I. Twins – But Not the Same
a. Text: Genesis 25:21-28 “[21] Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. [22] But the children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If all is well, why am I this way?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. [23] And the Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.’ [24] So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau (Hairy). [26] Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob (Supplanter; Successor). Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. [27] So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. [28] And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”
b. So, let’s see what is happening here. Isaac pleads with God for his wife Rebekah, as she was barren and could not have children.
c. So, God honors Isaac’s prayer and Rebekah conceives and becomes pregnant with twins. But these children seemed to fight with one another even inside the womb.
d. So, concerned for the children and her health, she goes to the Lord in prayer in regard to the restlessness of the babies. God instructs her that she indeed is having two children. And that these two children represent two entirely different nations of people. And that these two people will struggle with one another always.
e. Notice also that God confirms with her that the older of the two will serve the younger. This was contrary to Jewish custom.
f. According to Hebrew custom, the first born son always receives the highest place in honor in the family and always receives much greater inheritance than any other children born thereafter. This applied to twins as well, since only one can be born at a time.
g. When the boys are born, the firstborn is named Esau because he comes out with red-like skin tone and a lot of hair for an infant.
h. The second son is named Jacob because he is hanging onto the heel of Esau as he is birthed.
i. It was almost as if Jacob was trying to hold Esau back from being the firstborn, and in that way claim the Abrahamic legacy for himself.
j. According to the text, Jacob was favored by his mother, while Esau was favored by his father. Jacob was known to be a ‘tent dweller’ – he was a homebody-some may say a ‘momma’s boy’. While Esau was a skillful hunter, a man’s man – so his father seemed to favor him more.
k. But, what we would eventually find out is that being a hunter also meant producing a generation of murderers. While being a ‘tent dweller’ meant producing a legacy of worshippers!
l. These two boys were born as twins –but they were not the same. They were clearly fraternal twins by physical traits, as well as by spiritual traits.
II. Chicken Soup for the Soul (Of Esau)
a. Genesis 25:29-34 “[29] Now Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. [30] And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.’ Therefore his name was called Edom (red). [31] But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ [32] And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what profit shall this birthright be to me?’ [33] Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. [34] And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
b. During their youth, the twins were raised in the same environment and exposed to the same teachings of their father Isaac and Grandfather Abraham. One day, Esau returned from the field faint from hunger. Seizing an opportunity, Jacob informed Esau that he would sell him some lentil soup which he had just cooked, in exchange for the birthright.
c. Esau agreed "I am going to die — what is this birthright to me?" The fact that Esau would sell his rights in exchange for soup indicates the disdain in which he held his fathers’ traditions.
d. There are many interpretations of this statement. Some believe he meant that if he were dead, then his brother would have the birthright anyway; why should he die? If Esau were not to sell his birthright, he may have died from starvation, giving Jacob the birthright either way.
e. According to Jewish custom, the day on which Esau sold his birthright was the very same day that Abraham died; the lentil soup which Jacob had cooked was a food traditionally eaten at times of mourning. Some even say that because of their mourning over Abraham’s death – that is why Esau said he was “dying.” Not because of hunger, but because of grief.
f. Setting the scene at the time of Abraham’s death would mean that the twin boys were both 15 years old at that time.
g. That both brothers knowingly or unknowingly attempted such iniquity made them guilty equally.
h. Esau sold his soul – by selling his birthright to Jacob – for a bowl of soup.
i. There were tremendous benefits of being the firstborn son and having that birthright. Look what this birthright granted a firstborn:
1) Superior Rank: In Genesis 49:2, Jacob’s own firstborn son received, as Jacob put it, “…excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.”
2) A Double Portion of the Father’s Inheritance: Deuteronomy 21:17 commands the Israelites to “acknowledge the son…as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he (the father) has, for he is the beginning of strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”
3) A Priestly Office in the Kingdom: In Numbers 8:17-19 God declares: “For all of the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine…I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel…” And finally, the Abrahamic birthright promised that his descendants would be a source of
4) A Blessing for All the Nations of the Earth: According to Genesis 21:18, God gave a promise of how He would make a great nation from Isaac.
