Esau Sells His Birthright
After Abraham died, God was very kind to Isaac and blessed him. However, Isaac’s wife Rebekah had no children for nineteen years. Isaac prayed earnestly for a child, and God answered his prayer.
Twin boys, Esau and Jacob, were born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau grew up to be a hunter. He was rough and covered with hair. Jacob was quiet and thoughtful. He stayed at home and took care of his father’s flocks. Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, because he liked the deer meat that Esau brought him. But Rebekah loved Jacob more.
In those days, the oldest son in every family had what was called the birthright. This made him the chief among all the children, and he received a special blessing. Esau, as the older, had a “birthright” to more of Isaac’s possessions than Jacob had.
One day when Esau came home hungry and tired from hunting, he asked for a bowl of Jacob’s soup. Jacob answered, “I will give it to you if you first sell me your birthright.”
Esau answered, “What is the use of the birthright? I’m almost starving.” So he sold it to Jacob for a bowl of soup.
Isaac was now becoming feeble and almost blind. One day he said to Esau, “Go out into the field and hunt for a deer. Make me the dish of meat I like best, and bring it to me. Then I will give you the blessing.”
Rebekah was listening, and she wanted Jacob to have the blessing! She dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and put goat skin on his arms and neck, so Isaac would think it was Esau. Then she sent Jacob into Isaac’s tent with the meat she had prepared. Isaac ate it and blessed Jacob instead of Esau.
Rebekah’s plot had worked.
Genesis 25:11-34; 26; 27:1-29
Isaac is deceived by Rebekah and Jacob.
Parents:
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (Hebrews 11:20)
Children:
1. Which of the twins did Rebekah like best?
2. What did Esau sell for a bowl of soup?
3. How did Rebekah and Jacob deceive Isaac?