Bible Study (3&4) - Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau - November 3, 2024 (Excellent)

Bible Study (3 & 4) – Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau – November 3, 2024 (Two Lessons together but worth studying.)

Love should be without favoritism within the family.

Showing humility is critical to restoring a broken relationship.

Our focus scriptures are Genesis 25:24-28; 27:5-13 and Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33;1-4, 8-11.

Mother of twins – Rebekah – Dad – Isaac

GOD said to Abraham - Genesis 17:19
Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (NIV)

Isaac is the son of Abraham.

Rebeckah - is the daughter of Bethuel, granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham.

Twins – Esau and Jacob or Jacob and Esau. Esau was the first born followed by Jacob grasping for Esau’s heel.

GOD had told Rebeckah that Esau, the first born, would serve his younger brother Jacob as we read in Genesis 25: ¹⁹ These are the family records of Isaac’s son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ²² But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” ^[k] So she went to inquire of the Lord. ²³ And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.

Key verse, the older will serve the younger! The two nations are the Edomites and the Israelites.

²⁴ When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first one came out red-looking,^[l] covered with hair^[m] like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. ²⁶ After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob.^[n] Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Let’s read Genesis 25:27-28:

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman,^[o] but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.^[p] 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom. (Red)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

³³ Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So, Esau despised his birthright.

There were two cherished traditions in the Jewish family – Birthright and Blessings:

The Birthright was conveyed upon the eldest son near the death of the aging father of the Jewish family. It was a double portion of property and possessions because the recipient was to keep the family and household together and to meet the needs of the family.

Generally, the Blessing was conveyed at the same time the birthright was conveyed. The blessing(s) was or were a prophetic statement(s) spoken through the aging father as led by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, The Holy Spirit was very much working in and through the lives of those who sought the will of GOD. After the passion of JESUS, GOD made ready for the Holy Spirit to indwell the human body as a guarantee that person eternally belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS, thus the term “born-again.” Being born again is conception. It is the union of the human spirit (The Egg) and the Holy Spirit (The Sperm). The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity of GOD: GOD, The FATHER, GOD The SON and GOD, The Holy Spirit.

Back to our study:

The twin boys are now young men, and their dad was up in age, and it was time for Isaac to do what the patriarch of the family did as he approached the end of his life. In family life tradition was important. There was a birthright and a blessing to be passed from the father to the eldest son, which would be Esau, since he was the first born. However, GOD had told Rebekah that Jacob would rule the elder brother, in Genesis 25:23.

Let’s read Genesis 27:5-10:

⁵ Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau.

So, we do not have to read far to get our answer, “Isaac said to his son Esau.” Rebekah was eves dropping on a private conversation between Isaac and Esau. Definitely a house divided.

Isn’t it amazing how GOD reveals to us, by example, how we raise our children influences them. GOD’S desire is for us, who are parents to learn from the mistakes of others. This event in the family of Isaac and Rebekah reveals the results of favoring one child over another in the same household.

So, while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, ⁶ Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. ⁹ Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father - the kind he loves. ¹⁰ Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.”

¹¹ Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. 

Jacob heard what his mother had told him, but something just did not add up. Was he attempting to get his mother to reconsider her plans? We do not know but at least Jacob showed some concern regarding what his mother was telling him.

Let’s read Genesis 27:12-13:

¹² Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”

This was an excellent point that Jacob brought up to his mother. “Mom, let’s think this plan of yours through.”

¹³ His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”

“Oh Jacob, let me worry about that, I can handle your dad. After all, he will be so pleased after the meal I fix for him, he will do anything.” Or will he?

So, mama was the source of an evil plot to deceive her husband and to be a negative influence on Isaac.

Where did deception begin? In the Garden of Eden. Satan appealed to the woman, Eve, but apparently Adam was standing next to her and did not open his mouth until after the deed was done.

Isaac at least considered doing the right thing, but his mother wanted Isaac to receive the birthright in place of its rightful recipient, Jacob.

In previous studies I always thought, “Once the deception was revealed, just reverse it and give the birthright to Jacob.” But Esau had given up his birthright for a bowl of lentils. However, Esau had not given up his blessing.

