Genesis 25-34

Intrigue and Faithlessness in a God-called Family

I John 4: 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Objectives: (1) to be able to tell which brother, Jacob or Esau, sold his birthright in exchange for a meal. (2) be able to quote I John 2: 15 "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (3) be able to tell the ill effects of partiality of one child over another in family life.

Timeline: a little more recent than 1821 B. C., the time of the death of Abraham.

Map study: land of Shur, between Egypt and Assyria.

Textual study: Genesis 25: 19-34: 31.

Overall: the jealousy between the two brothers, aided and abetted by their mother, still divides nations today.

The "bargain" of the mess of pottage.

Not much of a deal, was it? See 25: 34.

Judas didn't get rich either--30 pieces of silver. But then, most sinful bargains aren't worth it, and don't begin over matters of much immediate consequence.

That's why we are told not to love the world or the things that are in the world. Matthew 6:19-21. "A man's life does not consist of what he owns."

The stolen blessing--27:1 - 28: 9.

It's a poor psychology to favor one child over another. The heavenly father doesn't--

Acts 10: 34; Romans 2: 11; Ephesians 6: 9.

What is jealousy? A corrupt mixture of love and at the same time fear--fear of losing favor, of losing the one or the thing loved, of losing the respect of someone. But one has to keep in mind what is most important. See John 12: 42-43--"They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

What "special connections" do any of us have to God? All connections. See John 3: 16 ; II Peter 3: 8-13; Matthew 11: 28-30; Revelation 3: 20-21 ; Luke 15: 3-7; 15: 8-10; 15: 11-32.

You have all the connections you need to put you in good standing with God. Use them!

And, in some ways, you have no special connections. Also see Revelation 20: 11-15; Romans 2: 6-13;Matthew 7: 21-23; 24-27.

That's right. There'll be no dirty little deals, no Moma making special arrangements for you in the judgment like Rebekiah did for Jacob. God is going to want to know what you did to accept his salvation, which he already purchased at the highest of prices--his son, his only son.

Did you hear and believe? Romans 10: 17. Did you repent of you past sins? Did you resolve that you would avoid those, not do them again? Acts 17: 30; Acts 2: 38. Did you confess to others that Jesus was your friend, and also your Lord and Master? Turn-about will happen. Matthew 10: 32-33. Were you baptized in order to receive the remission of sins (Acts 2: 37, 38)? Or do you really think you will stand before God in the judgment and spout off technicalities about what is a work and what isn't?

Are you living in the Lord today?

Evaluative activity. Well, after all of the above, this evaluative activity may seem tame. But let's do it to make sure we learned today's lesson.

(1) Tell which brother, Jacob or Esau, sold his birthright in exchange for a meal. (2) quote I John 2: 15 "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (3) be able to tell the ill effects of partiality of one child over another in family life.

We hope that by visiting this website, you have been blessed.

Sid Womack, webmaster