GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25

GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25 (Gen 25:1) Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

All that happened in the life of Abraham from this point on was anticlimactic. His work was finished and he had done far more than most men. He had a miracle promised son. He was given a covenant with God that is eternal. He proved himself to be the father of the faithful. He had truly been a great man.

Then he married this woman. She was very likely a servant born in his house. He was a lonely old man. He finished his course and married off his son. His wife was dead and he now looked for companionship. He did the opposite of what he charged the servant to do for Isaac. He married a woman that was not from his family. Her children have Canaaanite endings to their names.

ABRAHAM'SCHILDREN (Gen_25:1-5) Gen_16:3-4, 15 Hagar Gen_21:2-4 Sarah Gen_25:1-15 Keturah FIRSTCHILD: Ishmael • Born of doubt • Though Abraham is the father the commands of God are not obeyed.

• Hagar is from Egypt (world) (Gen_16:1; Heb_4:1) • She bears a worldly church Ishmael had God's blessings • Answers to prayer • Miracles performed • Healings and prosperity • Feels God's presence • Hears God's voice (Gen_17:20; but Gen_21:21) But he was NOT the child of promise (Gal_4:22-23, Gal_4:28-31). He was not recognized (Gen_22:1) GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25—PAGE 1

He was circumcised, but did not inherit the city.

LASTCHILDREN: Keturah Thesewere even closer than Ishmael. They received gifts from Abraham (Gen_25:6). But they were sent back East where Keturah came from.

Babylon is noted for • Spawning the first false religion • Forming the first Hamitic trinity (Nimrod, Simaramus and Tammuz) • Babylon will fall (Rev_18:2) • Rev_18:4"Come out of her my people."

SECONDBORN: ISAAC • First born always rejected • Received all (Gen_25:5) 1.

BIRTHRIGHTOFPROMISE

Must be born again • Rom_9:6-8 "Child of promise" • Luk_24:47"Promise...tarry" • Act_1:4 "Wait for the promise" • Gal_4:23"By promise" NOTICE: The Holy Ghost is always associated with it.

So Jesustold Nicodemus "You must be born again."

2.

CIRCUMCISION

Gen_17:13-14 Uncircumcised will be cut off Col_2:11-13 New Testament circumcision Mar_16:16; Act_2:38 3.

FAMILY NAMEGIVENAT CIRCUMCISIONAct_4:12; Isa_66:5

4.

HOLYCITY

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Heb_11:9-10, Heb_11:16Looked for a city Joh_14:1-3 "God prepared them a city" Gen_25:21-34 Two natures in Isaac Children struggled before birth (Gal_5:17) Both natures were in Isaac becausehe loved Esauwhom God hated (Rom_9:13) and yet he loved the One God. Jacob obeyed his parents Esauwas spiteful Jacob pulled out to avoid trouble Esauwas revengeful "eye for eye" Jacob was domestic Esauwas wild Jacob wrestled with God Esausettled things his own way The Esauspirit cannot be trained or taught to do better The Spirit that leads you has its own will (SeeExo_17:8; Gal_5:17) (Gen 25:2) And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

The first son is Zimran which is from zemer, and means "wild goat," the ending -an being gentilic; (International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia) The next is Jokshan that means a fowler, is not bad, but the sons of this bird hunter are Shebaand Dedan who were the robbers spoken of in Job. Next is Medan that means judgment or contention. The family was beginning to ravel at the seams.

Then came Median that means strife. There was conflict in the family now.

We started with a wild untamable nature, then robbers and judgment and now conflict.

Next was Ishbak and that means, “leaving behind.” He could not put up with the family conflicts and left home. He was the prodigal of the family.

Last was Shuah that means depression. Abraham was now in the pits. He made a grave mistake in hoping to find peace in his last old days and found the opposite.

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(Gen 25:3) And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

All of these sons were much like the sons of Ishmael and lived in the vicinity of their half brother all of their days.

