Tag Archives: Esau

Bible Study – Esau Sells His Birthright

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Our last devotional, covered the birth of Jacob and Esau.  We can not underestimate the value of this lesson from  Old Testament history.  The twins “struggled together within her” (Gen. 25:22) in the same fashion that our new natures  (received at the new birth) struggle with our old natures (received at the natural birth) once we are born again.  Like Rebekah, we have the two personalities struggling within us.  It is the struggle for mastery in the inner soul of every single,  truly born again believer. 

God ordained for the “younger new nature” (Jacob) to have dominion over the “older sin nature.” (Esau) 

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you

Genesis 25:29-34

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Two wrongs occur here.  Firstly, Esau in lust of flesh, sells what is not his to sell.  Secondly, Jacob takes advantage of his brother’s weakness, and “deals” for something that also was not his.   The blessing was from God, through Abraham and Issac.   Esau demonstrated that he had a very low regard for the birthright blessing.  Like fleshly Issac, who loved Esau more than Jacob because “he did eat of his venison,” Esau was given to fleshly appetites and and placed ALL of his value on “savory meat.”

Like the carnal Christian, Esau chose fleeting, temporal satisfaction.  Jacob highly regarded the eternal.  Those believers who walk closely with the Lord, seek the long ranging spiritual promise of the birthright. 

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Bible Study – Esau’s Wives

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Following the history of the Jews, is the story of God’s plan of Salvation.  Every saved person can see themselves in this history.  In last week’s study, the remarkable focus on wells, and Isaac, who was the son of promise, digging for wells to provide for his tribe.  It was also observed, that Isaac’s name is associated with wells seven times!  Oh, the deep things of God get deeper and deeper. 

We next progress onto the further refining of the line of promise, and the enmity of the flesh towards the things of God. 

Esau’s wives . . .

Only two verses are devoted to this subject here, yet they are verses that portend a great deal.

Genesis 26:34-35

34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

  1. Hittites were idolaters, immoral, and worshipers of demons.
  2. Esau demonstrated why the Lord did not choose him, as this occurred before Isaac even blessed Jacob.  The Lord knows us before we are even conceived in the womb.
  3. Esau did not consider his parents in that he actually caused them grief through these marriages.  The spirit of rebellion.

It is of interest to those who adhere to the infallibility of God’s Word, how the secularists had long denied the existence of any such people group as the Hittites.  As time often reveals all truth – archeologists have proven since 1876, that the Hittites  (mentioned over 50 times in Scripture) were indeed a powerful people group during the 15th and 16th centuries BC.  They were descended from Heth, son of Canaan (the cursed, youngest son of Ham) and the great-grandson of Noah.  Their pagansim resulted in truly despicable practices, which is why they were to be destroyed – not married!  When God delivered the Canaanites to be destroyed by Israel His servant – it was to prevent the chosen people from being contaminated by such evil.

Which now brings up the subject, of intermarriage for believers.  Why do the saved of the Lord still do it?  

  • For Christians – even dating an unbeliever is unwise.
  • For Christians – marrying an unbeliever is forbidden.
  • There can be no harmony between the believer and the unsaved.

2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

1 Corinthians 15:33

 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Marriage is the most intimate relationship on earth.  It is prophetically significant in that it portrays the relationship between Christ, and His Bride – the Church.  We are to evangelize the lost with the Gospel – not marry them!