Chapter 25-
-Abraham takes another wife after the passing of Sarah and bears more children that lived in the land of the east from Isaac. Isaac was the heir of the promise and was given all that Abraham had upon his father’s death at the ripe-old age of 175. Abraham gave his other sons gifts while he was still living, which indicates his generosity and love and compassion. But, the son of promise was given his entire wealth and posterity for salvation and nation blessing.
-Abraham was buried in the cave of Machpelah facing Mamre with his wife Sarah. This is the cave he had purchased from Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, from the sons of Heth.
-After the death of Abraham God blessed Isaac and he lived by Beer-lahai-roi
-The descendants of Ishmael were recorded for the prophetic fulfillment of the twelve princes according to their tribes. Ishmael passes away at the age of 137 and was gathered to his people who settled from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria. The Bible states that Ishmael settled in defiance of all his relatives. From this statement we can see the early tension in the descendants of Abraham. This tension has pervaded this region of the world into our modern age and will continue to be a source of strife until the end of days. What a tragic legacy of not waiting on the LORD and rushing in one’s own estimation to fulfill a destiny. Fleshly desire verses the will of God becomes a central theme of the Word of God.
-Jacob and Esau’s story begins as Rebekah conceives after Isaac had prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife to have children. Isaac, we are told here in this chapter, was 40 years old when he took Rebekah to be his wife. It took them 20 years to have these twins, but the LORD was again faithful to His promise.
-Rebekah inquired of the LORD as the children struggled within her womb. This may indicate a struggling for position in the birth order within the womb, but it is not stated. It is interesting to think about the birth order in a situation like this as twins are born. This brings Rebekah near to God for a word from Him and she receives it. God tells her, “Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older will serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).” So the struggle in the womb is null and void in the LORD’s eyes. He knows who the victor will be for His blessing and the continuance of His salvation plan. It would be Jacob over Esau.
-Esau came out of the womb first, a hairy-red little fellow who would be a hunter and man of the field. Jacob came out grabbing on to the heel of his brother, and he was described as a peaceful man who lived in tents.
-The episode of the birthright is then narrated as Esau, whom Isaac loved because he had a taste for game, came in from a hunt famished to the point of death (at least he felt like he was at the point of death, funny how we can exaggerate when really hungry J ). Jacob had cooked up a stew of red stuff, from which Esau got the name Edom. This is the color of his eventual land to the east as the sun sets on the mountains of his land in what is today Syria. Esau demands some food from his brother, but Jacob wants the birthright in exchange. Esau despised his birthright and gives it up by swearing it away for some bread and lentil stew. Thus he ate and drank and rose and went on his way. It would be later that he regretted this fatal mistake, but expediency and convenience doomed him. God’s words were coming to fruition.
Verse to Memorize: Genesis 25:23
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