The Devotional Journey
Bible Reading 17
Yahweh gives Isaac sons
Read Genesis 25:19–34.
Abraham was 138 years old when Sarah died at 127 years old (Genesis 23:1). After her death, Abraham took another wife, named Keturah, and had six sons with her (Genesis 25:1–2). But he knew that the promises Yahweh had made to him were to be fulfilled through Isaac alone for Isaac was the miraculously-born son that God had given Abraham and Sarah.
It was not uncommon for sons to bicker over the father’s inheritance. In order to protect Isaac and possibly also to prevent fighting among his sons, Abraham gave gifts to his other sons and sent them to live elsewhere. Earlier, Yahweh had also told him to send Ishmael away possibly for the same reasons (Genesis 21:8–20). Abraham died when he was 175 years old (Genesis 25:7).
Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, was barren, so he prayed to Yahweh for children. Here we see Isaac’s faith in action. He knew full well that Yahweh had promised his father Abraham many descendants. And Isaac knew he was the son given by promise. So he knew he could ask God for a child. He was actually asking for God to act on His plan. The only thing he didn’t know was God’s timing.
Yahweh answered Isaac’s prayer by allowing the couple to conceive twins. Rebekah’s pregnancy was not easy and she also prayed to God about it. She demonstrated how one could go to God with any concern. And He revealed to her what was happening. He told her that both her children would become great but competing nations. God would work through the younger son’s nation to fulfil the promises He made to Abraham.
Esau was the older son while Jacob was the younger. In natural order, Esau, being the firstborn, would have the birthright. It was the right and privilege of the firstborn son to take on the father’s authority and responsibility when the father was not around or dead. In addition, the firstborn would also inherit a double portion of the father’s property compared to the other sons so that he would have the resources to take care of the extended family.
However, Esau despised his birthright. Instead of viewing his privilege and responsibility as valuable and important, Esau treated it with disdain. He had such low regard for his birthright that he was willing to exchange it for food, which he viewed as more important!
Jacob, on the other hand, knew the value of the birthright and he wanted it.
It’s very possible that Jacob knew what God had said to his mother when she was pregnant with the boys. He probably knew how God had already determined to work out the promises to Abraham through him. So Jacob didn’t need to scheme in this way, he just needed to trust God and His timing. (Though Jacob loved God, the Bible records incidents where he schemed to keep himself safe but he really didn’t need to behave in that way since God was in charge.)
As we reflect on today’s reading, what would we say is truly valuable in our life? Do we value God’s plans for our life? Do we trust His plans for us? Or do we value our own desires? Esau valued food as more important than his birthright. Jacob valued the birthright as he saw it was part of God’s plan for Abraham’s family.
In our lives, what do we value as important?
Spend some time thinking this through.
After that, consider what God would think about our list of priorities. What do we think are His priorities for us? Do our values and priorities align with His?
Then think about how we are allocating our time, effort and resources.
Do our daily decisions reflect the priorities we have?
Pray and talk to God about this. (And consider how God responded to the prayers of Isaac and Rebekah. He is a God who responds!)