Biblical Lesson Behind Story Of Jacob And Esau

Biblical Lesson Behind Story Of Jacob And Esau

BIBLE TEXT:

Genesis 25-27

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INTRODUCTION:

In our article today, we will be talking about the biblical lesson behind the story of Jacob and Esau. Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah and for twenty years, they had no child, But the Lord blessed them with a twin. So, they name them Esau and Jacob, but Esau was born before Jacob even though they were twins, the two were quite different. The firstborn, whom they named Esau, was reddish, and his body was covered with hair, while the younger was smooth skinned. Meanwhile, while they were conceived and still in the womb, God already told Rebekah when she had the feeling of the babies struggling in her womb that there are two nations in her womb, that each child would become the leader of a separate nation, but one will be stronger than the other, and that the older would serve the younger.

As the boys grew, Esau became a clever hunter, spending his days in the fields with his bow, while Jacob worked near the tents where they lived. One day, while Jacob was cooking a pot of bean soup, Esau came in from hunting. He was weak with hunger, smelling the delicious food his brother was making, he said to Jacob, “give me food, I pray thee, with that same soup for I am weak. But Jacob answered, “Give me your birthright and I will give you the bean soup I am cooking,” Esau said to Jacob, “Behold, I am so hungry that I am almost dying. What good would this birthright do to me if I were dead?”

“Promise me your birthright,” Jacob said, and Esau made the promise, trading his birthright for a bowl of soup. Caring more for food than for his birthright, Esau ate until he was filled and then went on his way. Years passed and Isaac grew old. His health was poor, and his eyesight was almost gone. He knew he did not have much longer to live upon the earth.

So, Isaac called his oldest son, Esau, to him and said, “Behold now, I am old; I know not the day of my death. Now therefore, take thy quiver and thy bow, go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me good-tasting meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, so that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Rebekah overheard her husband speaking to Esau and ran to find Jacob. The Lord had revealed to Rebekah that Jacob was to receive the birthright, but Rebekah knew how much Isaac loved his oldest son and wanted to give these blessings to Esau. Because Esau had not always made the right choices, Rebekah knew he was not worthy. He had rejected the teachings of his parents by marrying a daughter of the Canaanites. Rebekah knew by inspiration that Jacob should receive the birthright blessing.

Rebekah told Jacob that Isaac had sent Esau for venison and that he was going to bless Esau after the meal. “Now obey my voice,” said Rebekah, “Go to the flock, and fetch me two young goats. I will make good-tasting meat for thy father just as he loves it.”

She then told Jacob he was to take the food to his father. Then Isaac would give Jacob the blessing instead of Esau.

However, Jacob said, “Behold, Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. My father will feel me and know that I have deceived him. It shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing.”

Rebekah told Jacob, “Do not worry, but go and do as I have said.”

Jacob hurried out, and when he returned with the two small goats, his mother prepared the good-tasting meat. Rebekah took some of Esau’s clothes and put them on Jacob. She also took the skins of goats and made a hairy covering for his hands and neck. Placing the meat and bread which she had prepared into Jacob’s hands, she sent him to his father.

Jacob nervously approached Isaac. “My father,” he greeted. Isaac looked up, but being nearly blind, he asked, “Who art thou, my son?”

Jacob replied, “I am Esau, thy firstborn; I have done as thou did ask. Sit and eat of my venison that thou may bless me.”

Isaac was surprised that he had found the meat so quickly. He reached out: “Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.”

Jacob stepped closer; Isaac felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

Jacob served the food. After Isaac was full, he said, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”

When Jacob knelt and kissed his father, Isaac smelled Esau’s clothing and felt satisfied that it was indeed Esau. Then laying his hands upon Jacob’s head, Isaac blessed him with the birthright, which Esau had traded for a bowl of soup. Isaac blessed Jacob with the good things of the earth and prophesied that his brother would bow down to him and serve him. The same blessing that had been Abraham’s and Isaac’s was given to Jacob. He was to inherit a promised land and have many descendants. Those descendants were to bear the holy priesthood and be a blessing to all nations of the earth.

Soon after Jacob had left the room, Esau returned. He had also prepared good-tasting meat for his father. Esau said, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.” But Isaac was confused. He cried, “Who art thou?” Esau answered, “I am thy son, thy firstborn, Esau.”

Isaac trembled, “Who? Where is he who brought venison to me? I have eaten before thou came and have blessed him.”

But Isaac recognized that it was the will of the Lord that Jacob should receive the birthright, so he said, “He shall be blessed.”

Esau wept. He had lost the blessings that could have been his because he had not lived to be worthy of them. He begged his father to give him but one blessing.

Isaac laid his hands upon Esau’s head and blessed him that he would live by the sword and would serve his brother.

Because of what had happened, Esau hated Jacob and said in his heart, “My father will soon die, and then will I slay my brother Jacob.”

Rebekah found out what Esau had threatened to do and called Jacob to her. She knew that the Lord had a special mission for Jacob, and she wanted to protect him so he could live to perform that mission. “Behold,” said she to Jacob, “thy brother Esau is planning to kill thee. Therefore, I arose and fled to Laban, my brother who lives in Haran. Stay with him until thy brother’s anger is turned away, and then I will send for thee.” Following his mother’s advice, Jacob left his home. 

LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU.

The most important lesson to learn from this story is, we must never be too anxious for any present or pressing need. Even though, God had already planned it from the beginning that the older will serve the younger, but Esau because of his present need for food sold his birthright which made the plan of God worked out, the truth is sometimes God plans somethings that may not favor one, but God can still change His mind, if one can pray and do the right thing. The right thing Esau would have done was to wait and cook his own food; probably there might not be an opening for Jacob to have bought his birthright. Major lesson learnt is we must never be too anxious to get anything, and we must learn to pray fervently in the place of prayers against any plan that will not give glory to God.