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   Day 20 – Genesis 25 – 26  (A new man, same old sin & brothers hate)

Let’s look at chapter 26 first and then attack the geneologies of chapter 25.

Another famine comes to the land. Remember what Abraham did when a famine came in HIS time and what happened as the result? This time the LORD appears to Isaac and tells him clearly, “DO NOT GO DOWN TO EGYPT, stay in this “promised land” and I will bless you. And God reaffirms the “Abrahamic blessing” to Isaac as well – offspring as numerous as the stars, the land given to them, and all nations blessed through his ultimate offspring.  Isaac obeys and stays.  But…..

Like father: like son. It’s hard to believe, but a fearful Isaac tells the men in Gerar that Rebekah is his sister!!!  This time is is not even half true. If anything they are cousins twice removed!   Anyway, it seems the king saw them kanoodling in the garden one day and confronted Isaac.  Our boy gives his weak excuse and Abimelech chastises him and warns all his people about him. Sheesh, Isaac!! Obey and then dismay your God.  And because Isaac was such a prosperous farmer, the Philistines were jealous of him and the king told him to, “go away!”

*Later Abimelech calls him back because he sees God has blessed Isaac and wants to get in on a little of that blessing.  After some squirmishes about the wells again, there is peace.

Okay back to the geneologies of chapter 25.

Before Abraham dies, he re-marries a woman named Keturah, who bears him six more sons who became the fathers of more nations on the East side of the Jordan. And they have grandsons for Abe as well. In verse 6, Keturah is called Abraham’s “concubine” which refers to a wife of “lesser status”.  Sarah is the prime wife, her son, Isaac, in the Messianic line.  Like with Ishmael, Abraham sends all these “secondary” sons away, because he KNOWS God has given the land and the blessings to Isaac.

Then at 175 years old, Abe dies.  (It’s interesting that he DID see his twin grandsons up to the age of 15.) Also interesting is that Ishmael returns and together he and Isaac bury their father in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham had bought as a family burial place, and where Sarah was buried.

The progeny of Ishmael is listed, with twelve “princes” born from him, all settling far east of the promised land. Then at 137, he died.

The last part of chapter 25 begins the story of the twin boys born of Isaac and Rebekah twenty years after they were married.  When Isaac saw his wife was barren, he prayed and God heard his prayer.  When the the babes in her womb seemed to wrestle and struggle inside her, Rebekah prayed to the LORD.  And, interestingly, God prophesied to her about the boys. Two nations would come from her, they’d be divided, and the older would serve the younger. 

In time the boys wre born. The first one out had vibrant red hair (Esau, meaning ‘red’), the second one had smooth skin (somewhat like his character).  How fun that the second one (Jacob) had a hold of the firstborn’s heel when he was born.  He was called Jacob (grabber, supplanter).

Then we see a serious failing of these twice blessed parents.  Dad loved Esau best (he caught and brought Isaac, yummy venison).  And Mom loved Jacob best (he stayed home and helped around the house).

Trickster Jacob, one day cheated his minutely older brother out of his birthright (a double portion of all their father would leave to them). Esau was famished; Jacob was cooking some lentil stew (probably his mom’s famous recipe). Esau’s stomach growled and rumbled at the delectible smell. Jacob held out one hand with the stew and the other for Esau’s birthright. Esau “threw away” his birthright and gobbled the stew (sopping up the last with some fresh bread Jacob included).

Verse 34 says Esau DESPISED his birthright.  Later, Esau would DESPISE his brother and threaten to kill him.

Verses 34-35 of chapter 26 tell us that at 40, Esau married two Hittite women, and that they made life BITTER for Isaac and Rebekah.

Sigh.

Since the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, with brothers Cain and Abel, sin and strife has split and threatened brothers.  Sadly this won’t be the end of it.