Monday, May 11, 2020

2020.05.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 25:27–34

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Genesis 25:27 summarily describe Esau? How does it summarily describe Jacob? Whom does Isaac love and why (Genesis 25:28)? Who loves Jacob? What has Jacob done in Genesis 25:29? What does Esau do? And what condition is he in? What does Esau ask (Genesis 25:30)? What changes as a result of this? What does Jacob demand (Genesis 25:31)? How does Esau respond to that (Genesis 25:32)? What does Jacob insist in Genesis 25:33? What four actions does Genesis 25:34 say happened? How does verse 34 summarize it? 
Sadly, the struggle between Esau and Jacob continues after they are born, and Genesis 25:28 implicates their parents in this rivalry as well. Isaac and Rebekah take sides, and it intensifies the rift between the brothers. Genesis 25:27, with the general description of the brothers, sets us up for Genesis 25:29 with the specific circumstances that are a specific example of the general characteristics.

Almost certainly, Jacob has seen Esau come in from hunting many times before. Certainly, he knew what to make, when to have it ready, where to do it. Esau comes in on cue and is desperate for some red stuff. Esau seems irritated by the entire interaction; all he wants is to get to the eating part, and it really doesn’t matter to him what he loses from the future. Just satisfy those taste buds and that tummy.

The rhetorical question in Genesis 25:32 is stunning. Esau basically declares himself not to have the resurrection hope or perspective that Abraham had obtained in chapter 15. With no regard for Christ or eternity, all that mattered was that next moment of earthly pleasure. And it really was just a moment. Genesis 25:34 is so staccato, so quick. He ate. Drank. Arose. Left. How easily and quickly a man may lose so much, when he lacks the resurrection hope of Christ!
What are you doing, daily and weekly, to fortify your heart with resurrection hope in Christ?
Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am with You” or TPH73C “In Sweet Communion, Lord, with Thee”

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