Slices
Prepare
Pray for wisdom to negotiate the challenges of ongoing relationships, whether with family members or friends.
Bible passage
Jacob and Esau
19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to enquire of the Lord.
23 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 elder will serve the younger.’
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 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.
27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31 Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’
32 ‘Look, I am about to die,’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’
33 But Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 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.
Explore
As we read about the tension between Isaac’s twin sons, today’s verses may highlight shortcomings in families known to us. The two brothers developed contrasting characters as adults, each favoured by a different parent (vs 27,28). Esau is reckless and Jacob greedy (v 31). Esau trades the huge benefits of his birthright for short-lived gratification, while Jacob trades too, but on his brother’s weakness – not exactly a recipe for harmonious family life!
A birthright, given to the firstborn son, was a significant honour which included a double portion of the family inheritance. In a moment, Esau, in his impetuous way, despises all that it means (vs 32,34). Shrewdly, Jacob gains material goods and a position of leadership which will have far-reaching consequences, especially for the outworking of the covenant promise God gave to his grandfather, Abraham.
Significantly, God allows these events in order to accomplish his overall purposes. God’s plan for the future of the nation will work out. Esau has to live with the consequences (Hebrews 12:14–17) as the prophetic words to Rebekah are fulfilled: ‘… the elder will serve the younger’ (v 23).
Respond
Esau’s rash actions were due to hunger (v 29). Often, trivial or inconsequential issues can cause conflict. If there are specific issues that need to be dealt with in your immediate or wider family, ask God to give you humility and grace to resolve them.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 47,48; Matthew 17
Pray for Scripture Union
Join Tracy Jassal, Support Worker for the team in the south west, in giving thanks for the continuing development of relationships between herself, the staff team and their Mission Partners. Please pray for new connections to be made, as she endeavours to assist potential new Mission Partners who are wanting to reach out to the 95.
