Genesis 25:11 "After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.
Genesis 25:12-18, Ishmael, whim Hagar bore to Abraham, had twelve sons who became tribal leaders of Ismael's descendants. Altogether, Ishmael lived 137 years and died. His descendants settled near the border of Egypt. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
Genesis 25:20-23...Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah... Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren...and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled..within her..So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her," two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger ."
Genesis 25:24-26, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys. The first was red and hairy, so they named him Esau. His brother came out with his hand grasping Esau's heel, and they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. God said that from these babies would come two nations. God said that Jacob would become the master of Esau. How could this be? From whom would God's nation come?
Genesis 25:27-28, Esau became a skillful hunter, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:29-34, Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I am famished! Jacob reply, first sell me your birthright. " Look I'm about to die, Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said,"Swear to me first". So He swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
Being the first born son, Esau has in their culture the birthright to receive the double portions of his Father's property and the fulfillment of God's promises to his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. The Esau decided to exchange his birthright for a bowl of food and said.
"Look I am about to die....what good is the birthright to me?"
In effect, Esau despised God's promises and blessings to him in the future. By his act, Esau was clearly following the way of Satan by not valuing God's promises and blessings for his lifetime and future. Esau reviled or scorned his opportunity to become God's interest; he was only concerned for his own needs to be satisfied. Jacob, however, valued God's promises so much that he coveted it for himself.
What do you think Satan will do in order to prevent God from establishing His own nation in Canaan?
Genesis 26:1, Now there was a famine in the land-besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time-and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.
Again there is a famine, and Satan can use this circumstances to drive Isaac away from Canaan. So...
Genesis 26:2-6, The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I wi make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
Why did God warn Isaac not to go to Egypt? Remember, Satan used the Pharaoh of Egyt before to destroy Abraham's family by taking Abraham's wife Sara. Satan will always do everyting he can to prevent the fulfillment of God's promise to establish Abraham's descendants as a nation in Canaan.
Because Isaac believed, had faith and valued, God's promises, he obeyed God's command. Isaac stayed in the land and did not go to Egypt.
Genesis 26:12-14, Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord Blessed Him. the man become rich, and his wealth, continued to grow until he become very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herbs and servants that the Philistines envied him.
God materially blessed Isaac so much because Isaac was obedient. Isaac's farm and flocks prospered even in the midst of the unfavorable climate. Indeed God is now fulfilling His promise to Abraham that he will fulfill His covenant through Isaac. Meanwhile...
Genesis 26:34-35, When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Esau lived in disobedience to God and his parents. Isaac was only concerned of pursuing his own desires.
Genesis 27:1-4, When Isaac felt his death drawing near, he called Esau to hunt and prepare for him a tasty food he liked. After he ate, he would give Esau his blessing before he died.
After despising God's promises and living his life the way he wanted, it seems that Esau can get his inheritance, and Jacob's blessing, too! Didn't Esau sell his birthright to Jacobs?
Genesis 27:5-21, Rebekah told Jacob about the plan. Rebekah wanted Jacob to get the blessing. Together they planned for Jacob to prevent as Esau. In such a way, Isaac who is now blind will give his blessing to Jacob.
Genesis 27:26-29,...his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me". So he went to him and kissed him, when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."
Finally Jacob got Esau's Blessing and Esau lost it through his negligence.
Let's have a Coffee
Hari
Blessing...