Genesis 41

 

JACOB AND ESAU

(Gen 25:28-34)

 

 

Isaac and Rebekah asked God with twins in their wombs, and God prophesied that both children would form their respective nations, Esau would be the older brother but smaller than Jacob, and Esau would serve Jacob. The two children who were born with a special prophecy grew up over time.

Although they came from the same womb, their personalities and temperaments were so different. Esau is a familiar hunter and fieldman.

On the other hand, Jacob is a quiet person and a man at home. While Esau is a boisterous man who goes out to hunt game, Jacob is a son who lives

in a tent and is like an introverted daughter.

Jacob cheated, was deceived, and lived hard in order to receive blessings. Sometimes he remembers God, sometimes he lives forgetting God, and then,

when he is in a hurry, he trys human tricks, and when things don’t work out, he prays to God and run. May be these images are very similar to how we live

our lives.

Jacob struggled a lot in order to receive such a blessing. And finally, he had to receive God's amazing blessing.

 

1. The verse that always keep in mind.

 

  1) Gen 1:27-28, 3:1-6, 16-20, Gen 3:15

  2) Genesis 4:1-20 Cain and Abel

  3) Genesis 6:1-20 Noah's time, flood judgment

  4) Genesis 11:1-9 Tower of Babel Incident

  5) Genesis 12:1-9 Abraham was called

  6) Genesis 22:1-13 Isaac offered as a burnt offering, the secret of the ram

  7) Genesis 25:19-27 Birth of Esau and Jacob

  8) Genesis 28:10-22 The throne Jacob saw in his dream at Bethel

  9) Genesis 32:22-32 Jacob's prayer and name change to Israel

  10) Genesis 37:1-11 Joseph's dream and his brothers

  11) Genesis 39:1-6 Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar's house

 

 

 

2. The difference of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen.25:22-23)

    v. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.

    v. 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 older will serve the younger."

  1) The difference of Mary and other woman.

  2) The difference of Hannah and Peninnah.

  3) The difference of Samson and other man.

 

 

3. Two kind of people who appear in the book of Genesis.

  1) worship

  2) Faith

  3) Genealogy

  4) Spiritual and physical

 

 

4. Important problems that appeared in Jacob and Esau.

  1) Physical love(28) Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

  2) Physical concern (29-30)

    v. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.

    v. 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. )

  3) Spiritual concern(31-32)

    v. 31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

    v. 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?“

  4) Esau despised God. (33-34)

    v. 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

    v. 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.

 

 

**The birthright is the right of the eldest son to take on the responsibility of taking care of his parents and inheriting the family, but receiving a double inheritance. Spiritually, it nurtures the faith of the family as a priest and representative of the family, he is the one who receives the baton of the covenant

and the blessing of God.

 

 

Conclusion:

We must become people who cherish God's covenant like Jacob.

Those who cherish God will never take lightly anything from God. We have received everything from God. But how much do we value the things that

come from God and use them for the kingdom and glory of God? None of our time, talents, or wealth does not come from God. We should yearn

for blessings from heaven. And we will have to use them for the kingdom of God, not for ourselves.

The life of Esau is the life of a foolish man who gives up his birthright because of red bean porridge. It may satisfy hunger for a while,

but it won't keep him full forever. So God is asking us today. ‘What are you living for right now?’ The most important thing for us is to listen to God’s Word

and renew our lives. The faith without this is the faith in Esau. You can't get anything, you can't reap any fruit, and it's just a vain life of faith.

There is a form of godliness, but it has no power.

Therefore, what we must think about is the fact that each of us will surely stand before God someday. If we look at it and live, we can persevere even

when we are having a hard time. Even if there are difficulties right now, we can persevere and endure them. Therefore, by choosing the birthright rather

than the red porridge and moving forward, you will eventually enjoy that blessing. I bless you in the name of the Lord that all of you become the people of

faith who can enjoy that blessing.