Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Genesis 24-27, and I’m calling the episode “The Scoundrel.” 

Comments on Genesis 24 and 25

Thoughts on Genesis 24

Abraham sent the oldest servant of his household on a mission to find a wife for Isaac. Remember, Isaac is the son promised to Abraham and Sarah. It is through Isaac and his descendants that God’s promise will be fulfilled. Abraham and his family are living in Canaan. Abraham did not want Isaac marrying a Canaanite woman. He wanted a bride from his home, Ur of the Chaldees, and from his family. To him, it was absolutely imperative that Isaac not have a Canaanite wife. 

To our minds, the way that Abraham had his servant take the oath to carry out his orders seems strange. Verses 2-4: …“Put your hand under my thigh. 3By the LORD, God of heaven and earth, give me your word that you won’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom I live. 4Go to my land and my family and find a wife for my son Isaac there.” 

When we swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in a courtroom, what do we do? We put our hand on the Bible. There was a time where this was more than just a formality. There was a time when placing your hand on this most sacred object meant something. (Of course, to believers it still does.) Why is the Bible considered sacred? Because it is the Word of God. The Bible represents God’s truth, His promises to mankind. It contains the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word Testament means covenant, or promise. 

Abraham did not have the Bible upon which his servant could put his hand. Listen to what Bible commentator Adam Clarke wrote: “The person binding himself put his hand under the thigh of the person to whom he was to be bound; i.e., he put his hand on the part that bore the mark of circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant… Our ideas of delicacy may revolt from the rite used on this occasion; but, when the nature of the covenant is considered, of which circumcision was the sign, we shall at once perceive that this rite could not be used without producing sentiments of reverence and godly fear, as the contracting party must know that the God of this covenant was a consuming fire.”

Having this information causes the manner of the taking of the oath make a bit more sense, doesn’t it? And it also gives us another reason to be thankful that we have the Bible now. 🙂

Thoughts on Chapter 25

The death of Sarah was recorded in chapter 23. Abraham remarries here in chapter 25, and has other sons through Keturah, his second wife. Before he dies, he gives all that he owns to Isaac, but he gives gifts to Keturah’s sons and sends them away. There can be no question that Isaac is the one through whom God’s covenant with Abraham will be fulfilled.

Abraham died at the age of 175. He is buried in the cave he bought to bury Sarah in.

Now full attention is turned to Isaac. 

Having married Rebekah, who was miraculously found in Ur of the Chaldees by Abraham’s servant, two sons are born: Esau and Jacob. During her pregnancy, Rebekah became concerned because it seemed that the two children seemed to be struggling within her womb. So she went to the Lord in prayer, and God said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; two different peoples will emerge from your body. One people will be stronger than the other; the older will serve the younger.”

In those days, the normal custom was for the eldest to receive the birthright, and the youngest to serve the eldest. But God chose the youngest. 

Some might question God’s choice. “Why would He do that?” “Is that fair?” 

And then there is this: Long after both Esau and Jacob died, God spoke to Israel through the prophet Malachi (Malachi 1:2-3), “…Yet I have loved Jacob; 3but I have hated Esau…” NASB and KJV

“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’” 

We’ll get to Jacob in a moment. 

Why would God hate Esau? Actually, a better translation of the word translated “hate” is “rejected”. And that is in fact how it is in today’s translation: “…I loved Jacob, 3but I rejected Esau…” CEB 

But why would God reject Esau? In Genesis 26:34 we read, “When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri (BEE-uhr-eye )the Hittite, and Basemath (BAS-uh-math ) daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35They made life very difficult for Isaac and Rebekah.” Hittites were from Canaan. Abraham had established that his descendants were not to marry Canaanites. 

Hebrews 12:16 puts the final piece in the puzzle. Paul wrote, ” Make sure that no one becomes sexually immoral or ungodly like Esau. He sold his inheritance as the oldest son for one meal.”

God knew that Esau would be an immoral and ungodly man, even before he was born. This is why he rejected Esau.

Jacob was not without his flaws though. When he followed his older brother out of the womb, he was clutching Esau’s heel. And that’s how he got his name. Jacob means “heel catcher”. “So what?” you say. But in that day, a heel catcher meant “con artist”, “swindler”, “trickster”, “scoundrel”. It did not carry good connotations. And as we read today, he lived up to that name.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 5-6 GNT

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT.

The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
Show Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason Paschall
Newsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney

Transcript

Transcript not corrected.