Genesis 25:19-28
24When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
We begin to be introduced to the man, Jacob, whose name means “a grasper of the heal”. The episode with Esau whereby he sells his birthright to Jacob shows us two greatly flawed men. Jacob wins by scheming, and Esau has no appreciation for what is really valuable. They both live without faith. God will deal with Jacob in very dramatic ways to make him a man of faith and while we are not told as much about Esau, he mellows out over time as well. The birthright story is further evidence of God providentially working through the sins and stupidity of men to bring His eternal purposes to fruition. How can one read this and not be stirred to think great things of our great God?
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