one was all hairy with red hair. He must've looked like a Scotsman! And they named him Esau.
The other was also a boy and they named him Jacob. And guess what he did? He grabbed his brother's heel. They were just born and they were fighting! Do you think they fought a lot growing up? I bet they did!
Genesis 25:27- And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
Two brothers were never so different. Esau was an outdoors person. He liked to hunt and run through the fields. He probably had clothes that were worn out and ripped. But, Jacob was an indoors person. He learned to cook, and I bet his clothes were always nice because he could probably fix them.
Genesis 25:28- And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Uh oh! These two brothers kinda made a split in the family. Isaac loved Esau. They were probably out in the fields together a lot. And whenever Esau hunted for food, he shared some with his father. But, Rebekah loved Jacob. He was always around her in the house. He probably helped out a lot, and I'm sure she appreciated that very much.
Not only were these boys different in their likes and dislikes. But they were different in what they valued. Esau liked the outdoors. He could go where he pleased. He didn't really have to answer to anyone. If he wanted to hunt, he could. If he wanted to lay in the field and look at the clouds roll by, he could. Perhaps, Esau didn't like responsibility.
Jacob, on the other hand, liked to be inside. He probably liked order and took responsibility for keeping things just so.
These differences were about to play out in a life changing way. We don't know how old the boys were, but they were about to make a deal!
Genesis 25:29-30- And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
Jacob was at home, as usual, making a pottage. Esau had been out somewhere and I guess he wasn't successful that day in catching something. So, he comes home very hungry! He sees Jacob cooking and asks for some food.
Jacob knew that Esau was going to get everything that their father had. Esau was the firstborn, and by the laws back then, everything went to him! But, Jacob knew Esau really didn't want that responsibility. Jacob wanted it, so he proposed a deal.
Genesis 25:31- And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
I can just see Esau now! He's smelling that pottage and he's feeling the grumbling in his tummy and he's thinking, "I can't eat my birthright!"
Genesis 25:32-34- And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Do you know what lentils are? It's kinda like a small bean. Esau just sold his house and all his possessions for bean soup! Do you think that was a smart deal?
The Bible tells us that God was not very happy with Esau.
Hebrews 12:15-17- . Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
God says to be diligent. Do you know what that means? It means to be responsible for your actions by doing things right and in a timely way. Esau wasn't diligent. If he had been, he wouldn't have sold his birthright for bean soup!
But, what else does God say about this? He says he wanted it back and he even cried about it, but he couldn't change what he had done. You see, sometimes the consequences of our actions are so bad, that even though we cry and beg we can't change them!
Esau could never get his birthright back. We need to make sure that we are diligent with the blessings that God gives us. For we never know when we'll be tempted to throw those blessings away for bean soup!
