Isaac & His Sons: Esau & Jacob | Genesis 26–30 | Day 6 of 238
The story of Isaac and his sons; Esau and Jacob is an insightful one. This story begins in Genesis 25 from verse 20: Rebekah (Isaac’s wife) couldn’t bear a child, Isaac prayed to God on her behalf, and she bore twins — Esau and Jacob. God revealed to Rebekah the future of her sons: “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” (Genesis 25:23). I believe this played a major role in Rebekah choosing to help Jacob cheat his elder brother. But Esau’s problem wasn’t really Jacob, Esau’s problem was his profanity towards God and spiritual things. God had seen Esau’s profane future and chose Jacob instead.
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob — over a bowl of stew — because he didn’t see the importance of it; because it was not tangible (something he could touch and feel). You see, Esau was the see-it-to-believe-it, touch-it-to-feel-it type of guy. He was profane — didn’t regard God or spiritual things. After Jacob had taken Esau’s blessings (which he woefully sold to Jacob), he cried out unto his father Isaac to bless him. That’s what you read in the picture above. Unfortunately for Esau, he had lost his blessing; Isaac — by his words — had made already Jacob Lord over him.
LESSON: To be profane is to treat God’s business as mundane. Do not be carnally minded (profane), “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6 KJV). Don’t let the things of God become commonplace in your life, or you lose the blessing. Unnecessary familiarity is not allowed in the Kingdom of God.
Genesis 26:2–3 NIV
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. [3] Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.
God was instructing Isaac to stay in the land of Gerar. There was a great famine in the land, Isaac wanted to move to a safe haven with food and wine, he’d moved from the Negev to Gerar. Now from Gerar, he wanted to move again to Egypt but God appeared to him and asked him to sojourn in the land of Gerar, for He will make him prosperous in the land and will give the country to him and his descendants. Verse 6 of Genesis 26 says something amazing: “So Isaac stayed in Gerar” (Genesis 26:6 NIV).
When you’re making a major shift in your life do you consult God? When you’re moving places (homes) do you wait to hear His approval, or do you just go where you want to go? Because your nation declared a recession upon itself due to economic crisis doesn’t mean you’d behave like the masses and run to the nearest safe haven. The point is, consult God in everything. Before you take those major steps in your life, make sure God approves of them.
In the end, did Isaac prosper in Gerar? Emphatically, yes! He “…planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him” (Genesis 26:12 NIV). He grew until he became very wealthy — so wealthy that as God promised; He gave the country to him and his descendants. The king of the nation had to ask Isaac to leave because he grew too powerful for the system. Glory to God!
It pays to hear from God.
Follow us to study the entire Bible in 238 days.
Go to Day 1 of 238 | Go to previous article | Go to next article
