Genesis 25:19–34

BIRTH OF ISAAC AND ESAU (Genesis 25:19-26)

As promised to Abraham and Sarah, God establishes a covenant with Isaac
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" (Genesis 17:19).

Isaac, will be the beginning of many descendants.

Isaac and Rebekah never stop seeking God amid obstacles
We see from these passages that Isaac and Rebekeh faced some similar problems as Abraham and Sarah faced. For example, Rebekeh remained childless for a long time. However, unlike Abraham and Sarah, who took things into their own hands, Isaac and Rebekeh sought God every step of the way. Because of their faithfulness, the works of God are displayed through them.

Isaac prayed faithfully for God to bring children to them. And because they prayed faithfully, God responded -- Rebekeh became pregnant. When Rebekah felt the twins fight in her womb, she was scared. But again, she did not take the matter in her hands. Instead, she took her fears and worries to God. And again, because of her faithfulness, God provided her with an answer: Genesis 25:23.

Through Isaac and Rebekeh, we witness the truth in the following passages:

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 57:2
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.

Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

John 9:3
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

When we have worries, we should cast those worries to God. God has promised to take care of us and protect us. And so, when we run into problems, we should not try to solve the problems ourselves. We should let God protect us. This is why we should go to God with our worries, and ask God to help us through our problems.

Two Nations (Genesis 25:23)

"Two nations are in your womb"
Jacob became the father of the nation of Israel; Esau became the father of the nation of Edom. 

"... and two peoples from within you will be separated"
Israel and Edom are separated. They are enemies. 

"... one people will be stronger than the other, Israel is stronger than Edom, and the older will serve the younger"

In the end, Edom and all other nations in the world will serve Jesus, leader of Israel (Revelation).

Isaac and Rebekeh show favoritism

Isaac loved Esau more because Esau also loved to hunt. Rebekeh, on the other hand, loved Jacob.

It is God’s love to love ALL. Not just the "good" people, but ALL people. In our eyes, we can deem people as nice people or bad people. But, in God’s eyes, WE ARE ALL SINNERS. God does not deem us sinners and therefore decides not to save us. Instead, it is in God’s heart to save EVERYONE.

Both Isaac and Rebekeh showed favoritism. He favored Esau because Esau liked the same things that Isaac liked. Isaac did not love his sons like God loves His children.

Esau sells his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34)
Birthright includes inheritance of promises. Responsibilities of birthright include being godly leaders.

In this passage, we see that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. We learn a couple of things from this passage:

1. Jacob was an opportunist. He recognized an opportunity to gain something from Esau, and he took advantage of the situation.

2. Esau was more focused on satisfying hungers of the flesh than fulfilling his duties as the elder son. He did not view his role as the elder son seriously enough to overcome lusts of the flesh.

We are all capable of making the same mistakes that Esau made. We all have a choice to make. Every choice we make, we choose to either listen to God’s calling or cave in to sins of the flesh. God will not force us to follow Him. He will warn us and give us guidance, but it is up to us to walk His Way.

Like Abraham, Jacob takes things into his own hands
Even though Jacob knew of the prophecy that "the older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23), he still took things into his hands to make it happen – For example, by asking Esau to sell him his birthright. This is like Abraham and Ishmael because Abraham, who knew God had promised him a son in due time, still took things into his hands and had a child with Hagar. This decision brought Abraham and Sarah many headaches, one of which is the birth of a nation (Ishmael) that would become one of Israel's major enemies. Similarly, Jacob's actions caused a great rift between him and Esau, and today, Esau's descendants continue to be great enemies of Israel.