Jacob: Manipulating a birthright
Genesis 25:19-34
I think many of us will be able to relate to Jacob. He had faults and failings that are very common weaknesses we have. It’s not that we do not relate to the weakness of his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham, but Jacobs selfish and deceptive ways are more pronounced.
Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for a son. His father Isaac is the child of promise. But now this baton of promise will be passed on to Jacob. God has made tremendous promises to the spiritual heir of Abraham and Isaac.
This great promise to Abraham and Isaac will be passed on by birthright to the firstborn son of Isaac. But guess what. That is not Jacob. Once a birthright is set it cannot be changed. Or so we thought until we meet this deceiver named Jacob. His name even means deceiver.
Jacob plays a major role in the Bible. Half the book of Genesis, 25 of the 50 chapters focus on Jacob. His name is later changed by the Lord to Israel. His 12 sons are known as the 12 tribes of Israel.
Normally the birthright goes to the firstborn son. That would be Jacob’s brother Esau. Now we will look at how Jacob manipulated the birthright for the blessing. By custom Esau was to inherit the blessings of Abraham and Isaac. This fellow Jacob stole Esau’s birthright and blessing.
The birth of the twins. (Genesis 25:19-28) By custom the birthright and blessing belonged to Esau, but by God’s decree it belonged to Jacob. Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for a son. Isaac prayed and the Lord answered Isaac’s prayer.
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. (Genesis 25:21)
Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The babies “jostled” within her. Which one would come out first and be the possessor of the greatest birthright ever?
Rebekah asked why this was happening within her. The Lord answered her.
The LORD said to her, “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)
God told Rebekah his plan was different than the customary older son receiving the birthright. It would be the younger son who would be heir to the blessing. He would receive the promise of blessing promised to his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham.
The older the first born is Esau. He is red and hairy. Esau found favor with his father. He was what we could call a man’s man. He was the rugged outdoor hunter.
Jacob came out of the womb with his hand grasping the heal of his twin brother. His name, Jacob means one who grasps the heal. Figuratively has name means deceiver. Jacob was the quiet one who found favor with his mother Rebekah.
This proclamation of God is going to turn everything upside down. “The older will serve the younger.” Ultimately Jacob would have his name changed to Israel by God. His new name Israel means, he struggles with God.
The Birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) We have the account of Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage, some stew. It has become proverbial for anyone who trades something spiritual for something tangible. They gain something, but they lose something much more important.
Esau comes in from his hunting trip famished. When he does, he finds his brother Jacob making some stew. Esau tells Jacob, quick give me some of that stew!
Here is the Wikipedia description of Mess of pottage: “A mess of pottage is something immediately attractive but of little value taken foolishly and carelessly in exchange for something more distant and perhaps less tangible but immensely more valuable. The phrase alludes to Esau's sale of his birthright for a meal ("mess") of lentil stew ("pottage") in Genesis 25:29–34 and connotes shortsightedness and misplaced priorities.”
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. (Genesis 25:29-34)
When my wife and I were engaged she took an Old Testament class and they studied this passage. As part of the class project my wife made Jacob’s stew for the class. According to my notes the recipe for the stew was recovered with the dead sea scrolls. So far in my internet search I am not finding a stew recipe from the Dead Sea scrolls. It was a red lentil stew.
What was involved in the birthright? Normally there was financial inheritance attached to the birthright. That was not this issue here. Esau was exceedingly wealthy. Esau despised his birthright. The birthright for Esau was something spiritual. To have this birthright meant to be in the linage of the coming messiah. To be the father of the chosen nation, Israel.
Esau fell to the immediate gratification. He traded something of lasting value. In the mist of this fleshly desire Esau gave up his spiritual inheritance. The stew was before Esau. He was hungry and he could see it, smell it and feel his hunger.
Esau gave up something that could not be seen or smelled or touched. It was something spiritual and it was something for the future. Esau threw away his spiritual inheritance for the moment of fleshly indulgence to satisfy his appetite.
The strong rugged man is weak in the face of temptation. It is like Samson who is strong physically but weak spiritually. Esau traded the eternal for the temporal. The unseen for the seen the spiritual for the physical.
Later Esau would weep over the consequences of his actions. When we are tempted the desire draws us and makes promises to us that are empty and fleeting results.
In Hebrews chapter 11 Esau’s father, grandfather, brother and nephew are listed in the New Testament faith hall of fame. Not Esau. He landed himself in a much different place.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (Hebrews 12:16)
The blessing for Jacob (Genesis 27) Esau Isaac loved. Jacob Rebekah loved. A the time of giving the blessing Isaac has become old. His eyes are now dim. His desire is to bless the oldest son he loves, Esau.
Esau’s is ready to receive the blessing that is due him according to custom. Rebekah wanted to see to it that Jacob got the blessing. Jacob went alone with his mother’s plan to get the blessing that was due Esau.
The all seemed to forget the purpose of God that He revealed when Esau and Jacob were jostling in the womb. God intended Jacob to have this blessing. Now Jacob was living up to the figurative meaning of his name, deceiver. This plan included deception, lying and misusing God’s name.
The deception begins with using animal skins and turned into outright lying when his father became suspicious. Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied. (Genesis 27:20)
The practice of deception would soon come back on Jacob by his crafty uncle Laban. Jacobs deception forced him to live as a fugitive fleeing from his furious brother. Esau cried bitterly over his lost blessing. It was too late for him now. He had despised his birthright. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?
Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Hebrews 12:17)
There are many who forsake a spiritual birthright opportunity t be a child of God. Do not trade anything for your spiritual salvation in Christ. Put your trust in Jesus Christ.
