Verse 1 - 4
Abraham remarried and had kids - the kids were of no consequence and moved to different areas around Palestine - the point is that Isaac is the focus of the blessing.
Verse 5 - 8
Abraham started giving away the inheritance before he was dead. Even though Isaac was the focus of the blessing, Abraham also blessed his other kids - but - he also sent them away. No mixing to occur here, and no mixups about the covenant.
Verses 9 - 11
God’s blessing went right on ahead to Isaac - who goes through some of the same challenges as Abraham. As God finishes with one generation He is already working with the next one.
Verses 12 - 18
God blessed Ishmael and lists the sons - but doesn’t trace the lineage because the story of salvation - the covenant - is going through Isaac. Basically the 12 sons of Ishmael became the 12 tribes of the Arabs and lived on the Arabian peninsula and other places around Palestine including Damascus.
We don’t hear from Ishmael again in Genesis - but we do hear about his sons - in 28:9 Essau, Isaac’s son, goes to Nebaioth to find a wife - just to spite his dad. In 37:27 Joseph’s brothers sell him to Ishmaelites who in turn sell him to an Egyptian.
The end of verse 18 still occurs to this day - the Arabs have lived in hostility to the sons of Isaac ever since.
Verses 19 - 23
A genetic thing apparently, this barrenness. It serves also to force Isaac, and Abraham, and Jacob for that matter - to rely on God for blessing. It shows that nothing really happens unless God lets it happen. "You have not because you ask not."
What’s going on, Rebekah wants to know! More than you think, because it’s better than you think, and because you are part of a larger covenant.
God sees their future from the time they are conceived. Abortion is a horrible sin against God - here is one place that it is seen.
Psalms 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
God also tells Rebekah that the second born will rule over the first born. She sort of helps God out later with this prophecy - not necessarily a good plan.
Verses 24 - 26
Esau: "hairy, rough."
Jacob: "supplanter, heel catcher"
They apparently didn’t think ahead on what to name them and used the first thing that came to mind: Harry and Heel Grabber.
Verses 27 - 28
Jacob (plain): "Tam", complete, ordinary, perfect, quiet. Used to be rendered "smooth"
Essau: loved to roam about - unsettled.
There was parental favoritism - this will bear bitter fruit later on. This is a dysfunctional family - lots of them in the Bible.
Verses 29 - 30
Esau begat the nation Edom - which means "red"
Verse 31
Jacob could not actually get the birthright this way. This reminds us of what the boy’s really wanted. Esau couldn’t give it away. This shows us that Esau didn’t care about it and Jacob did.
Verse 32 - 33
When you are being tempted to do something really stupid your brain figures out a way to rationalize it. Esau’s rationalization is that he is going to die so what good is to me?
Jacob must have been thinking about this. Maybe he thinks he would make a better first born. He drove home the deal - he’s quite the conniver, though he meets his match later on - in two ways (Laban, and God).
Do you try to outwit God? If I pray a certain way and read my Bible first - or if I act in a certain way or tithe regularly - then God will have to give me what I want. Or: God if you don’t get me out of this jam I won’t be able to serve you (even though it’s something you got yourself in).
Verse 34
Key to the story - Esau and Jacob had different priorities. What are you willing to sell your life out for? We don’t consider that really valuable thing to be valuable to us. The enemy uses that kind of logic in us.
Genesis 26
Verses 1 - 6
God told Isaac to not go to Egypt because Canaan and even the land of the Philistines was eventually to be his. In the last famine, Abraham went to Egypt - perhaps that’s why Isaac wants to go - but this time he listens to God and stays.
Verse 7
Where did Isaac learn the "sister" trick? He must have heard the story. Doubt that Abraham gave him that advice. Isaac remembered how dad dealt with problems. How do you deal with problems?
Verse 8
The word "caressing" is a pretty graphic term- brothers and sisters don’t do this stuff.
Verse 9 - 11
I’m sure Abimilech was thinking: what is with this family? Like father like son?
Pagan realized that since this woman was married that he must not touch her. They knew as did Abimilech and the king of Egypt. They placed a high value on marriage - not so much on women or other things. He was angry because he and his nation was put in danger - that God would judge him and his nation for this.
Verses 12 - 15
It’s amazing what we’ll do out of jealousy. The Philistines were envious of Isaac’s success so they struck out where they could - filling up the wells Abraham had dug - water being really important for flocks.
That’s not going to stop God’s blessings on Isaac. And for us - just because the world or the enemy does their best to put roadblocks in our way of serving God - if you really want to live for Him you will be able to and He will be successful through you - no matter if the wells are stopped up or not.
Verse 17 - 22
Esek means "contention" Isaac would rather move on than fight. God blessed him wherever he went.
Sitnah means "Enmity."
Reheboth means "broad place"
Verses 23 - 24
It’s possible that Isaac became afraid that just because he had found a peaceful place that it was all about to end. God said: "Don’t be afraid."
Verse 25
Altar, tent, then well.
Spiritual comes first - then the other things follow.
Verse 26 - 31
Isaac’s camp was probably as big as their cities. The Philistines came to him - not in war but Isaac was now growing so big they were afraid Isaac would come the other way and attack them!
Verse 32
Shibah means "7" or "oath" so it’s the well of the oath that Isaac made with Abimilech. Beersheba - "well of the oath" still exists today (130,000 people). That must’ve been some well!
Verse 34 - 35
They brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah. End of 25 Esau despised his birthright. At the end of 26 he despised his parents and married outside the faith.
He was not on page with what his parents were about or what God was doing.
Conclusions
God will let you have what you really want (like Essau) but you will find that it won’t bring you joy or life - only sorrow and bitterness. And the more you go your way, the less you will understand God’s way.
Even if it seems as if your wells are stopped up and the enemy is winning - God will bless you and prosper you - so keep going, keep serving, keep obeying.
Next week - Jacob connives his way into the blessing.
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