Day 16: Esau Sells His Birthright

*Genesis 25:19-34

Isaac and Rebekah conceive twins, Esau and Jacob, whom God declares will be the fathers of two rival nations.

  • Introduction to Isaac’s Family:
    • The passage begins with a brief introduction to Isaac, the son of Abraham, focusing on his marriage to Rebekah.
  • Rebekah’s Pregnancy and Inquiry to God:
    • Isaac prays to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she is childless. The Lord answers his prayer, and Rebekah conceives twins.
    • During her pregnancy, the children struggle within her, causing her distress. She inquires of the Lord, and He tells her that two nations are in her womb, and the older will serve the younger.
  • Birth of Esau and Jacob:
    • The first twin, Esau, is born red and covered with hair like a fur coat, and the second, Jacob, is born holding onto Esau’s heel.
    • As the boys grow, Esau becomes a skillful hunter and man of the field, while Jacob is quiet and stays among the tents.
  • Isaac’s Favoritism:
    • Isaac favors Esau because he has a taste for wild game, whereas Rebekah favors Jacob.
  • Esau Sells His Birthright:
    • One day, Esau returns from the field famished and finds Jacob cooking a stew. Esau asks Jacob for some of the stew, saying he is on the verge of dying from hunger.
    • Jacob seizes the opportunity and asks Esau to sell his birthright as the firstborn in exchange for the stew.
    • Esau reasons that the birthright is of no use to him if he dies of hunger and agrees to Jacob’s terms, swearing an oath and thus selling his birthright to Jacob for bread and lentil stew.
    • The passage concludes by noting that Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 25:19-34 teaches us about patience, wise choices, and valuing what truly matters. Esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew because he focused only on his immediate hunger instead of the bigger picture. This reminds us not to make impulsive decisions that could cost us something important later. It encourages us to be patient, think before we act, and not trade lasting blessings for temporary satisfaction. When we trust God and make wise choices, we can avoid regret and experience the good plans He has for us.

Genesis 25:19-34 (WEB)

25:19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21 Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. The LORD was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb.
Two peoples will be separated from your body.
The one people will be stronger than the other people.
The elder will serve the younger.”
24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”
32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”
He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.