55 - Jacob & Esau are Born

This is not a positive attribute in the book of Genesis. Esau was well rehearsed in trapping and trickery, which he was required to exercise in successful hunting. Jacob’s choosing of the profession of shepherding led to him being in a settled state instead of a wanderer. He is characterized as a person laboring within the family unit. He chose to follow the trade of his father and grandfather, shepherding. Many sermons are preached upon an inappropriate rendering of these verses making Jacob out to be the one exercising subterfuge. From God’s point of view it is the other way around. The text clearly says that it was Esau who despised his birthright as the first-born. The Hebrew word for Jacob’s manner translated as a quiet man is tam. It should be translated as perfect, whole, complete and without blemish. We tend to have a preconceived notion about Jacob and bring that to the text instead of letting the text speak to us regarding the true nature of these two brothers. Malachi 1: 2-3 says; “Yet I loved Jacob, but Esau I hated.” The book of Hebrews declares Esau to be a profane person (Hebrews 12; 16-17). It is important that we understand this truth as we move forward in the book of Genesis. It is also crucial that we realize that God is in control of all events and gets His desired outcome to all of the world’s events.
Each parent took one of the children to be a favorite. Rebecca was close to Jacob and Isaac was close to Esau. This alone will bring about animosity between siblings.