Genesis 25:24

Genesis 25:24 says, And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  Rebekah had twins.  Even though she had been told that she would have two babies, she could only be certain after the fact.  Before stethoscopes and ultrasound, women were often surprised, not just by the gender of their baby, but also by the fact that they were having more than one child.  Verse twenty-five states, And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.  The first born had red hair and was named Esau.  By the fact that he was the first born, if only by minutes, Esau would have the blessings of the birth right.  We see this in royal families today.  Verse twenty-six adds, And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.  The second born was holding the heel of Esau, and was named Jacob.  Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.  As with Abraham, God did not immediately begin to fulfill His promise to make Abraham the father of a great nation.  We need to realize that when God makes a promise that we can be assured that it will happen, no matter how long we may have to wait on it coming true.  This is especially true of the second coming of Christ.  This promise was made to the first disciples, but it is still just as certain today, whether it happens in our lifetime or in the distant future.  Verse twenty-seven says, And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.  Esau and Jacob, though twins, were far from identical.  We are told that  Esau was a cunning hunter, and Jacob was a plain man living in tents, which I would assume means that he liked being inside more than hunting.  Verse twenty-eight proclaims, And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  Isaac loved Esau more, because Esau brought him venison to eat, but Rebekah loved Jacob more.  Matthew Henry says Rebekah feeling this way was because of God's promise that the older would serve the younger child.  Verse twenty-nine says, And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:  One day, Esau came in from hunting and Jacob had some pottage ready to eat.  This was not a feast, but was simply food for nourishment.  Verse thirty adds, And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.  Esau made a reasonable request.  He asked Jacob his brother for some food.  If someone comes to us today, especially a fellow believer, we should be willing to help them if we can.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.  Instead of feeding Esau simply because it would have been the right thing to do, Jacob asked Esau to sell him his birth right.  We today should never attempt to take advantage of those who come to us for help.  Verse thirty-two states, And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?  Esau was more concerned with food right then than his benefits from the birth right in the future.  We should never allow physical or material things to come between us and our birth right as followers of Christ. Verse thirty-three adds, And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Jacob secured Esau's promise that he would sell Jacob his birth right for a bowl of porridge.  Too often, followers of Christ sell out their faith for some material thing.  I don't believe this means they lose their salvation, but they lose their joy of that salvation.  Verse thirty-four concludes, Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.  The deal was completed and Esau went on his way, having not valued or despising his birth right.  We, as followers of Christ, should never despise our birth right that we have through our faith in Christ.