[And Jokshan begat Sheba ] probably the Sabeans: Job_1:15; Job_6:19 (Keil) - and Dedan - probably the trading people mentioned in Jer_25:23(Keil). And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, - who have been associated with the warlike tribe of the Asir, to the south of Hejas (Keil) - and Letu-shim, - the Bann Leits in Hejas (Keil) - and Leummim - the tribe Bann Lam, which extended even to Babylon and Mesopotamia (Keil). (Pulpit Commentary)

(Gen 25:4) And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

God had promised Abraham that nations would come of him and from these eight sons there were at least as many nations. So this episode helped to fulfill that prophecy. However it could have been done better another way. It cost Abraham a lot of grief and sorrow. Later they did not join in the burial of Abraham, nor were they mentioned at other times when the sons of Abraham were mentioned, becauseAbraham abandoned them.

(Gen 25:5) And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

Abraham realized that these sons were a hindrance to the plan of God and to the inheritance that would go to Isaac, so he gave the inheritance to him apparently to be received before he died. The inheritance included all the wealth of Abraham, but more importantly it included all of the spiritual aspects as well. The covenant was the most important part of the inheritance, and other blessings such as the birthright made Isaac a very special person in the Bible.

(Gen 25:6) But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Nothing is ever mentioned about this part of Abraham’s life or this part of his family anywhere else in Scripture. He basically divorced them and sent GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25—PAGE 4

them away with some gifts. I am sure the gifts were sufficient to give them a great start in life. Each could have received literally hundreds of animals and servants, enough to make any person to be considered rich, and Abraham still had a great inheritance to leave to Isaac.

(Gen 25:7) And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

The first hundred years of his life was the great exciting time of working out the call of God in his life. From that call came a multitude of blessings, a promise of (1) seed (2) land and (3) blessing, a miracle son and an eternal covenant. The rest of his years were not so blessed nor nearly as important so usually are not spoken of very much.

(Gen 25:8) Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

But even the best of us must go back to the dust. We are only here for a short time. We often think today that if a man lives to be a hundred he has lived a long time, but Abraham would consider his time short compared to those who had gone before him. And that time really is short compared to the time we will spend in eternity. The older we get the shorter time appears to us.

(Gen 25:9) And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; Notice that the sons of Keturah had no part in this. Abraham had given them gifts and sent them back to the east country, probably to Babylon, where they had come from and never intended to return. Most of them lived around Ishmael who was here to help bury their father in the cave he had bought for Sarah in Macpelah.

(Gen 25:10) The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

He was buried in the place he had negotiated for when Sarah died, and here the other patriarchs would be buried along with their wives so it became a famous place, and a focal point for all those who looked toward death and the resurrection. God had promised him a long life and to be the GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25—PAGE 5

father of a multitude. When he died the first part had been fulfilled and the rest was fulfilled later.

(Gen 25:11) And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

This appeared to be a favorite spot for Isaac. Here he camped much of the time. Here he met his wife Rebekah. This was the well where the angel met Hagar when she fled from Sarah.

I ask you, fathers and mothers, to consider the best inheritance that can be left to your children. It is not property or riches. If your children never inherit from you anything but a few cheap well-used articles of furniture, yet can point to your grave and say, "Under that grassy mound lie the remains of one who lived a life of faith in the Son of God, and tried to make the world of his neighborhood better," be sure they will inherit from you that which is more helpful and ennobling than cartloads of gold or silver. Be it yours to secure that. (D. G. Watt, M. A.)

(Gen 25:12) Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: BecauseIshmael was Abraham’s son, his family was listed here, otherwise he would be unknown, and probably would not even exist today. Their descendents owe a lot to Abraham.

He [Jehovah] had also promised to multiply Ishmael, and an account of his generation is introduced to show how exactly the promise had also been fulfilled to him. (Adam Clarke)

(Gen 25:13) And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, [Nebajoth] - "Heights;" the Nabathaeans, a people of Northern Arabia, possessedof abundant flocks (Isa_9:7), and, according to Diodorus, living by merchandise and rapine (Gesenius). From Petraea they subsequently extended as far as Babylon (Keil) - and Kedar, - "Black Skin;" the Cedrei of Pliny (Gesenius, Keil, Rosen-mailer); characterized as good bowmen (Isa_21:17), and dwelling between Arabia Petraea and Babylon - and

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Adbeel, - "Miracle of God" (Gesenius); of whom nothing is known - and Mibsam, - "Sweet Odor" (Gesenius); equally uncertain.

