Gen. 25:19-2819And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. 27And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Genesis 25:19‑28)
THE record of historical events that all had a bearing on the life of Isaac having been declared, we now turn back to this man and his family. “And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” v. 21. The experience of this couple was very similar to that of Abraham and Sarah in respect to securing an heir to the promises. Only they did not resort to fleshly means as Abraham and Sarah had years before, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. They seem to have learned a lesson in this. It is well to see they besought the Lord in their difficulty and waited His time. It was twenty years after their marriage before they were blessed with a family. Thus Isaac learned that it is not in the energy of the flesh that God’s promises of blessing are realized. There must be dependence on Him before He can bring blessing.
Rebekah in time discovered that she was to be the mother of twins and even before their birth she sensed a conflict between them. “And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.” v. 22. In reply to her questioning she was told the two to whom she would give birth would become the heads of two nations—one to excel in strength over the other, and the firstborn would serve the younger.
So the twin boys were born into the household—the first named Esau, and his brother Jacob. “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning huer, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” v. 27. A difference in the character of the boys was soon seen. Esau took to hunting, in which he achieved great skill and was called “a man of the field.” It could hardly be questioned that there was much in Esau that would appeal to those who knew him, with his skills and trophies being aired by his acquaintances. Jacob, on the other hand, had no special qualities to display. At this time it is simply said of him that he was “a plain man, dwelling in tents.” Quite likely he tilled his land and remained close to his surroundings. To all outward appearances Esau would seem to be dominant, just as the world would expect of the firstborn, while Jacob, as the younger, kept much to himself with nothing noteworthy to bring attention to him.
Rebekah, it seems, did not forget that God had told her, “the elder shall serve the younger.” Perhaps it was in her own heart’s acceptance of God’s revelation that she set her affections particularly upon Jacob, although the father favored Esau.
Now in studying these two young men we are again impressed with the fact that “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:77But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7). So, if Esau would be man’s choice, God’s purposes were just the opposite and would be expressed eventually through Jacob. As his story is reviewed there may be amazement that God could find any delight in him. Nevertheless there were marked evidences of faith in Jacob which were not found in Esau, and in the end it will be seen how God’s purposes triumphed through grace in spite of the contrary nature of the one He blessed.
ML-05/15/1966