The Story of Jacob, Part 1 (Gen. 25-27)

Isaac, Abraham’s son, and Rebekah his wife from Haran loved each other very much. Sometime after their marriage they had twin sons. Try to remember their names if you can. Esau was born first, and Jacob was the name of his brother. Esau became a hunter and was very good with the bow and arrow. Jacob’s job was to take care of the flocks of his father. It’s sad to say, but as these brothers grew older they both did things they should not have done. One day Esau came home from a hunting trip and was very hungry. He sold his birthright to Jacob for what we would call a bowl of soup. Now in those days the birthright was a special blessing of God upon the first born in each family. Esau was wrong in not counting his birthright as being worth more than a bowl of soup, and Jacob was wrong in taking advantage of his hungry brother. Then, Jacob committed an even greater sin. He found out that his father, who was now blind, was going to place a special blessing of God upon his older brother. Jacob lied to his father and claimed to be Esau so he could receive the special blessing. When Esau found out what Jacob had done, he became so angry that he planned to kill his brother for taking away his special birthright blessing. How sad that sin was about to destroy this precious family. It must have broken the hearts of Isaac and Rebekah. Sin always has bad consequences, but God had better plans for Jacob and Esau, and he didn’t give up on them. It will take a miracle of God, but do you think they will ever become friends again?