(Pulpit Commentary) (Gen 25:14) And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, [Mishma] "Hearing" (Gesenius); Masma (LXX., Vulgate); connected with the Maisaimeneis, north-east of Medina (Knobel) - and Dumah, - "Silence;" same as Stony Dumah, or Syrian Dumah, in Arabia, on the edge of the Syrian desert (Gesenius); mentioned in Isa_21:11- and Massa,- "Burden;" north-east of Dumah are the Massanoi.

(Pulpit Commentary) (Gen 25:15) Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: [Hadar] "Chamber" (Gesenius); Ha'dad (1Ch_1:30, LXX., Samaritan, and most MSS.); though Gesenius regards Hadar as probably the true reading in both places; identified with a tribe in Yemen (Gesenius); between Oman and Bahrein, a district renowned for its lancers (Keil) - and Tema, "Desert" (Gesenius); on the Persian Gulf, or the tribe Bann Teim, in Hamasa (Knobel); a trading people (Job_6:19; Isa_21:14; Jer_25:23) - Jetur, "Enclosure" (Gesenius); the Itureans (Gesenius, Kalisch, Keil ) - Naphish, "Breathing" (Murphy); "Refreshment" (Gesenius); not yet identified - and Kedemah - "Eastward" (Gesenius); unknown.

(Pulpit Commentary) (Gen 25:16) These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

What they call towns here were movable villages of the nomadic tribes.

The castles were tent communities and nomadic camps. When it speaksof nations, it refers to the tribe divisions. They had twelve tribes just as Israel did. God blessed them becausethey were Abraham’s seed. [twelve princes] this doesnot imply that Ishmael had only twelve sons, like Israel - a very suspicious circumstance (De Wette); but only that these twelve became phylarchs (Havernick). (Pulpit Commentary)

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(Gen 25:17) And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

When you compare the length of Ishmael’s life (137 years) with that of Isaac (180 years) (Gen_35:28), then you realize that God does prolong the life of those who honor their parents.

He lived 137years (Gen_25:17) which is recorded to show the efficacy of Abraham's prayer for him (Gen_17:18), O that Ishmael might live before thee! (Matthew

Henry) (Gen 25:18) And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

Ishmael died at the age of 137, and his descendants dwelt in Havilah-i.e., according to Gen_10:29, the country of the Chaulotaeans, on the borders of Arabia Petraea and Felix-as far as Shur (the desert of Jifar, 16:7) to the east of Egypt, "in the direction of Assyria." Havilah and Shur therefore formed the south-eastern and south-western boundaries of the territories of the Ishmaelites, from which they extended their nomadic excursions towards the N.E. as far as the districts under Assyrian rule, i.e., to the lands of the Euphrates, traversing the whole of the desert of Arabia, or (as Josephus says, Ant. i. 12, 4) dwelling from the Euphrates to the Red Sea.Thus, according to the announcement of the angel, Ishmael "encamped in the presence of all his brethren." naapal (OT:5307), to throw one's self, to settle down, with the subordinate idea of keeping by force the place you have taken (Jdg_7:12). Luther wavers between corruit, vel cecidit, vel fixit tabernaculum.

(Keil & Delitzsch Commentary) (Gen 25:19) And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: We now turn to the promised seed. This is the lineage that the Bible is based on carrying the bloodline from the seed of the woman [Eve] down to JesusChrist. Thus we leave the other families and begin now to focus on the family that will bless the world.

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Here the sixth section of the law begins, called ‫ תולדת יעחק‬toledoth yitschak; as the fifth, called ‫ חיי שרה‬chaiye Sarah, which begins with Genesis 23, ends at the preceding verse. (Adam Clarke)

(Gen 25:20) 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.

This was three years after his mother’s death. Abraham would not want to bring another woman into the house as long as Sarah was alive so he waited until she died to get a wife for Isaac. Apparently Isaac had not made an effort to get his own. He habitually let others make decisions for him.

His purpose for getting married seemsto be in order to have someone to take his mother's place.

