Bible Study 102

Lesson 4: The Fourth Dispensation

Jacob and Esau

Siblings sometimes have a difficult time relating to one another.

Jacob and Esau were twin boys born to Isaac and Rebekah. Now there is going to be a problem in their family with the birthright, and this is a problem that sibling still enjoy today, fighting over what goes to whom, and when after the death of a parent or relative of means.

Please open your Bible to Genesis Chapter 25 and read through Genesis Chapter 29.

Dispensations are about things that happen. Some events and people are exciting, while others are not, but all play a part in the overall schemes of Divine Providence. The following story of Jacob and Esau has always been a favorite.

Now Abraham was the father of Isaac and Ishmael. But Isaac, the child of promise of Abraham and Sarah, is the line which leads to Messiah so Isaac is the man of the hour and the one of interest here. In time, Isaac would marry Rebekah and become the father of twin boys, Jacob and Esau.

Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. Isaac prayed to the Lord for a child, because Rebekah was barren. God was gracious and gave them twin boys which, even before birth, "struggled" against each other in the womb. This struggle represents a struggle which is continuing today between the Jews (Jacob) and the Arabs (Esau), and between good and evil.

At their birth, Esau came first, before Jacob. Because Esau was first born he was the elder. As the boys grew, Esau became interested in hunting, while Jacob was a stay-at-home type. Jacob did not seem to have an interest in anything. Scripture tells us that Jacob lived in tents. Right from the beginning, no one would know that they were twins. Their personalities were totally different. They dressed differently. Enjoyed different foods. Even their world view was different, and each was a favorite of one parent. Esau was his father's favorite while Jacob was his mother's favorite.

This family is headed for trouble. It is what today would be called a fractured family. We see it all the time. One parent likes Bobby best. The other parent favors Jane over Bobby. But Jacob and Esau were not only split favorites, they were, themselves headed for trouble. How? Well, Jacob was somewhat of a trouble maker, you see. Doing wrong over right did not seem to bother him. In time, God would deal with Jacob because of his propensity for doing wrong. It is important to point out, though, that Jacob was God's person. It is just going to take a long time for Jacob to change and that will not be until he has aged considerably.

Now, an incident happens that shows the kind of lad Jacob was. Esau had been in the field working hard. He came in to eat, but the only thing available at that particular time was a type of thick bean soup that Jacob had prepared. Esau asked Jacob for some of his soup, and Jacob really took advantage of Esau's hunger. Jacob told Esau he would give him a bowl of soup in exchange for his birthright. Wow!

Why did Jacob want Esau's birthright? What is a birthright? A birthright provided household leadership. Whoever held the birthright was considered the priest of the family. In the case of Esau, it would establish his genealogical line to Messiah. Jacob seemed to have the good sense enough to realize that Esau was not interested in being a priest of the family, nor did he show any desire about being the progenitor of the line to Messiah. On the other hand, Jacob was interested.

So Esau took the bowl of soup. Both boys are in the wrong here. Esau was not interested in anything that had to do with God, while Jacob did wrong in bartering for the birthright. Jacob would have gotten the birthright in time anyway, but he could not wait on God. It seems as though Jacob did not believe Esau was honest, so Jacob required an oath from Esau and then gave him the bowl of soup and enough bread to satisfy his hunger.

Had we time to go into chapter 27, we would see more of Jacob's tricks, for he had a bag full of them.

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