One Mother – Two Nations
Part #1 - Esau
“Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.” Genesis 25:27 (NASB)
God has always shown blessings to his people – take Rebecca as an example. For many years she had be barren. Now the Lord opens her womb – not just with one child – but with two. God takes that which seems dead – barren – and gives it life. God has often done this. Sarah, the wife of Abraham – bore Isaac; Rebecca, the wife of Isaac – bore Esau and Jacob; Rachel, the wife of Jacob – bore Joseph; Hannah, became the mother of Samuel; Elizabeth became the mother of John the Baptist.
Thomas Adams a puritan theologian gave three reasons for this:
1. To show that Israel was multiplied, not by natural succession, but by God’s grace.
2. To exercise the faith, hope, and patience in the promises of God.
3. That by the miraculous child-bearing of barren women a way might be made to believe the birth of Christ by a virgin.
God has always been faithful to His people.
Isaac prays – God hears – Rebecca conceives.
But she just does not conceive one child – she conceives two. And in the process of time she feels a struggling in her womb. She knows that it is more than an upset stomach – so she prays to Lord and asks, “What is going on?”
The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger." Genesis 25:23 (NASB)
Two nations indeed. Two people – the one so unlike the other – although they both came from the same mother. One a “skillful hunter, a man of the field.” The other a “peaceful man, living in tents.” Today I want to talk about one of these individuals. I want to talk about Esau. Verse twenty five tells us:
“Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau.” Genesis 25:25 (NASB)
From this verse we find three things:
1. He was the first born son
2. He was red
3. He was hairy
We also know from verse twenty seven that he was a skilled hunter. He was not just a hunter – but a “skillful” hunter.
I know that in our time and culture – most of us do not hunt to survive. But in Biblical times – as well as the founding days of America – it was important to be a “skillful” hunter. If you watch ‘Swamp People’ on television or “World’s Deadliest Catch” – you understand what I am talking about. These are television shows which display the skills of hunters and fishermen. They must be skilled in order to survive. It is by hunting and fishing that they earn their livelihood.
Brute force is not enough to capture a prey. Even among animals there is that common sense that causes them to avoid their pursuers. Fish - will not be taken with an empty hook – nor birds with every snare. Fish must have bait – birds must have a net, and he that wants to be successful must be a cunning hunter. Look at what Amos chapter three tells us:
“Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there’s no bait in it?” Amos 3:5 (GW)
The answer of course is, “No!” No bait – no success. Have you ever gone fishing with a bare hook? How did that turn out? For most of you – not too good.
Now I must say that there was a time when I caught fish with an empty hook. I was living in Alaska at the time and we went down to the coast when the salmon were running. At the point where a stream emptied into the bay thousands of salmon were there trying to get up-stream to spawn. You could take a weighted treble hook – cast it out in the water – draw your line tight – and then yank as hard and as fast as you could and you would snag a salmon. The fish were in the water so thick that your hook – when you pulled – would hit one.
But let me tell you – snagging salmon took skill too. My brother-in-law Bill was standing next to me and he was pulling in salmon after salmon. I would cast out and nine times out of ten – I was getting nothing. I kept working on it and working on it – but still nothing! Finally I asked Bill how he was pulling in so many fish. He said, “You have to watch the water – if you look out there – see where the water is rippling – that is where the fish are.” And you know what? He was right.
Folks – here is a great lesson I have learned in life. If you want to catch fish you have to go to where the fish are. Casting your line in empty water gets you nothing. It is important to be a “skillful” hunter or fisherman in this case. The Bible tells us that Esau was a skillful hunter.
From our text it appears that Esau’s delight was not in feasting on tame animals – but on wild game. Domestic animals need little cunning to capture. It is easy to bring an ox to the yolk – a horse to the bit, and a lamb to the slaughter – but this is not the case with wild creatures.
As a skillful hunter Esau was good at taking wild beasts – but he had little skill to save himself. How foolish was he to part with his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew! He may have been a skillful hunter but here is a sad fact about Esau:
I. He was more concerned with the here-and-now – than he was about the hereafter
Folks – here is a great truth:
Temporary satisfactions, most of the time, do not lead to eternal rewards.
This is a foolish sin. How can a person allow his stomach to control his brain? (This applies to other parts of the body as well.) Esau’s desire of the moment took control of him. Look at what Esau said to Jacob:
"Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished." Genesis 25:30 (NASB)
Jacob replied:
"First sell me your birthright." Genesis 25:31 (NASB)
Esau said without hesitation, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?" Genesis 25:32 (NASB)
Folks – we may not consider it – but to trade the eternal for the temporary is a great sin. To be more concerned with the here and now – than the hereafter is foolishness in God’s sight. It is interesting that in Hebrews chapter twelve we have this warning:
“Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.” Hebrews 12:16-17 (MSG)
How lightly in our day and time are we more concerned with the here-and-now rather than the hereafter? We change a spiritual blessing for a temporal pleasure. O how many of us are worldlings? O how many of us are Esau-ites? How often do we trade the eternal for the temporary? What are momentary delights compared to eternal? How does a bowl of stew compare to God’s glory? The belly is pleased but the soul is lost. Nothing can make a man truly happy but eternity. Pleasures may last a while in this world – but they will grow old with us, if they do not die before us. Watch therefore that you do not fall into this trap.