III. Stolen ID
a.But, what does this story have to do with identity theft? Let’s talk about identity theft for a moment. Did you know that every 79 seconds in America a case of identity theft takes place?
b.According to the Federal Trade Commission, last year alone, approximately 10 million Americans were victims of ID theft. This cost a total of nearly $50 billion.
c.Most identity theft is perpetrated through computer and/or telephone fraud. In fact, I just read, while studying for this message, that a new tactic is to rig your caller ID so it shows your bank’s real phone number, while a false representative tries to “confirm” personal information. So get this -now a guy who calls you about suspicious use of your account may be the actual perpetrator.
d.ILLUSTRATION: A heavily booked commercial flight out of Denver was canceled, and a single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the front and slapped his ticket down on the counter. "I have to be on this flight and it has to be first class!" he insisted. "I’m sorry, sir," the agent replied. "I’ll be happy to help you, but I have to take care of these folks first." The passenger was unimpressed. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded in a voice loud enough for the passengers behind him to hear. Without hesitating, the agent smiled and picked up her public-address microphone. "May I have your attention, please?" she broadcast throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at the gate who does not know who he is. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate." As the man retreated, the people in the terminal burst into applause. Now, that’s a funny story, but the truth is……
e.Identity theft is a very personal and traumatic experience. When something that defines you—an account number, a job position, a family role, a social status, a beloved possession, other things—when that defining element is stripped from you, suddenly, it can leave a terrible, terrible scar.
f.What is the importance of a birthright? What is the importance of an inheritance and having that identity?
g.For every one of us, our identity is the door to our destiny. When you know who you are confidence rises up in you.
h.The goal of every thief is to steal what is rightfully yours. The goal of a perpetrator of ID theft is to steal another person’s identification in order to gain that person’s livelihood.
i.The goal of our adversary, our enemy, that thief, is to steal our identity, thus stealing our future and our inheritance.
j.John 10: 10 confirms this: “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill, and to destroy.”
k.Listen: If Satan can get you to forget who you are, then you will forget where you’re going! You’ll forget your destiny!
l.Before I can walk in my destiny; before I can walk in the promises of God for my life; I must figure out who I am!
m.If I have no identity, then I have no destiny!
n.This is why Satan wants to steal your identity in Christ Jesus!
o.Again, what does this have to do with Jacob and Esau? Well, to answer that, we must look further in their life’s story.
p.Time will not permit me to read the rest of the story, but if you were to read Genesis chapter 27, you would read of the deceit committed in order to gain the father’s favor.
q.A shortened version of the story goes something like this: When Isaac was aged and blind, he decided to bless his eldest son before he died. He sent Esau out in the fields to hunt down some meat and prepare him a meal, after which he would receive his blessing.
r.Rebekah overheard this exchange. As Esau went out to the hunt, she instructed Jacob to fetch her two goats so that she could prepare a tasty meal for his father, and commanded him to bring the meal to Isaac to receive the blessing in his brother’s stead. Jacob protested that his father might notice the substitution through touch, since Esau was hairy and he was smooth-skinned. Rebekah told him not to worry, and placed hairy goatskins over his neck and arms.
s.Thus disguised, Jacob went into his father’s tent. Isaac was surprised that he had returned so soon from the "hunt." "Who are you, my son?" Isaac asked suspiciously. "I am Esau your firstborn," Jacob answered. Isaac was still suspicious and asked to feel him, since Esau was hairy. The goatskins seemed to fool him, although he maintained, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." Nevertheless, Isaac blessed him and sent him on his way.
t.As soon as Jacob left the tent, Esau arrived and exposed the deception. Isaac was shaken, but he affirmed that Jacob would indeed be blessed. Then Esau swore to himself that he would kill Jacob in revenge as soon as his father was dead.
u.Why? Because that wound cut deep for Esau. There was no canceling the initial birthright and issuing a new one. The deal was done. His brother permanently duped him as heir to his father’s wealth and authority.
v.But, this story does not end here.
w.Because, just as the boys fought within their mother’s womb – they have not stopped fighting over the inheritance since that day.
IV. Fighting To This Day
a.Let’s look at the blessing that Isaac spoke over Jacob (when he thought he was speaking it over Esau).
b.Genesis 27:27-29 “[27] Surely, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. [28] Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. [29] Let peoples serve you, and nations bow to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!”
c.You might be thinking, ‘wait a minute. I thought that was the promise God spoke over the Nation of Israel.” And you would be right.
d.Jacob would later become known as Israel –the father of the twelve tribes.
