Read Genesis 25
The Death of Abraham
1 Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
7 Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.
Ishmael’s Sons
12 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.
13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. 17 Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
Jacob and Esau
19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 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.
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.”
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 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.)
31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
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.
Go Deeper
This chapter is marked by a changing of the guard. After 175 years of Abraham’s life, the story now moves on to his son, Isaac. We have been reading for a while now about God’s promise to Abraham, and now we get to see it in action. God gave Isaac to Abraham, and now God has given Jacob and Esau to Isaac. Even though all of this was promised from God, this story doesn’t seem like much of a fairy tale. In fact, the very first thing we read about Jacob and Esau is a story about conflict.
It’s somewhat striking that there are so many painful stories in the book of Genesis. From Noah’s drunkenness, to Abraham’s abandonment of Sarah in Egypt, to Hagar being left alone in the wilderness. There are so many stories of pain in Genesis. And now we read about two brothers who are adding a new story to the legacy of heartache.
While these stories can be frustrating (and emotionally taxing) to read, there is also something refreshing about them as well. Simply put, the book of Genesis describes the reality of life. There is sin in the world, and it doesn’t come without affect. In fact, it can be said that the book of Genesis is really just a commentary on the first couple of chapters. The decisions of Adam and Eve set the table for a sin-soaked aftermath.
No doubt our own family trees look similar to the family tree found in Genesis. There is sin, loneliness, and conflict in each of our ancestries. But what we learn from Genesis is how God responds to each generation. Rather than getting tired of the legacy of sin, He renews His patience with us. Genesis allows us to see how He is the God who will redeem our stories, generation after generation. While the seasons may change in your life, know that your God has not. He is eager to redeem any mistake in any generation.
Questions
What similarities did you notice between the stories of Abraham and Isaac?
Why do you think Esau was willing to sell his birthright? What problems can that attitude cause?
How have you “sold your birthright” for something temporary lately?
Did You Know?
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the firstborn was customarily the heir of his father. While Esau was entitled to the birthright, we see the Lord’s prophecy to Rebekah in verse 23 begin to come to fruition in verse 34 as Esau despises it in exchange for soup. This prophecy will become more evident in later chapters, climaxing in Genesis 27:41 when Esau vows to kill Jacob.
6 thoughts on “Genesis 25”
34 “So Esau despised his birthright.”
Tragic! In what ways am I despising my own birthright today?
God’s timing
I am impatient. Truly I try to wait, I try to sit still, but it is difficult even as a grown-up, almost “senior” adult. Seems like Genesis is a book of waiting. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac, Jacob waited 14 years for his wives, Joseph waited over 20 years for reconcilation. Prayer is the answer to the question. God’s timing is best BUT GOD wants us to be a part of what we are waiting for. When we dont recieve it immediately, keep praying. James 1:3-4, which says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
God thank You for Rejoicing in You always; again I will say, rejoice. God help me to let Let everyone know that You are at hand. I am trying to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving letting my requests be made known to, You, God. And I know the peace of,You, God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Finally, I am striving for, minute by minute to think about whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What I have learned and received and heard and seen in me—I am determined to practice these things, and I believe that You, God, the God of peace will be with me. God thank You for the minutes of this day that I look to You and YOur Word to rest and know that You have a great plan and ideas for my life in Jesus name amen (Phil 4)
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God’s Provision
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length zyou have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.
“And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them” (v18). Ishmael’s story is that of human nature, as we are in constant conflict with good vs evil. Every moment we are given the choice to accept God’s ways or follow our flawed human tendencies. As Christ followers, we have the Holy Spirit to guide, instruct and remind us of the absolute truth of God’s precepts. May we lean in, listen and be quick to obey.
The choices we make today affect us and others in the future. We will see the full significance of our choices, so we should learn God’s will and holdfast to it. Again, obedience is key. We were given the Holy Spirit to guide us. Part of living by the spirit requires that we renew our minds every day to live according to the Spirit: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Lord, purge the unnecessary things of my life to live according to Your will, in Jesus’s name, Amen
I often “sell my birthright” away in the sense of not prioritizing my relationship with Jesus. I will focus and do other, everyday chores instead of making him a priority. Reading is hard for me but harrsi creek has helped me be way more obident in this capacity. Instant gratification is my desire. I’m naturally impatient & am learning to change that only because of gods power within me.
Something I read in terms of “selling birthright,” was how we tend to sell something for temporary satisfaction. Esau gave his birthright up for a temporary hunger to be filled. How often do I give something away for a temporary hunger to be fed or itch to be scratched (example: Selling the gift of sex in marriage for a temporary pleasure).
I think about this story a lot when the temptation to sell something valuable for temporary satisfaction occurs.