(Gen 25:21) And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

It seemsthat most of those in this line had to overcome the barrier of barrenness,which would have stopped the lineage entirely. It looks like an effort of the devil. Sarah had been barren, Elizabeth would be barren, and Mary would be a virgin. All required intervention by God Himself to keep the lineage going.

TWONATURESIN ISAAC The children struggled in the womb (Gal_5:17) as our two natures struggle Both natures are in Isaac becausehe loved Esauwhom God hated (Rom_9:13) and yet he loved the One God. Jacob obeyed his parents Esauwas spiteful Jacob pulled out to avoid trouble Esauwas revengeful "Eye for eye" Jacob was domestic Esauwas wild Jacob wrestled with God Esausettled things his own way

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(Gen 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. She inquired, “If God has answered our prayer and given us a child, why am I suffering this struggle inside?” The only way to find out was to go to the one who answered prayer to give the child and find out what the problem was. That is what she did.

OLDTESTAMENTSURVEY2Co_3:14 * G. THE LIFE OF JACOB Gen_25:22 • Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. They represent the two natures in each of us. They struggled as our natures war against each other.

Gen_25:22 Gal_5:17 (1) Jacob obeyed his parents, Esauwas spiteful.

(2) Jacob fled from strife, Esauwas revengeful.

(3) Jacob was domestic, Esauwas wild.

(4) Jacob wrestled with God, Esausettled things his own way.

How would the two children struggling in Rebekah represent our two natures? b) GAININGTHEBIRTHRIGHT • Jacob wanted to obtain the birthright becauseof what it represented. It was a most cherished possession.

(1) It consisted of excellency in dignity and power.

(2) It contained a double portion (Gen_49:3; Deu_21:17).

(3) It was a spiritual heritage (the priesthood went with it).

It was the only hope for connection with the Messiah.

Gen_25:23

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(Gen 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.

She forever hung onto this promise and loved Jacob above Esau. Isaac did not care that much for Jacob so hoped to get around it, but he was unable to achieve it for it was a promise of God. He followed all the patriarchs in the second birth being superior to the first birth.

OLDTESTAMENTSURVEY2Co_3:14 * (1) Rising above his brother Gen_25:23 Elder shall serve the younger Gen_25:23 In Jacob you see the features that have forever since distinguished the Jew . He has the (1) mingling of craft and endurance , which has enabled his descendants to use for their own ends those who have wronged and persecuted them.

Jewsare credited with an (2) obstinate and unscrupulous resolution to forward their own interests, and we see this in Jacob who ruthlessly takes advantage of his brother, watching and waiting until he is sure of his victim; deceiving his blind father, and robbing him of what he had intended for his favorite son; outwitting the grasping Laban, and making at least his own out of all attempts to rob him; unable to meet his brother without stratagem; not forgetting prudence even when the honor of his family is stained; and not thrown off his guard even by his true and deep affection for Joseph.

Though we may recoil at this craftiness and manipulation, one cannot but admire the quiet force of character, the indomitable tenacity, and above all, the (3) capacity for warm affection and lasting attachments that he showed throughout.

What characteristics do you see in Jacob that distinguish a Jew? GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25—PAGE 11

Took hold of Esau’s heel Gen_25:26 Bought Esau’s birthright Gen_25:33 The quality, which chiefly distinguished Jacob from his hunting and marauding brother, was his desire for the friendship of God and sensibility to spiritual influence.

Another difference between them was Esau’s inconstancy.

Constancy, persistence, dogged tenacity is certainly the striking feature of Jacob’s character . He could wait and bide his time; he could retain one purpose year after year till it was accomplished.

The very motto of his life was, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” He watched for Esau’sweak moment, and took advantage of it. He served 14 years for the woman he loved, and no hardship quenched his love. In fact, when a whole life-time intervened, and he lay dying in Egypt, his constant heart still turned to Rachel, as if he had parted with her but yesterday.

In contrast with this tenacious, constant character stands Esau, led by impulse, betrayed by appetite , everything by turns and nothing long. Today despising his birthright, tomorrow breaking his heart for its loss; today vowing he will murder his brother, tomorrow falling on his neck and kissing him; a man you cannot reckon upon, and of too shallow a nature for anything to root itself deeply in.

