Missing The Mark. Worldly Wealth But Spiritual Bankruptcy. Esau's Family Genesis 36

2024.09.22.Sermon Notes. Genesis 36. Esau’s Tribes. Missing the Mark. Worldly wealth but Spiritually bankrupt.

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: Esau was angry because Jacob had received his father’s blessing. But Esau’s family and great possessions prove he received a blessing as a descendant of his grandfather Abraham. But Esau missed the mark. While he had worldly wealth, he was spiritually bankrupt.

His focus was worldly and not spiritual.

We are to seek the things above from GOD’s Kingdom.

SCRIPTURES: Genesis 36:1-43, Malachi 1:2-3, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 3:10-13,

Isaiah 43:1, Mark 8:36, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Revelation 3:17, Luke 12:16-21, Matthew 6:33, 2 Chronicles 7:14

While Esau and his descendants succeeded in this world, they failed terribly in light of eternity.

Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Recap: Two nations warring in the womb, Esau and Jacob in sibling rivalry. Esau despised his birthright and Jacob coerced Esau into giving it up for a bowl of stew. Isaac blesses Jacob thinking he was Esau. Esau comes for his blessing and it’s too late. “Don’t you even have one blessing for me?” Esau raged with anger and mother Rebekah sends Jacob to her brother to find a wife, thinking Jacob will be away only a few days while Esau’s temper would die down. After 20 years, Jacob returns to meet Esau who has done well for himself.

Today we will look at the Family of Esau, and learn from it.

FATHER, by the power of YOUR WORD and SPIRIT, lead us in all truth, in JESUS Name, Amen.

Esau’s Tribes. The Family of Esau

Genesis 36:1-43

1-5 The wives, sons and daughters of Esau

Genesis 36:1-5 (NKJV)

1 Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. 5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

Abraham was determined that Isaac not take a wife from among the daughters of Canaan Genesis 24:37.

Esau’s marriage to Canaanite women caused much grief to Isaac and Rebekah Gen 26:34-35.

v6-8 The separation of Jacob and Esau

Genesis 36:6-8 (NKJV)

6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

Their possessions were too great for them to dwell together: Esau’s painful cry to Isaac Have you only one blessing, my father? (Genesis 27:38) proved unfounded. God blessed Esau because he was a descendant of Abraham, and God blessed him in the only way he really cared about — materially.

So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir: This was land to the south and east of the Dead Sea, and became known as the land of Edom.

Esau is Edom: The Edomite people descended from Esau, the son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob.

Vs 9 Edomites descend from Esau

Genesis 36:9

9 And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.

Esau the father of the Edomites

Edom and the Edomites are mentioned throughout the Bible.

When Moses and the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, the Edomites refused to give them safe passage. Numbers 20:21

Numbers 20:17-21 (NKJV)

17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”

18 Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”

19 So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”

20 Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.