Why was this a problem? The birthright was and is a Spiritual passage and not a physical passage. Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his/her sins that person is forgiven and in an instant when that person asks JESUS to come into his/her heart the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye and cannot be revoked. That birthright is instant, irrevocable, and eternal. That person is immediately GOD’S eternal child, never to be unborn from GOD’S Family. A Spirit-born persons Heavenly rewards can be impacted but not their salvation.

The birthright before JESUS came to earth was a foreshadow of Spiritual birth and GOD’S redemptive plan. What is the birthright of a person who has been Spirit-born? It is eternal life with the indwelling Holy Spirit as the seal and guarantee that person belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS eternally.

Blessings flow through the Spirit-born person to minister to others as led and directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This includes family, friends, and those to whom the Spirit-born person comes into contact.

So, we move into the rest of our scripture as fast forward from what had just taken place to years later in the lives of Jacob and Esau.

Focus scripture: Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33:1-4,8-11:

Let’s read Genesis 27:30-45:

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. ³¹ He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

³² But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”

³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”

³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!”

³⁵ But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

³⁶ So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?^[b] For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

According to the Bible, Esau willingly gave up his birthright for a bowl of lentils.

³⁷ But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.^[c]

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,

Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
⁴⁰ You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,^[d]
you will break his yoke from your neck.

Esau’s Anger

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

⁴² When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. ⁴³ So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, ⁴⁴ and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides— ⁴⁵ until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

So, mom sends Jacob away, which was good to allow time to hopefully mend feelings.

Let’s fast forward to the first meeting of Jacob and Esau, following a long absence from each other.

Let’s read Genesis 33:1-20:

Jacob Meets Esau – Genesis 33:1-20:

33 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. ² He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. ³ He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

Jacob showed respect to Esau.

⁴ But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. ⁵ When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” ⁶ Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. ⁷ Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

⁸ So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession^[a] I met?”

“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.

⁹ “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

¹⁰ But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. ¹¹ Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me, and I have everything I need.” So, Jacob urged him until he accepted.

¹² Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

¹³ Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. ¹⁴ Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

¹⁵ Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”

But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me,^[b] my lord.”

¹⁶ That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, ¹⁷ but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.^[c]

¹⁸ After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. ¹⁹ He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.^[d] 20 And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.^[e]

JESUS is GOD’s Son and HE is also the Savior of all who place their faith in HIM. GOD is eternal and cannot die and neither could HIS only SON, JESUS, until HE willingly came to earth to be born of the virgin Mary.

JESUS became 100% human/yet 100% GOD. As 100% human HE was subject to death. As 100% GOD, HE could have exited HIS appointed mission upon earth, which was to live a 100% sinless life in order for HIM to be the perfect acceptable sacrifice to HIS FATHER (GOD) to pay for all sin. JESUS is and always will be the eldest SON in the Family of GOD. All people are the brother or sister of JESUS through the miracle of Spiritual birth. JESUS was and is the head of the true body of believers. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to satisfy completely the debt for sin, in full, for all who place their faith in HIM.

JESUS is the first fruit of GOD’S redemptive plan, which is eternal life. JESUS is the head of HIS Family of those redeemed by HIS shed blood. JESUS died and HIS death and bodily resurrection opened the door for all who place their faith in HIM to live eternally with HIM. The birthright of eternal life belongs to GOD’S only SON, JESUS, which is passed to those who place their faith in JESUS. Once a person is Spirit-born into GOD’S Family that person receives blessings manifested by the indwelling Holy Spirit to minister in GOD’S vineyard, earth. These blessings are the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are numerous and the fruit of the Spirit. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.^[f] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit which GOD gives to those who are Spirit-born. 1 Corinthians 12 lists a few of these Gifts. There are many Spiritual Gifts given for the good of those who have been called to minister, to those who need to be ministered.

In last week’s lesson, I mentioned that some people become Spirit-born by simply saying LORD, “I give up.” JESUS, please come into my heart through the miracle of Spiritual birth. I want to be “born-again” into YOUR eternal Family and live for YOU as led by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is not complicated, but it is eternal through faith in JESUS. Yes, once saved, always saved from Hell. Now that is “Good News!” Blessings!!!