Genesis 36-37:1 | God’s Ways

Hector Franco

Men’s Breakfast Devotionals • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Genesis 36:1–43

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Genesis 36 is not a place where a person would normally go for devotions.

*It was part of my Bible reading plan this week.

Section 1 (vv. 1-8), Esau had three (major wives) and five sons from these wives.

Esau is prospered greatly. Genesis 36:6 “6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob.”

Section 2 (vv.9-19), continues listing the sons and the chiefs that come from Esau.

The terminology (chiefs) speaks of the organization: they are not just sons but heads of tribes. (Allen Ross)

Section 3, (vv.20-29), talks about the sons of Seir the Horite whom were conquered by Esau (Dt. 2:12)

Thus far a picture of Esau as a powerful overlord is emerging. Not only did his own sons become chiefs of clans, but the clans in the land were subjugated to him. And, Esau is Edom. (Allen Ross)

Four section, (vv.31-39), lists the kings of Edom. There are eight names.

Genesis 36:31 “31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.”

The point is that Esau became powerful and wealthy very quickly.

Fifth (final) section (v40-43) closes with the lists of chiefs who came from Esau.

Chapter 36 concludes by saying, “these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.” (Gen 36:43).

What is interesting is that that the next verse (Genesis 37:1) is part of chapter 36.

They offer a powerful contrast:

Esau is powerful and expanding

Jacob living in the land of his father’s sojournings (where his father lived as a foreigner, NLT)

Esau had kings, chiefs, full tribes, and land to rule over.

Jacob was a sojourner with no kings, chiefs, full tribes or land to rule over.

The promised spiritual blessing demands patience in faith, and emphasizes that waiting while others prosper is a test of faithfulness and perseverance. (Allen Ross)

God’s school of spiritual formation includes a class called, “Waiting on God while others seem to get ahead.”