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.
Vs 10-43 The genealogy of Esau, father of the Edomites
10 These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.
13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
14 These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
The Chiefs of Edom
15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, 16 Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.
17 These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
18 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah. 19 These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.
The Sons of Seir
20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
22 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
23 These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24 These were the sons of Zibeon: both Ajah and Anah. This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. 25 These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
26 These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29 These were the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah, 30 Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
The Kings of Edom
31 Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: 32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 34 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith. 36 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place. 38 When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 And when Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
The Chiefs of Esau
40 And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, 41 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, 42 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, 43 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau:
The descendants of Esau were Kings and Chiefs long before Jacob/Israel would have a King to the people.
And yet GOD loved Israel more than he did Esau.
Malachi 1:2-3
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.”
Hated means to love less.
Though Esau was a blessed man materially speaking, GOD didn’t choose him to inherit the covenant and blessing made with Abraham.
THOUGHT: If GOD abundantly blesses those who are not chosen, what is the magnitude of HIS blessings for those who are chosen?
IF unspiritual people experience the blessings of common grace, how much greater is the outpouring of GOD’s special grace be to those who receive HIM!
NAMES:
From Edom became the Edomites
From Amalek became the Amalekites
These ‘…ites’ were not good or even godly people in the Bible. They were far from it.
Even the names of the descendants of Esau don’t reflect a godly heart.
Dishon means gazelle.
Alvan means wicked.
Ithran means advantage.
Aran means mountain goat.
Baal-Hanan — his name contains the false god Baal.
What’s in a name? As a believer in CHRIST, we have a new name. Yes we can say we are CHRIST-ians. But Revelation says that we will have a new name.
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Revelation 3:10-13
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Isaiah 43:1 1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
GOD keeps HIS PROMISES
And yet, we see that GOD allows even unbelievers to receive His blessing
GOD Blessed Abraham and all his descendants, therefore GOD blessed Esau even thought he was not to receive the blessing of the Birthright.
This chapter is dedicated to Esau and his family line, showing us GOD’s love for all people, even for those who do not follow HIM.
But GOD is faithful to HIS PROMISE to HIS People, and before Israel left the land, we are reminded that GOD is still faithful to his promise as he brings them into the land that HE promised to Abraham.
Just as Rebekah had been told that she was carrying two nations at war with each other,
Esau and the Edomites continue throughout scripture in what seems to be opposition with Israel.
At the time of JESUS, Herod the Great and his successor Herod Antipas were wealthy power-hungry rulers over Israel.
Herod the Great slaughtered the infant boys of Bethlehem in an attempt to kill off the newborn King of the Jews.
Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded and he mocked JESUS prior to the crucifixion.
The Blessing to Abraham that would be to all people and all nations, is JESUS CHRIST.
And just as the covenant blessing would be fulfilled, there would be opposition.
Amazing that it all began with Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, as we see the blessing move through the generations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to become ISRAEL, a land, a nation and a blessing to all nations.
We can learn from Esau’s family. They were materially wealthy but spiritually bankrupt.
Scripture doesn’t show us that Esau’s heart was for the LORD. He was more interested in the materials things of life.
Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Scripture tells us that we are to be mindful of spiritual things.
2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Luke 12:16-21
6 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
*****
Today Sunday 9/22/2024 is Global Prayer Day. As Nations of people around the world come together to pray for GOD to forgive and heal our world.
2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
We were founded as a nation under GOD, but as a nation, we’ve strayed from the ONE TRUE GOD to many gods. Just as we’ve seen in the account of Abraham’s family thus far.
Just as Jacob had to surrender himself to the LORD, we too must come and surrender our hearts before HIM.
GOD’s Word calls us as the CHURCH to come before HIM in humility, turning from the things of this world and our sinfulness, praying and seeking HIS face. And in doing so, HIS PROMISE is to forgive us, and heal our land, our nation.
As people of the world seek the material things to get ahead, we must realize that what really matters is not worldly recognition, but rather recognition by GOD.
As a believer in CHRIST, that recognition comes when we stand before the LORD and hear those words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.” Unfortunately there are those who are satisfied with the things of this world, who will stand before the LORD and hear the words, “Depart from ME, for I never knew you.”
Encouraging and dreadful words, at opposite ends of the spectrum.
As believers, we are to stand firm in HIM and shout out the warning.
Time is short, the end is near, the DAY is Approaching and many NEED CHRIST.
Let’s Pray
FATHER, we come knowing that we fall short of YOUR Glory. We are nothing without YOU, and we NEED YOU. Forgive us our sins as we forgive others. Lead us in all TRUTH by the POWER of YOUR SPIRIT. Create is us a clean heart, and renew YOUR SPIRIT in the people of our nation. We come on behalf of loved ones, family, friends, associates, neighbors, the man, woman, boy or girl at the cash register, they need YOU LORD GOD, we need YOU. We pray for the souls of each one, that they would come to know YOU as LORD and SAVIOR. All our trust, faith and hope is in YOU, in JESUS Name, Amen.
