Gen 25. Jacob & Esau
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So good to be able to freely study the Word together. Something we have taken for granted all out lives, but which may at some point become illegal. Many places in the world it is that way now. If you have attended other churches who do not teach verse by verse, as they’re norm, after you have attend a church like ours that does, you know the longing of your spirit to be fed.
Do not take for granted what God has given us with Calvary Chapels method of Verse by Verse line upon line precept upon precept teaching. Its not like this everywhere.
Now for tonight we will again see Abraham take another wife, Sarah having died, and we will again look at the identity of this new wife. Very interesting stuff!
Lets stand as we read from Genesis 25;
1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
2 She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.
3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim.
4 The sons of Midian were Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
5 Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac;
6 but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.
Now as we look at verse 1, we notice that at beyond the age of 140, Abraham takes a wife. Not only does he get married but he is virile enough to produce a bunch of kids.
1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
2 She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.
There are Hebrew Midrashic teachings that say that this Keturah was not really a new wife at all but is none other than Hagar, the handmaid of Sarah who Sarah gave to Abraham as a wife.
I shared an article that speaks of the traditional Hebrew view on Hagar previously and we will look at this again tonight.
Article; Hagar
Hagar, an Egyptian Princess -Article
Hagar is first mentioned in Gen. 16:1: “Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.” The Torah does not explain how Sarah came to have an Egyptian handmaiden, nor does it specify how many years she was with her mistress before she was given to Abraham. The Rabbis connected Abraham and Sarah’s stay in Egypt during the years of famine with the Egyptian handmaiden’s joining their family. In the narrative in Gen. 12:10–20, when Abraham and Sarah went down to Egypt, Sarah was taken to the house of Pharaoh. In response, the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and all his household with mighty plagues. When, in the midrashic amplification, Pharaoh sees the miracles that were performed for Sarah in his house, he gives her his daughter Hagar as a handmaiden. He said: “It would be better for my daughter to be a handmaiden in this house [i.e., Sarah’s] than a noblewoman in another [in the palace in Egypt].” The Rabbis offer an etymological explanation of Hagar’s name: Pharaoh said to Sarah, “This is your reward [agrekh],” as he gave her his daughter as a handmaiden (Gen. Rabbah 45:1).
In another exegetical tradition, Hagar was born to Pharaoh from one of his concubines. When Pharaoh took Sarah as a wife, in her marriage contract he wrote over to her all his property: gold, silver, slaves, and lands, and Hagar also was included in Sarah’s marriage contract (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer [ed. Higger], chap. 26).
And toward the end’
Hagar is Keturah
Gen. 25:1 tells that Abraham took an additional wife named Keturah. The Tannaim disagree regarding the identity of this woman (see Gen. Rabbah 61:4). In most of the midrashim Keturah is identified with Hagar. The Rabbis maintain that this marriage took place only after Sarah’s death (Genesis Rabbah 60:16, Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer chap. 29). One midrash relates that God was revealed to Abraham after the death of Sarah and commanded him to return his divorced wife Hagar (Gen. Rabbah 61:4), while another tradition has Isaac initiating his father’s marriage (Tanhuma, Hayyei Sarah 8).
One explanation of this identification derives Hagar’s appellation as Keturah as having the meaning of binding or sealing, since she remained chaste and had not known another man until Abraham brought her back (Gen. Rabbah 61:4). Other interpretations of Keturah as another name of Hagar reveal the Rabbis’ positive attitude to her: she was named Keturah because she was perfumed (mekuteret) with commandments and good deeds (Gen. Rabbah 61:4) and because her deeds were as fine as incense (ketoret; Tanhuma, Hayyei Sarah 8).
The name Keturah means perfumed or incense. Thus the midrash comment above. So there is a lot more to Keturah or Hagar than we ever thought.
We continue;
3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim.
4 The sons of Midian were Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
5 Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac;
6 but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.
Notice that Abraham gave all he had to Isaac, v5. So in type Abraham is in type the Father and Isaac the Son (Jesus) and like Abraham, God the Father has given all that He has to the Son. And as sons by adoption all that the Son has inherited is shared with us.
To Ishmael and the other 6 sons Abraham gave gifts but nothing like what Isaac got. Why? Because;
Genesis 21:12 (NASB95)
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
Notice verse 6.
6 but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.
Apparently there were other concubines and children. But Abraham made certain that they moved far away from Isaac.
7 These are all the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years.
8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
9 Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,
10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife.