But what did Esauin was his ravenous appetite that became an intolerable craving, and he begged Jacob to give him some of his food.

Jacob had long been watching for an opportunity to win his brothers birthright, and though no one would have supposed that an heir to even a little property would sell it in order to get a meal five minutes sooner than he could have otherwise gotten it, Jacob had measured Esau’sdisposition well, and was confident that present appetite would in Esaucompletely extinguish every other thought.

But so it is with those who fall under the power of sensual appetite. He is always going to die if it is not immediately gratified. No consideration of consequences can be listened to or thought of; the man is helpless in the hands of his appetite —it rules and drives him on, and he is utterly without selfcontrol; nothing but physical compulsion can restrain him.

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But the treacherous and self-seeking craft of the other brother is as repulsive. The cold-blooded, calculating spirit that can cleave to one purpose for a life-time, and, without scruple, take advantage of a twinbrother’s weaknessis repulsive.

Jacob knew his brother thoroughly, and all his knowledge he used to betray him. He knew he would speedily repent of his bargain, so he made him swear that he would abide by it . It was a relentless purpose carried out—deliberately and unhesitatingly sacrificing his brother to himself.

Yet Jacob arose the superior man. He can appreciate spiritual things. He knows the value of a birthright and he is constant . Esaumight be far brighter and a pleasant companion, yet he is superficial and profane. Heb_12:16“Look diligently lest there be among you any profane person as Esau, who, for one morsel of meat, sold his birthright.” Had the birthright been something to eat Esau would never have sold it.

Yet we remain the same today. “What will this birthright do us?” We do not see the good it does either. If it would keep us from disease,to give us long unsated days of pleasure, to bring us the fruits of labor without the wearinessof it, to make money for us, where is the man who would not value it—where is the man who would lightly give it up?

But becauseit is only the favor of God that is offered, His endlesslove, His holiness made ours, this we will imperil or resign for every idle desire, for every lust that bids us serve it a little longer. We are born sons of God made in His image, introduced to a birthright angels might covet, yet prefer to rank with the beasts of the field, and let our souls starve if only our bodies be well tended and cared for.

We are often like Esau, full of good resolves today, and tomorrow throwing them to the winds—today proud of enduring hardnessas a good soldier, tomorrow sinking back into softness and self-indulgence.

After repenting with self-loathing and misery, some slight pleasure is enough to upset our steadfast mind, and make us as plastic as clay in the hand of circumstances.

What is the difference between Jacob and Esau?

Obtained the blessing Gen_27:1-8 GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 25—PAGE 13

Isaac knew he was the guardian of God’s inheritance, yet in unaccountable and inconsistent contempt of God’s expressed purpose, he proposed to hand over the blessing to Esau.

Many things should have told him Esauwas not the heir. God had promised it to Jacob before they were born. Esauhad sold his birthright, and married Hittite women, and his whole conduct showed that in his hands any spiritual inheritance would be unsafe and unappreciated.

Isaac shows that he had a notion he was doing wrong in giving the inheritance to Esau by his desire to do it quickly, before God would intervene. He had no authorization from God to do it, but he could not wait calmly till God should let him know that he was near the end and that it was time.

Seized by a panic, lest his favorite should be left unblessed, he felt in nervous alarm, he felt at the point of death. He was to live another 43 years. He called Esauthat he might hand over to him his dying testament. How different from a man who knows he is doing God’s will who moves with calm assurance.

Why was Isaac in such a hurry to give the blessing to Esau?

Isaac laid a net for his own feet. By his unrighteous and fearful haste he secured the defeat of his own long-cherished scheme. It was by his haste to bless Esauthat drove Rebekah to checkmate him by winning the blessing for her favorite. He recognized he had missed it when Esau came in and Isaac said, “I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed.”

Gen_27:33 Isaac shows us the manner in which we ought to bear the consequences of our wrong-doing. Isaac saw God in the matter and trembled.

