Another Culture

Another Culture

Genesis 36: Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. ² Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; ³ and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. ⁴ Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. ⁵ And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

 

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Before Jacob left to get married, Esau his twin brother, took wives from the local women. Isaac and Rebekah had settled in the land of Canaan. Esau married Adah a Hittite  and Aholibamah a Hivite. Isaac and Rebekah disapproved the marriage choices. Esau went to his uncle Ishmael’s people and married Mahalath, meaning beautifully adorned; mild; smooth, pleasing to the touch; rhythmic movements; sweet, harmonious sounds; dancers; singers; cithara; harp; lyre. She may also be referred to as Basemath, meaning Sweet-smelling or sweet smile.

 

My Observations:

• Esau chose to give up his birthright for food he could have fixed for himself.
• Esau chose to marry women who disregarded pre-incarnate JESUS.
• Esau tried to change his ways by seeking a woman outside of the Canaanite women.

 

GOD told the story of Jacob, then turns the story over to Esau. During Jacob’s 20 years he was away, Esau lived differently. Deeply hurt by Jacob’s deception. Esau vowed to kill Jacob. But instead, he forgave him. Esau seemed to focus his attention on growing warrior leaders. His hunting skills were impeccable. Isaac loved his skills.

 

But unfortunately, Esau chose to not listen to the pre-incarnate JESUS. He did things his way and lived a life that rebelled, just like the children of Canaan. Esau was highly influenced by the Canaan culture, which rebelled not too long after the ark landed on dry land. The disrespectful culture had gotten to Esau.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go backwards and mention Esau to Moses?
• Do you believe that you are either for GOD or against HIM?
• What ways do you fight GOD and have you asked HIM to guide those ways?

Beginning of the Change

Beginning of the Change

Genesis 28: ⁶ Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” ⁷ and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. ⁸ Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. ⁹ So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.

 

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“Esau saw” says to me that he reflected on what he was doing. Esau had married two Hittite women, known as the daughters of Canaan. GOD flooded the earth and destroyed the Garden of Eden. Canaan, grandson of Noah, rebelled against GOD and had a curse placed on him by Noah. The rebellious nature was passed down for generations. “Esau saw.”

 

My Observations:

• Esau started to see that his actions were not pleasing to Isaac, Rebekah and probably GOD.
• Esau started to see that his actions caused Jacob to be blessed again and again.
• Esau tried to do things differently, so he went to Ishmael and married one of his daughters.

 

It seems like Esau finally “saw” what he was doing. He realized he was responsible for losing his birthright and the blessing from Isaac that would carry GOD’s promise. Instead of pursuing Jacob to kill him, he went to a relative, Ishmael, to marry someone different than the Hittite women.

 

Esau seemed to have a change of heart. He did not rebel this time. He married Mahalath, sister of the oldest son Nebajoth. She may have been born a little before him or a little after him, but she may have been about his age. His hatred for Jacob was not mentioned here. He was focused on changing.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Esau’s reflection of occurrences?
• Have you ever been mad at GOD, then reflected on your own actions?
• How often do you reflect on your actions, good or bad, and place them before the LORD?