11 It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived by Beer-lahai-roi.
Abraham Lived to 175 years old. I like the Hebrew in describing his death,
Lit- and Abraham gave up the Ghost and died, in a good old age, satisfied or full. That’s the way you and I hope to leave this life, just full of God’s faithfulness, full of His Goodness and Mercy. How sad how many leave this life empty and afraid. But fullness is what you get with trust Jesus.
Jesus’ desire for His church is that we would know this fullness or satisfaction.
John 15:11 (NASB95)
11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 16:24 (NASB95)
24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
John 10:10 (NASB95)
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
It is interesting to me how different the world perceives knowing Jesus to be. If they only knew!
And we are told in verse 9 that Abraham, like Sarah, was buried in the cave of Machpelah. Finally we learn that Isaac was living in Beer Lahai roi aka Kadesh Barnea, which is about 50 miles south of Beersheba at the very south end of the promised land.
The location is where Hagar had a visitation or theophany in Gen 16 and name the place the well of the God who sees me, when she had been wandering with her son Ishmael after escaping Sarah.
Image – Picture and map
Now we continue with a brief look at Ishmael's descendants.
12 Now these are the records of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham;
13 and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam
14 and Mishma and Dumah and Massa,
15 Hadad and Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; twelve princes according to their tribes.
17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael, one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
18 They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives.
And so Ishmael dies at 137 having settled north and east of Israel near Assyria, notice, as prophesied in defiance of his relatives.
Gen 16:12
12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”
To the east of his bros is also translated as - “….in defiance of his brothers”
His sons lived east of Egypt to the south of the Promised land.
So like other characters and families mentioned in the Bible their line ends and no further info is given. Why? The HS has focused the story on one line one man one family to get to the Messiah. Its all about Jesus! That why they call it history, His-story!
So we pick up now with Isaac and his family.
19 Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham became the father of Isaac;
20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Interesting how many women in the bible had difficulty conceiving. But here Isaac intercedes for his wife that she might conceive. How many couples go right to the fertility doctor when the creator of the universe is the one who can make it happen.
But be careful what you pray for. Notice;
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Two nations were in her womb, notice the promise the older shall serve the younger. That must have been confusing to hear. That’s not the way it was supposed to work. Perhaps God will give you a prophetic word or vision or dream and you can’t make sense out of it. Just sit on it and wait and see.
Mary heard many things about Jesus that she could not understand.
Luke 2:18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Now we get the details of the birth of these twins;
Gen 25:25-26
The names are interesting as they relate to their birth. Notice the first to be born was born covered with red hair. He is named Esau (Hebrew is Esav) meaning hairy.
The second came out holding on to his brothers heel. Thus he is called Jacob or “ya-acov.” His name means heel catcher or supplanter. It will come to reflect his character as one who deceives or trips up.
Interesting how many names in the Bible are prophetic.
Now here in verse 8 we learn that Isaac was now 60, and that he and Rebekah had been waiting 20 years or more. Very much like his parents. The story progresses very quickly and we pick up in there 20’s.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.
28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
More details are given about the personalities of each twin. They seem to be complete opposites and remain that way their whole lives. Esau is a man of the out-doors whereas Jacob is described with Hebrew word Tam.
The KJV uses the definition of “plain” but the word word means to be perfect or complete. one who lacks nothing in physical strength, beauty, an ordinary, quiet sort of person, one who is morally and ethically pure.
Verse 28 points out that each parent had a favorite son. Have you noticed that within a family with multiple children that all are aware of who mom or dad is favoring except mom or dad. They will always deny it but in fact this is a reality in most households. The bible does not seek to sugar coat anything it just lays it out there , warts and all!
The chapter closes out on a story that further reflects the character of both boys and is spoken of in the NT .
Genesis 25:29–34 (NASB95)
29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished;
30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
Some of your translations will call this a red stew or pottage but the Hebrew just calls it “red” or “adom” in Hebrew. And so Esau was also called Edom or red over this incident and possibly a play on his red hair.
31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”
33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
So here Jacob living up to his name, as supplanter, uses this situation to take the birthright from Esau.
Both Hebrew and Romans comment on this. The writer to the Hebrews says;
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
He emphasized that Esau was immoral and Godless because he did not care for the blessing, the things of God, and was willing to give it all up for one meal.
Esau is symbolic of the unregenerate man, having no desire to walk with God. It is interesting how Paul wrote about Jacob and Esau in relation to divine election in Romans.
Romans 9:6–18 (NASB95)
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”
10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,
12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”
18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
So here Paul is saying that its all about God’s choosing, or His election of some but not others. A very difficult passage to reconcile especially when we consider verses that say “whosoever will.” This the consummate chicken or egg question. Did God chose me or did I chose Him?
Chew on this this week and we will talk more about this next time.
Pray