GENESIS 24:52-26:16
MATTHEW 8:18-34
PSALM 10:1-15
PROVERBS 3:7-8
Question: If the birthright were so important, why would Esau be so careless about giving it up?
Esau showed time after time that he was unreliable and had no regard for what his parents would want, or what God would want. Genesis 27:41 tells us that after Isaac died, Esau planned to kill Jacob. Genesis 28:8 tells us that when he realized how displeasing it would be to Isaac if he married a Canaanite women, he did just that. The Edomites, his descendants, opposed Jacob's, and centuries later God destoyed the Edomites.
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We have several historical chapters filled with encouraging accounts of God's faithfulness to Abraham (and Isaac) concluding with his death. Then we get to Gen 25:12-18. 12 Tribes of Ishmael. They settled in the Sinai, east of Egypt. We also see in earlier verses that God had led Abraham away from this area and given him a command never to settle in Sinai but to trust Him and settle in a land God had promised to the Israelites. We also see that Isaac was never to return there either. Verse 18 does not say exactly that the two groups lived in hostility but can be inferred from the earlier statements made in Chapter 16:11. The blood feud continues today. One only has to look to the cultural bent on respect, honor, and saving face to see that this region must always be governed by retribution and 'righting wrongs', perceived or real.
ReplyDeleteGiven the level of deceit toward one another it seems almost 'natural' for them to distrust God. If we others as not being trustworthy and we see God as having a similar character then why would we trust God? God's character is absolutely true and honest. Abraham learned the lesson of trust the hard way. It seems that his grandsons have not learned the lesson. God's character is beyond reproach. When he gives clear direction we are to obey. I love the OT because the history is so full of rich illustrations that so clearly reveal God's character. Let your Yes be yes and your No be No.