But who could fault Esau for trying to get something to eat? He was hungry – in his own words he was starving. Doesn’t it seem reasonable for him to try to get something to eat? Shouldn’t he be fed – no matter what the cost? Who would fault him? Who would blame him for trying to care for his physical needs? Well – God does. You see the ways of God are not the ways of men. Isaiah tells us:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:7-9 (NASB)
God’s ways are not our ways. Wicked men know not the things of the Spirit and although we may not consider Esau to be wicked – God does. Esau may have been a skillful hunter – but he was not skillful when it came to heavenly blessings. Paul reminds us to set our minds on heavenly things – yet so often we are concerned with worldly things. Look at what he tells us in Colossians:
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
The biggest fault of Esau was that he was more concerned with the here-and-now than he was about the hereafter. Let us heed the warning of his example.
There is another warning found in the story of Jacob and Esau that I would like to talk about. Did you catch it? The warning is this:
II. You may be born of the same parents – but your character can be quite different than your brothers or sisters.
These two brothers were born together – were brought up together – yet there was a great different between them. Yes they were twins – but they were not identical twins. Their bodies were different and so was their character. One was rough and hairy – the other smooth and plain. One was a cunning hunter – a man of the field – the other was called a peaceful man, woul liked living in tents. They were as different as night and day. How is it that two can be born of the same parents yet be so different? But we know it is true. Men of the world hunt after the pleasures of the world. Men of grace seek after the things of God – even though they both may be born under the same roof. Their place of birth may be the exact location – but the quality of their character is miles apart.
Our text should teach us well that we need to examine our characters. It is not enough to be born of believing parents – we must be born again as a believer. Each of us must ask, "Is my relationship right with God? Am I walking in a path that God is pleased with?"
I can not rest upon my brothers or sisters spirituality to make me acceptable in God’s sight. I can not rest on the fact that I was brought up in Godly home and expect that location to get me closer to God. I can not rest in the fact that my uncle was a preacher or that I was baptized as infant to make me acceptable in God’s kingdom. I must come to Him – I must build a close relationship with Him. He knew me before I was born - but that does not mean that I knew Him. I must come to Him just as I am – as lost in sin and far from Him as the east is from west and seek His forgiveness and His salvation. My acceptance into God’s kingdom is not dependent upon where I was born – but where my heart is now.
The position of the stars above does not predict my eternal destination – I do. The prediction of fortune-tellers does not determine where I will spend eternity – my decision to follow God does. It is not by some random of luck that I may end up in heaven – no – it is by a dedication and determination to follow Christ that I will be saved. Jesus said:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (NASB)
I want you to circle two words in this text. Go ahead and circle the words: “Come” and “Take”. Notice that both of these words are action words. Jesus is telling us that we must do something. We must come to Him – we must take up His yoke. People if you think it is easy to get to heaven – think again. You can not sit on your couch and be saved. You must be actively involved in a relationship with God in order to make it to heaven. Jesus tells us that if you are want the weight of your sin lifted off your shoulders – He is willing to do that. But you must do something in return. You must come to Him and you must take up His yoke. Salvation is free but it is not without its requirements.
How many of you like to buy something on sale? I know I do. If I can find a real bargain – I get excited - it is a good thing. When the Sunday morning paper comes out – the first things I look at is the sale adds. I like it when they advertise that I can get something – free. I remember one time that someone was advertising a free jacket to the first one hundred customers who would walk through the door – no strings attached. I got one of those jackets – but you know what I had to do to get it. I had to go down to the store and be one of the first one hundred through the door. That is what was required of me.
Are you interested in getting to heaven? Are you interested in having your sins forgiven? Do you feel like you are carrying a heavy load of guilt and shame? Come to Jesus. Take up His yoke and He promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Esau and Jacob were born in the same household, under the same stars, to the same mother – yet how different they were. Each was given a choice – each made decisions that not only affected their life here on earth – but their eternal destination. They grew up together, and Esau was ‘a skilful hunter’ – Jacob ‘a peaceful man.’ The decisions they made as young men determined the course of their lives. The sprig can be bent when it is young – but it sets the pattern of how it will ever grow. Solomon has rightly said:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)
There is no doubt that there is forgiveness with the Lord – He can forgive you of all your sins - but treading on a dark path leads to a dark destination. Esau entered quickly into the dark way – which leads to the dark gate – that stands ever ready open for dark souls. The Psalmist reminds us:
‘How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.’ Psalms 119:9 (NASB)
He goes on to tell us:
“Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105 (NASB)
God’s Word has always been there to be our guide. How about you? What decisions are you making that are affecting your life in the here-and-now? The decisions are you making today are affecting your life in the here-after. Are they wise decisions? Are they Godly decisions? Seek the Lord while there is still time. Seek Him today.
I would like to thank - Thomas Adams (1583-1652) for the sermon starter idea.
