This section begins with a genealogy, which was last seen in Gen 5. Genealogies signal divisions in the book of Genesis, and here, it signals the beginning of a new chapter.
(A) The prayerful parents: Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 25:19-22)
Following their marriage, Rebekah was barren for twenty years (Gen 25:20,26b). We know that the promise to Adam, to undo the curse, could only be fulfilled with offsprings, and with the 'divinely appointed' marriage of Issac and Rebekah, we would expect things to go smoothly for them. Yet it was not so. Even here, we have to consider that this is a God who makes promises and fulfills them, yet also makes his people wait. This is the God who tests the purity of faith. This is a God who is patient and works on a different time scale from us. Is this God a God you’re having a relationship with? Does it sometimes seem frustrating and confusing? Take heart, because real relationships will frustrate and depress sometimes.
Isaac responded to Rebekah's barrenness with prayer and God answered it (Gen 25:21). However, Rebekah's pregnancy was not an easy one, and there was a great intensity of pain within her (Gen 25:22). She inquired of the Lord the reason for such a struggle and pain, though her wish to have children were answered (Gen 25:22). This couple teaches us to pray in all circumstances. One was a prayer of intercession, the other was one of lament (“if it is thus” in verse 22). We learn from them that it is important to pray, not just to pray for things, but to pray about, around things. Does our prayer life look like this? Are we honest enough to pray like this?
(B) The divided family (Gen 25:23-28)
God answered her prayers, and told Rebekah that from these two children will come two completely different lines of people (Gen 25:23). This is consistent theme throughout the book and we've seen this many times before: Cain and Abel, Shem and Ham, Enoch and Lamech, Tower of Babel and Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael.
God also told her that "the older will serve the younger" and this was clearly unlike human expectations and social conventions (i.e. primogeniture, where the oldest son will inherit everything). But here, God is subverting human law and expectations.
The Bible describes for us the birth of the twin brothers and the stark differences in their personalities. Esau, the older of the two, was red, hairy, a man of the field and a skilful hunter and Isaac loved him. Jacob was quiet, and lived in tents (implying a more domesticated life) and Rebekah loved Jacob. These prayerful parents were not perfect, and did play favourites. This sets the stage for conflict within the family, and helps us to see that Christian families are broken too. All homes are affected by sins, Christian or otherwise.
(C) The unholy sons: Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:29-34 c.f. Heb 12:15-17)
Gen 25:29-34 focuses on one particular episode in the life of the sons of Isaac, heirs to the promise of Adam and the covenant of Abraham. The table below summarises what each of them really wanted, and what they thought of God's promise:
| Esau | Jacob | |
Heart motivations (i.e. desire) | Sought and pursued pleasure. The Bible referred to him as an dolater, a godless man | This was a man that was deeply resentful and insecure. Therefore, this was a chance to gain security and value. |
| Decision making motivations in the story | He was hungry and sought instant gratification (“carpe diem”), and the Bible calls him a fool for that. | Jacob initiated the sale. He was power hungry and scheming. |
| Relational motivations | Saw his brother as a resource and tool to meet his needs. | Viewed his brother as a barrier and obstacle. |
| Covenant motivations (relationship to God’s promise) | The birthright that was being discussed meant two things (a) lion’s share of the wealth, and (b) the role in the covenant moving forward). Esau, in giving it up for a bowl of soup clearly did not care for God’s purposes and plans and did not value the gospel. | Jacob believed the promise. He might have also done it purely for the money and status etc, but he also saw some value in the birthright. But one thing was clear, he, too, did not understand the grace of God. |
The two brothers were clearly not perfect, but it was through them that salvation would come into the world. Esau is a clear warning not to live for the temporary and now, at the expense of other things that God has in place for us. On the other hand, Jacob is a warning for the practical, pragmatic Christian who professes belief in the promise, but does not truly understand grace. This is one who continues to pursue schemes and methods to secure his own salvation and status.
These were not perfect sons, but we know that there was a perfect Son. This third son did not live for the moment, like Esau, and did not manipulate life, like Jacob did. This was one who sought to honor his father completely and made decisions in accordance to the will of his father. He was the brother who looked out for his siblings, and did what was best for them in love. When it came to the covenant, he believed it completely, held on to it consistently, and lived and died by it.
That Son was Jesus.
Once again, the study points us to Jesus, and how, like the bible characters, we are in constant need of grace. The human relationship highlight in Gen 25 was that of a family, and it is clear that even these are not left untainted by sin.
What can we do then? Continue to pray for God's grace, and believe that the gospel can change us, our parents, our siblings. For when we become less like ourselves, less like Jacob and Esau, we become more and more like Jesus Christ, the perfect Brother, the perfect Husband. There is hope for our families, not because we are perfect, but because in Jesus, we have the gospel that can transform and change.