Bible Study Online Article

In the last article we'd learned, that Isaac and Rebekah were finally blessed to have a child born unto them. But know that this wouldn't be an ordinary pregnancy, for they would soon learn, that Rebekah was in fact -- carrying twins boys.

However, Isaac and Rebekah would end up naming the twins, Esau and Jacob.

And even though Esau and Jacob were born as twins, they were found to be different in so many ways?

"When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.

"The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." -- Genesis 25:24-26

And just like the passage above points out, it was Esau that was born first. And when he'd first came out of his mother's womb, we find that he had made a very strong first impression with his parents. Know that Isaac and Rebekah had saw him, to be already made a man. And the reason why they'd saw him as such, dealt with the fact -- that he came out physically strong, and his red hair... covered his entire body, just like a garment would. And because of this, he was named Esau -- for he was already made, a man.

Jacob would immediately follow behind his brother. So-much-so, he'd came out of his mother's womb, grasping the heel of Esau's foot. And because if this, he was named Jacob, which signifies (he grasped the heel, or Supplanter). Also know, that Jacob was nothing like his twin brother Esau? For we would find that Jacob wasn't born physically strong and hairy all over, but instead, he was smooth and tender -- like most babies are when they are born.

But understand, that the differences between the two wouldn't end there -- for we would also discover that the two boys, would grow up to be two very different men. Know that Esau grew into a very cunning and skillful hunter, and because of this, he'd earned the reputation of being "a man of the fields." Esau had constantly went out courageously, and hunted the wild beast of the fields -- for he loved being outdoors, and he'd went hunting as much as possible.

As for Jacob, on the other hand -- he'd grew into a man that had kept to himself, and he never bothered anybody. Know that he was a mild mannered shepherd, that had managed his father's livestock -- for he'd enjoyed living in peace and solitude.

Now when it came to Isaac and Rebekah, they each had their favorite, when it came to the two boys. Know that when it came to Isaac, the Sacred Record points out, that he'd loved and favored Esau. And as for Rebekah? Know that she was found, to have loved, and favored Jacob. Now I find who the parents favored, to be very interesting, especially when it comes to Isaac? For he was a man, that would be very similar to his Jacob. However, he'd loved and took pride, in how his son Esau turned out to be.

Know that Esau had earned his reputation well, for like I'd stated earlier, he was known as "a man of the fields" and that he turned out to be a great hunter. And because of this, Esau would on occasion, be able to fix his father's favorite type of venison stew, which was made with the meat of wild game. And who knows, perhaps this routine had eventually won the heart of Isaac, for he simply loved Esau's venison stew.

As for Jacob, the Scriptures doesn't really go into why Rebekah favored him over her son Esau. But perhaps, it could have been the prophecy that the Lord had revealed to her, right before the boys were born: "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 25:23)

However this may have been, we now move forward...

Now it's at this point from within our journey, that we've arrived to the day, were Esau had just returned from one of his hunting campaigns. And it's here, that we find that he was very tired and famished from this particular hunting campaign. And just so happen, at this particular time during the day, Jacob was cooking some stew of his own. Now when Esau had seen Jacob cooking the stew, he'd asked him: "Quick let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!"

Now it's also at this point, that the Scriptures takes the time to point out -- that this is why Esau was also known as Edom, for the name signifies "red".

But after Jacob had heard this, he would reply to his brother, by saying: "First sell me your birthright." And Esau responded by saying: "Look I'm about to die, what good is the birthright to me?" But know that this reply wasn't good enough for Jacob, for he would insist, that Esau provide a more clearer answer. And because of this, Jacob wanted Esau to swear to him, on an oath: "Swear to me first." Jacob would say.

So Esau would swear to his brother, that on that day, he would agree to sell his birthright for a bowl of red stew. And after hearing this, Jacob gave Esau some of his red stew, along with some bread. And Esau would eat and drink, and soon after, he would get up and leave. Now it's at this point that the Scriptures make it clear that Esau had despised his birthright. Which basically means, that he looked down on it, and regarded his birthright as being useless.