This brought Rebekah into the picture. She prepared Jacob to obtain the blessing by deceit. It may be she told herself she was carrying out the will of God. But it was doing the right thing the wrong way. She knew God had said the elder would serve the younger and she wanted to be sure that happened. Why should she not act now, by whatever strategy that was necessary, to

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appropriate Isaac’s blessing for Jacob? The end, she thought, would sanctify the means.

Her deceit cost her more than she expected: 1. Made Jacob look contemptible.

2. Brought bitterness to Isaac 3. Roused Esau’s fury 4. Led to Jacob’s exile.

5. Causeda breach in the family still unhealed when she died.

6. She never saw her beloved son again.

7. Esaumarried Ishmaelite women in attempt to be back in good graces of his family What were the results of Rebekah’s deceit?

She knew God would not practice deception Himself, but maybe He would not object to others doing it—in this emergency holiness hampered things so it should be set aside for a little so that they might be more holy later.

No doubt in ordinary circumstances, and as a normal habit, deceit is not to be commended, yet in casesof difficulty, which call for ready wit, a prompt seizure, and delicate handling, men must be allowed to secure the ends in their own way. They lie that God’s kingdom might increase.

Rom_3:5-7 Is it all right to be deceptive if it is for the glory of God? Esauwas the worst offender of all in this episode. While he was so furiously blaming Jacob it should have occurred to him that it was really he who was supplanting Jacob. He had no right, divine or human, to the inheritance . God had promised it to Jacob in the beginning of their lives. Then he sold it to Jacob for a bowl of chili.

Now he sought repentance carefully with tears (Heb_12:17). That is, he sought some means of undoing what he had done, of canceling the deed of which he repented. He shows us how we commit things sometimes

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so very small, yet they have far reaching consequences. They may crush out your spiritual blessings Gen_28:1 (Gen 25:24) And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

The nature of these twins shows our own nature when we receive the Holy Ghost. There is that nature of Jacob that is domestic and obedient, and there is that nature of Esauthat is wild and profane.

The name, which Esau handed down to his people, was not his original name, but one derived from the color of that for which he sold his birthright. It was in that exclamation of his, "Feed me with the same red," that he disclosed his character.

(M. Dods, D. D.) (Gen 25:25) And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

It is amazing how the accidents of nature can become a part of the perception of our life from the time we are born throughout our lives. He could not help his hairy body but it gave him a name. It caused people to look upon him as a man of excessive sensual vigor and wildness, an animal violence of his character, of a passionate and precocious nature. Whether these impressions impacted his life we do not know but he did become more a lover of the wild than Jacob and he was profane.

(Gen 25:26) 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.

Here again, it was an accident noticed by the midwife that has never been forgotten. Certainly Jacob was unaware of his brother’s heel, but that was where his hand was and it was a characteristic of his nature all through his life.

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The younger brother grasped for his older brother's heel from birth. The Hebrew word that means "heel" sounds similar to the name Jacob. The name may mean either "He Who Graspsat the Heel (of Another)"or "He (the Lord) Is at His Heels (Is His Protector)." Later, Esau would taunt Jacob with the negative connotations of his name (seeGen_27:36). Eventually God gave Jacob a new name, Israel (Gen_32:28). (Nelson Study Bible)

(Gen 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.

They went their totally different ways and probably had to be treated differently during their lives. That is something ever parent notices that none of their children are alike. There are some you never have to scold, and there are others that need discipline every day. One will mind and another will never do what you ask.

DIVIDEDFAMILIES (Gen_25:27) Look at the causeand results of the divided families in the Bible 1.

ISAACAND REBEKAH

Gen_25:28; Gen_27:1-46 2.

JACOBAND HIS WIVES

Gen_29:31; Gen_30:1; Gen_37:1-4 3.

MOSESAND ZIPPORAH Exo_4:24-26; Exo_18:2 4.

MOSESFROMHIS BROTHERAND SISTER

Numbers 12 5.

JEPHTHAHFROMHIS BROTHERS

Judges11

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6.

NAOMI FROMHERDAUGHTERIN LAW

Rth_1:14-15 7.

JESSEAND HIS SONS

1Sa_16:8-13; 1Sa_17:28 8.

ELKANAHAND HIS WIVES

1Sa_1:1-9 9.

SAULAND HIS SONS

1Sa_14:44; 1Sa_20:30 10.

