Beginning of the Rivalry

Beginning of the Rivalry

Genesis 25: ²⁴ So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. ²⁵ And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. ²⁶ Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

 

²⁷ So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. ²⁸ And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

 

============

 

During the birth of the twins, the first came out red and hairy. His name was Esau. But the second child grabbed his foot. Both parents noticed this and named him Jacob.

 

My Observations:

• Esau was wild in the womb, and Jacob was born with the desire to get what he wanted.
• Esau grew up as a hunter.
• Jacob may have figured out ways to not hunt, rather remain in the tent, cooking.

 

A rivalry began between Esau and Jacob before they were born. They wrestled in Rebekah’s womb, causing concern to her. She asked GOD what was going on and HE told her that two nations would be born from her and Esau would eventually serve Jacob.

 

This statement may have had an effect on her. She was told that Jacob would be the chosen one as a leader, so she catered to his every wish. Isaac may not have been aware of GOD’s words to Rebekah. He became enamored that Esau was a great hunter. Jacob would cook all the meals with the game Esau provided.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the details of the birth of the twins?
• Is there something you are wrestling with that has become your adversary?
• Will you give your struggle to GOD so you can gain peace today?

Sensing Something is Wrong

Sensing Something is Wrong

Genesis 25: ¹⁹ This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. ²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

 

²³ And the Lord said to her:

 

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

 

============

 

Isaac’s genealogy starts off differently than Ishmael’s. It begins with trouble. Rebekah was barren. Isaac had his own relationship with the LORD, so he pleaded with HIM to provide a child. The LORD granted this plea. But then Rebekah, who never had children, knew something was wrong.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah, like Sarah, was barren and needed a miracle.
• Isaac, like Abraham, spoke to the LORD about children HE promised.
• GOD granted the plea and explained to Rebekah the spiritual ramifications of her children.

 

You would think that GOD’s promise would come easy. Sarah, baren. Rebekah, baren. Both needed GOD’s intervention, so this may be been a supernatural situation that both women faced. It required faith that only GOD could work this problem out. Isaac showed the same faith of Abraham by asking the LORD for favor. HE showed favor.

 

But there was another barrier. Something was wrong with the pregnancy. Even though Rebekah never had children before, she could tell something was wrong. She went to the LORD and asked “Why am I like this?” GOD explained what was going on with the struggle. GOD answered Rebekah.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD explain Isaac’s genealogy differently than Ishmaels’ to Moses?
• Has GOD made you a promise and you could sense something is currently wrong?
• If you sense something is wrong with the current situation, will you ask GOD to clear the path today?