Now let's take a quick look at a few things concerning this account between Esau and Jacob. First off, you must understand that the birthright that Esau was giving away was actually the Abrahamic covenant that God had promised to Abraham and the generations that are to come from his seed.

"I am God Almighty walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram, your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, were you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." -- (Genesis 17:1-8)

Now it's possible, that Esau didn't quite understand what all his birthright had entailed, or perhaps -- he thought that with his many skills and talents, when it came to conquering the fields, that maybe in some way -- he would be able to build a great kingdom through his own means.

And honestly, Esau wouldn't be too far off the mark? For we would later learn as we continue our journey through the Word of God -- that the Edomites at one point in time, would respectively in their own right, develop into a great nation of their own. As a matter of fact, the Edomites would play a major role throughout history, as one of the main oppressors of Israel.

But it still didn't matter what Esau did, or how he responded to Jacob that particular day, for God had already predestined the two boys for two different paths from the very beginning: "Two nations [Esau & Jacob] 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 25:23

Esau (Already Made) -- For he was already made a man, from the point of his birth -- there would be no changing, no building, or reshaping him. For Esau was who he was going to be from day one.

Jacob (he grasps the heel - or - Supplanter - or - Deceiver): Now notice that this would be the first time, that I've included in the name definition, the word "deceiver" ... More on this in a moment.

Now understand, the reason why I included the word "deceiver" at this particular point. Deals with the notion, that I don't necessary believe that Jacob had a corrupt and evil heart, like most would teach and preach. For we have to keep in mind, that these were two brothers -- who'd lived and shared personal things with each other, until the day that they had set out on their own -- departing from each other.

How do we know that Esau didn't from time-to-time, speak out openly against his birthright? Or, how Esau was going to be greater than his father, and grandfather, who'd came before him? How do we know? And honestly, we really don't. So if that was the case, and Esau was bragging about how great he was going to be -- then Jacob probably felt like Esau was going to become a poor steward of the great Abrahamic Covenant, that God had bestowed on their family.

And since Esau didn't respect the blessing (Abrahamic Covenant) just like the Sacred Record had pointed out -- then I must admit, that I too, would have made that same assumption... if I was in the same position as Jacob.

Now hold up! I understand that some people, might be thinking -- that a birthright, mainly deals with the inheritance, that one receives from their father's household -- that had came before them, and that their inheritance will become a double portion? And know that you're correct, if you are one of those people who pointed that out, and know that I thank you for that.

But keep in mind, that the Abrahamic Covenant is exactly that -- a family generation inheritance, that would continue to be applied to each generation, as they come and go. But also know that this inheritance, doesn't just involve the previous household -- but it deals with, and affects everything that will come from the seed of Abraham.

Now although Jacob probably meant well in his actions, he made his mistake by trying to take things into his own hands. And remember, that his grandmother Sarah had made the mistake of trying the same before him, and that his mother Rebekah -- would follow the same mistake prone approach, a little later on in this particular account. So just like Jacob's name had foretold -- we would find that in the early beginnings of his life, he would be labeled on three points, which related directly to his name:

First: He came out grasping the heel of his brother's foot, in which the name Jacob implies.

Second: He would be found guilty of deceiving his brother out of a birthright, that Esau did not respect in the first place -- for Esau deemed it to be worthless.

Third: He would supplant -or- replace, his brother's standing as the steward of God's great family blessing -- the Abrahamic Covenant.

But understand that this is just the beginning of what's to come, when it comes to these two brothers. For they were born twins... and yet, they were completely opposite.

God Creates the Earth

The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael

29) The Birth of Esau & Jacob

30) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->

31) Isaac & the Canaan Famine

32) Isaac Caught in a Lie

33) Isaac & the Envious King Abimelech

34) The Battle of the Wells

Added to Page: 34) Abimelech & Isaac Makes An Oath

35) Esau the Rebellious

36) Isaac's Favorite Son Esau

37) God has Checkmate

38) Rebekah's Reaction

39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception

40) Deceitful Hearts

41) Esau the Son of War

42) Esau's Heart of Vengeance

43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty