Jacob and Esau

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
08/27/17 - Sunday Morning

Jacob and Esau

How it is that children raised in the same home, under the same influence of the same godly parents, can turn out so differently? Yet, it is nothing new. This happened with Cain and Abel, and later Jacob and Esau. These last two were twins (Genesis 25:22), had the same parents and the same spiritual upbringing and yet turned out so differently. In this lesson I want to explore the lives of these two men.

The Danger of Instant Gratification

“And there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17).

Esau might have been a skillful hunter (Genesis 25:27), but his skills had a limit, as to all earthly talents. After reading the above account we might call Esau fickle or shortsighted, God uses even stronger language, the Holy Spirit labels him “immoral and godless” (Hebrews 12:16).
For Esau there is only the present and his pressing hunger and justifies anything to satisfy it, everything has a price, even spiritual and moral qualities and blessings. He did not merely sell his birthright, he was selling the birthright which could result in his descendants becoming the nation that God would use for His purposes and from which the Messiah would be born. It might be fair to say, since we always want to believe the best about people, that Jacob might have never made such an offer to Esau, if Jacob felt that Esau really cared and valued his birthright. Obviously, Esau exaggerated his hunger. Yet his words demonstrate a careless and indifferent attitude toward life as a whole, living only for the moment, and purely on a material plane. In contrast, we find men like Moses, who gave up the kind of wealth that only belongs to Kings (and not merely some stew) to serve God (Hebrews 11:24-26). Yet so many people are like Esau, not only do they sell their soul, but they sell it for next to nothing.
It is easy to act like Esau, claiming that the pressure in the moment justifies irresponsible behavior. “We might feel such great pressure in one area that nothing else seems to matter and we lose our perspective. Getting through that short, pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation” (Life Application Bible, p. 48).

“He Rose and Went On His Way”: Genesis 25:34

Not only did Esau completely reject what was priceless, after making his bargain, he walked away without any concern, regret or remorse. To sin and feel no remorse afterwards is a clear indication that one has become a godless person. Always be grateful for a tender conscience (Matthew 21:29).

Hebrews 11:20

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau even regarding things to come”.

Isaac initially had planned to give Esau the blessing of the firstborn (Genesis 27:4), yet Rebekah overheard this and immediately set out to undermine his plan (27:5). At this point Isaac was clearly ignoring what God had said. Before the children were born, God had specifically said to Isaac, “The older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Added to this, Esau had already demonstrated that he was definitely not the right choice. He had foolishly sold his birthright for a single meal (Genesis 25:32), and then had married two unbelieving women (Genesis 26:34). Isaac, like many parents had allowed his personal favoritism to blind him to the word of God and to reality (Genesis 25:28).
Once Isaac realizes that Jacob had deceptively come in, played the part of Esau and walked away with his blessing, it is noteworthy what Isaac does not do (Genesis 27:37). He does not reverse himself. He does not say, “What I just told him does not count, because it was gained under false pretenses”. The only explanation for why Isaac sticks to what he said to Jacob is that Isaac realizes that he had been in the wrong with his attempt to bless Esau when God had clearly said the opposite. Thus he submits to God’s will on the matter, “I have made him your master” (Genesis 27:37).
By inspiration, Isaac also reveals where Esau’s desire for immediate gratification would take him in the future, “Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling… By your sword you shall live” (Genesis 27:39-40).
Sadly, Esau did not fully appreciate the fact that when we make our choices in this life, in many of those choices we are making a choice for our children and grandchildren as well. For example, when I decide to obey the gospel, I am also deciding that my future children will grow up with a godly upbringing and will be spending their early years around believers. When I marry a Christian, at the same time I am making a choice for my children that they will have a godly mother.

“So Esau Saw”: Genesis 28:8

Having been raised by two godly parents, one would think it really strange that it only dawned on Esau later on in life that the daughters of the Canaanites did not please his parents. Yet one can be raised in a godly home and not be listening or paying attention to wise instruction.
Esau is a good example of a young man raised in a godly home who only gets half the lesson, or who only hears what he wants to hear.
Jacob is sent away from home so he can find a godly woman among Rebekah’s relatives and he prompty obeys (Genesis 28:7). By contrast, Esau goes to Ishmael, and marries one of his relatives.
Esau never seemed to get the point. “Ironically the unchosen son of Isaac married into the unchosen line of Ishmael! So Esau tried to better his marital reputation by marrying a third wife” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 74). He may have thought that at least a wife from this family was related to Abraham and thus would please his parents. What he failed to remember was that being related to Abraham and having the faith of Abraham were two completely different things.

Years Later

When Jacob leaves Laban and comes back home with his family he sends a message to Esau that he is returning (Genesis 32:3). As you read through this section of Scripture you find Jacob repeatedly talking about God to everyone around him:

He realizes that the family, possessions and flocks and herds that he possessed were only possible because God had been with him (Genesis 31:42).
He considers himself completely unworthy of all the mercy that God has shown him in the past (Genesis 32:10).
He looks to God has his protector and deliverer (Genesis 32:11).
He is seen relying and trusting in what God had promised (Genesis 32:12)
He will refuse to let go of the angel until he is assured that God will be with him (Genesis 32:24-32).
When he finally meets Esau after decades of separation he is still talking about God. “The children whom God has graciously given to your servant” (Genesis 33:5, 10,11)
In this entire interaction, Esau never talks about God, and never asks Jacob any questions about God.
If the reader wonders why Jacob did not go with Esau to Seir and spend some time there and try to influence him, the answer is that God had promised Jacob a different land and destiny, and after a godly upbringing and many opportunities to learn the truth, Esau shows himself as a man who is not interested in spiritual realities, even though he was probably over 60 at this time.

They Confessed that they were Strangers and Exiles: Hebrews 11:13

Jacob had many possessions, yet he still saw himself, like Abraham and Isaac as an exile on this earth. This earth never really became his home. On the other hand, Esau was very comfortable here. This earth and what it could provide is all he wanted. Which man am I like? Jacob or Esau? The glorious news is that I actually do have that choice and can make it today.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net