DAVID AND HIS SONS

2Sa_13:1-18:33 11.

JOBAND HIS FAMILY

Job_2:9-10; Job_19:14-17 12.

JESUSAND HIS BROTHERS

Joh_7:5; Psa_69:8 (Gen 25:28) And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Isaac loved Esaubecausehe saw in him something he did not have in himself and thus admired in others. Isaac was introverted and never was daring or adventuresome, would never have spent time wandering through the woods, and when he saw Esauhad these characteristics that he wished he had, he was attracted to him more than to Jacob who was milder like himself.

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(Gen 25:29) And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: Pottage was really not all that hard to make, and Esaucould have had his own within less than an hour, but he saw some already made and did not want to wait. He had little patience.

Esau is not the sort of man to be the father of a great nation, or of anything else great. Greedy, passionate, recklesspeople like him, without due feeling of religion or the unseen world, are not the men to govern the world or help it forward.

(C. Kingsley, M. A.) (Gen 25:30) 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.

He apparently did not anticipate his brother doing anything like this and figured he would be glad to share a little food. But he had been raised with Jacob and should have known he would try to get all he could. People like Esauusually are not discerning and can thus be tricked rather easily.

The Arabians are fond of giving surnames of that kind to famous persons. Cf. Akilal Murat, which was given to Hodjr, king of the Kendites, owing to his wife saying in a passion, "He is like a camel that devours bushes" (vide Havernick, 'Introduction,' § 18). (Pulpit Commentary)

(Gen 25:31) And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Jacob had very likely prepared for this a long time. He did not know when the time would come but he was willing to wait. He had plenty of patience, but would try to wrangle things out of others that he wanted and it did not matter a lot to him how he got it.

Birthright; that right which belonged to the first-born, of succeeding, on the death of his father, to the government and spiritual instruction of the family, officiating as their priest, offering sacrifices, and thus securing the blessings with which the performance of these duties would be connected. A double share of the inheritance also fell to him. (FBN)

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(Gen 25:32) And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

He was not anywhere near death. Had he been about to die, he could never have eaten this and gotten up and gone on his journey, but such a person always thinks he is about to die.

Any higher import of the right he was prepared to sell so cheap seemsto have escaped his view, if it had ever occurred to his mind. (Barnes Notes)

(Gen 25:33) And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

The birthright consisted of several things that Jacob wanted. The one with the birthright obtained a double portion of the inheritance, would rule over his brethren, receive the blessing of the promise, and the possession of the land of Canaan. Esauwas not interested in those things like Jacob was. Jacob made Esauswear becausehe knew the fickle disposition of his brother; that he might change his mind once he was full.

(Gen 25:34) 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.

If his birthright had been something to eat he would not have despised it nor would he have sold it. To him material things were of more importance than spiritual things.

THE BARTERED BIRTHR IG H T (Gen_25:34) The story of the birthright shows us what kind of a man Esauwas; hasty, careless,fond of good things in life.

He had no reason to complain if he lost his birthright. He did not care for it so he had thrown it away. The day came when he wanted his birthright back, but he could not have it.

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And he found no place for repentance. There was no chance to undo what was done. Still he sought it carefully with tears. He had sown and now he must reap. He had made his bed and now he must lie on it.

And so must Jacob in his turn.

1.

IT IS NATURALTO PITY ESAU We have no right to do more than that. We have no right to fancy for a moment that God was arbitrary or hard upon him.

Esauis not the type of person to be the father of a great nation, or anything else great. Greedy, passionate, reckless; people like him are not the men to govern the world or help it forward.

He has no senseof religious and spiritual things.

2.

GODREWARDEDJACOB'SFAITH BY GIVINGHIM MORELIGHT By not leaving him to himself and his own darkness. By opening his eyes to understand wondrous things of the law. By showing him how every action bears its own fruit.

3.

IT IS THESTEADY,PRUDENT,GOD-FEARINGONESWHOWILL PROSPERIN THEWORLD The poor, hotheaded Esau's cannot prosper. But those who give way to meanness,covetousness,and falsehood as Jacob did will repent and the Lord will enter into judgment with them quickly.

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