Pass the Prophecy Please

Text: Genesis 25

“21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. 23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”
 
Introduction: Who were these twin boys? What nations would they produce? How was their relationship with the God of the Bible?
 

1. Who were these two boys? (Gen 25:24-26)

“24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.”

The “Little Red hairy” boy was named Esau. The “Heal catcher” was named Jacob. These brothers would grow up competitive. 

In fact, Esau who loved the outdoors – killing venison – being a daddy’s boy, went hunting one day. And Jacob, more of a mama’s boy, cooked some tasty lentil soup that day. Meanwhile, Esau’s instant gratification got the best of him. Because he had not eaten and being in the field he grew hungry. Jacob made a deal with him.

He said, 

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Gen 25:29-34)

Esau’s character was flawed, but Jacob’s was too. Consequently, Esau because of his impatience and lack of self- control sold Jacob a part of his inheritance…..for a bowl of soup!
 

2. How were these two boy’s relationships with the God of the Bible? (Gen 27-49)

Fast forward some years. “Daddy Issac” is up in age, and becoming more and more confined to his bed. 

“And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” (Gen 27:1-4)

However, remember the Lord had already indicated to Rebecca that “the elder would serve the younger,” meaning Esau would serve Jacob. So she takes action.

“5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.  13And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.” (Gen 27:5-17)

Bottom line: 

Jacob pretends to be Esau in order to get the “BLESSING.” Normally, the oldest would get it. According to Jewish custom, the BLESSING included the HEAD of Household – 2/3 to 1/3 of the inheritance. So Issac gives Jacob the BLESSING instead of Esau. (Gen 27:18-29)

Now Jacob has both the BIRTHRIGHT and the BLESSING! Needless to say, Esau is furious! (Gen 27:30-39)
 

3. How do these two brothers fulfill God’s plan for two nations? (Gen 25:23)

“And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb.”

Long story short. Jacob leaves in a hurry to stay at his uncle Laban’s. (Gen 28)

He works 14 years for a wife named Rachel (what goes around comes around – he deceived others and now he gets deceived by others – Gal 6:7, 8 – God’s Law of Sowing and Reaping). Finally, Jacob, whose name means conniver, trickster, deceiver, encounters a LIFE – CHANGE experience after he leaves uncle Laban – now a rich man and with two wives and 12 sons (who are heirs of the Jewish people – Japheth – Gen 10 – Abraham’s seed – Gen 12-17).

Jacob knows he needs a change!

Prior to meeting his angry and vengeful brother Esau, Jacob wrestles with an angel, a pre-incarnate CHRIST. The breakthrough comes! (Gen 32:24-30)

“24And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Jacob is forever changed! Now he is called “ISRAEL”… A Prince that has prevailed with God!!

What happens between Jacob and Esau? They reconcile, and make amends. However, there would be BAD BLOOD between these two boys even to this day. In fact, Esau’s descendants can be seen and traced back today as enemies of the Israelites. Esau relocated to Edom (Gen 36), which is another message in itself.
 

Conclusion: As you can see these two brothers are very important figures in Bible Prophecy. Several authors of the Bible mention these two boys, Esau and Jacob. (Mal 1:2,3)

“2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”

Paul writes,

“And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Rom 9:10-13)

God’s prophetic plan unfolds from Genesis to Revelation including the BLESSING among the Jewish people through Jacob’s seed as well as the judgment among Esau’s seed, which are called the Edomites. 

This truth lets us know as CHRISTians that Jesus Christ will fulfill His Word as He gets ready to return for His bride (the Church)! And then in the tribulation (7 years) along with the millennium, Jesus will fulfill His Word with the Jewish people.

Let’s get ready.

“Pass the Prophecy Please”…the Bible is being fulfilled right before our very eyes!
 
Love y’all, 
Dr. Randy Reese