e.Now, listen to the ‘lesser blessing’ given to Esau by his father Isaac. Read Genesis 27:38-40 with me: “[38] And Esau said to his father, ‘Have you only one blessing, (to offer,) my father?’ Bless me, even me also, O my father!’ And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. [39] The Isaac his father answered and said to him: ‘Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness (fertility) of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above (the Arabs possess 22 nations, many of which are of the world’s wealthiest because of the oil reserves.) [40] By your sword you shall live (This is that spirit of revenge, murder and hatred against Israel and against anyone who would oppose their philosophy), and you shall serve your brother (Ironically, there is a vast superiority of the Israeli economy over those of the Arab nations and the numbers of Palestinians who daily trudge into Israel to work for their Israeli employers); and it shall comes to pass, when you become restless, that you shall break his yoke form your neck.’”
f.Jacob’s descendants are modern-day Israelis.
g.Esau later became known as Edom. His descendants are modern-day Palestinians (Arabs).
h.Which two nations of people, to this very day, are fighting over ownership of the inheritance? The Israelis and the Palestinians.
i.In fact, you may remember Ishmael. Ishmael was Isaac’s half-brother; Abraham’s pathetic attempt to help God’s plan to give him a son. Ishmael’s descendants are also modern day Palestinians. In Genesis chapter 27, we read how Esau married his cousin, the daughter of Ishmael. So, his descendants are modern-day Palestinians. Fact is, Ishmael’s direct blood-line descendants are Middle-Eastern Muslims.
j.These two nations fight to this day over the Gaza Strip –a piece of land promised to Israel by God.
k.Another interesting fact, Jewish tradition maintains the Romans were descendants of Esau, the red-haired and blood-thirsty brother of Jacob. As you know, the Romans were the ones who actually persecuted, arrested and crucified Jesus in the NT.
l.Israel must never give up the land demanded by the Palestinians. But, let’s suppose they did give up Jerusalem. Would the Palestinians be satisfied? The answer is no, and not because they wouldn’t accept Jerusalem.
m.They would simply demand more, and "The Palestinian Problem" would go on.
n.Why? Because, the modern day political reasons are three-fold. First, Muslim Arabs and the modern Arab government want a single Arab nation that occupies the entire Middle East. As long as Israel exists as a nation, this cannot happen. Secondly, the official Arab religion is Islam. Islamic fundamentalists believe it is their duty to see Islam become the religion of the entire world. Again, with a Jewish Israel, this can never happen. Finally, the Arab dictatorships of the Middle East resent the West (that’s us) for the formation of Israel – as a nation – and the prevention of a single Arab nation since the conclusion of WWI.
o.These two nations – once struggling within their mother’s womb together – now struggle within the heart of the world – all for the inheritance that came from being the firstborn.
V. Our Brother’s Inheritance
a. Children of God, we, too, have a brother – the firstborn – Who has received an inheritance.
b. Romans 8:29 says: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.” [NLT]
c. Colossians 1:15-18 says: “[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. [17] And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. [18] And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
d. Jesus is the firstborn Son of God the Father. And, as with Hebrew culture, Jesus receives the same blessings and birthright as all firstborn sons. Remember those 4 blessings of the birthright? They are (1) A Superior Rank, (2) A Double Portion of the Father’s Blessing, (3) A Priestly Office in the Kingdom, and (4) the Abrahamic promise to be a blessing to all of the nations of the earth!
e. This is what Jesus received by rights, as the firstborn, only begotten of the Father.
f. But, look what Jesus did. When He chose to die and conquer death, hell and the grave for you and I – He gave us His birthright!
g. He was saying, “What’s mine is yours so long as what’s yours is Mine!”
h. He promised us His peace. He promised us His victory. He promised us His yoke. He promised us His Authority!
i. It’s no wonder that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy! It’s no wonder that Satan’s plot is to steal your identity from you!
j. I Peter 2:9 declares: “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” Hmmmm – sounds like the four-fold blessing of the firstborn birthright to me!
k. Romans 8:37 boasts: “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
l. And I Corinthians 6:19-20 assures us: “…you are not your own… For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Again, your identity determines your destiny! You must establish your identity in Christ Jesus and not allow the thief to steal that from you! Because when he can steal your identity in Christ – he then can rob you of your destiny in Christ.
God Himself understands the concept of establishing identity. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus (in Luke chapter 3), God the Father, through the His Holy Spirit, spoke audibly and said “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” What was God doing? He was establishing His Son’s identity. When God told Moses in the OT to tell Pharaoh that “I AM” has sent you; what was He doing – He was establishing His own identity.
Your identity in Christ Jesus IS your birthright! You were born again one day – and at that new birth you gained new rights in Christ Jesus! Don’t let the thief come and steal that image from you! Don’t allow him to steal your identity from you!
