Siblings’ Rivalry

November 4, 2018 Background Scripture: Genesis 25:19 – 34 Lesson Passage: Genesis 25:19 – 34 A little friendly competition between individuals can be sporting. In fact, much recreation is built around this. However, when friendly competition turns into rivalry, things can quickly spin out of control. In friendly competition, each side tests their wit and skills against the other side. In rivalry, sometimes it becomes a test of wills that can lead to one side seeking to dominate, injure, or destroy the other side. When the rivalry is between siblings, it can degrade into an ongoing family feud that persists long after the original rivals have passed off the scene. I believe this is the case involving the brothers in our lesson text today. Today, we look at the rivalry that developed between the twins, Esau and Jacob. These were the sons of Isaac and the grandsons of Abraham, the patriarchs of the Judeo-Christian faith. The scriptures note that Jacob, the second born, was born with a natural inclination to compete against his brother. Jacob was not content to receive whatever inheritance that would fall to him. When their mother, Rebekah, sought the Lord to inquire as to why she was having difficulty during her pregnancy, the Lord told her that she was carrying two nations within her. One of those nations was destined to become subservient to the other. It became obvious early on which of the two coveted the lead role. Jacob wanted what tradition dictated should have been the birthright of Esau. Besides the lion’s share of the inheritance of their father, the blessing of God that He pronounced on Abraham and Isaac was going to pass to the next generation. Tradition and custom dictated that it should have passed to Esau as the firstborn of the twins. Jacob refused to accept the customs and determined that he would get it for himself. In today’s lesson text, Jacob goes after the inheritance birthright. Jacob seized the opportunity when Esau came to him in a moment of desperation. Jacob had finished cooking some stew when Esau came to him in hunger. There was apparently more to Esau’s physical state than simply missing one meal. Esau believed that he was on the verge of starving to death when he asked his brother for some stew. Jacob offered to give him some stew if Esau promised, or made a sacred oath, to give him his birthright in exchange. Obviously, Jacob knew that if Esau were to starve to death, the birthright would naturally belong to him anyway. Therefore, Jacob’s offer was baseless. Esau, on the other hand, did not appear to understand the real value of the birthright. If he had understood its value, he was in the best position to negotiate for whatever he wanted. Their grandfather, Abraham, was a very wealthy man. Abraham had died and almost all of his wealth passed to their father, Isaac. The firstborn heir to this was going to reap a bounty. This was Esau’s by birth. However, because Esau did not appreciate the value of the inheritance, he vowed to give it to his brother in exchange for a meal. Esau would later realize his mistake and bring it up after Jacob succeeded in getting their father to also give him the blessing of God which Isaac intended to give to Esau. Jacob had outwitted Esau and Esau was developing a strong dislike for his brother. This siblings’ rivalry was more than a little friendly competition. Robert C. Hudson October 12, 2018