It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Esau and Jacob

Last week, we noticed the obedience of Abraham, as he bound his son of promise and laid him upon the altar to sacrifice him to God. As he had the knife raised to plunge it into Isaac, his hand was stayed. God knew then that Abraham would definitely follow His commands. "And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; (HL-we ask, Why?) because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Genesis 22:15-18.

It is through the descendants of Abraham that our Savior Jesus Christ came to this earth. Let us notice the beginning of this. Abraham received this promise that his descendants would be so many, he would not be able to count them. The promised son was Isaac, who had two sons, named Esau and Jacob. I placed them in this order because that was the order of their birth. They were twins, but not identical twins. Read Genesis 25:24-27; 27:18-23. This family had a problem that possibly arises in many families with two or more children. Genesis 25:28 says, "Isaac loved Esau...but Rebekah loved Jacob." Still, we see God's plan, that He promised Abraham, at work. It was not through Esau, but through Jacob that this promise was to be fulfilled (Genesis 28:4).

Jacob fears for his life after receiving the blessing, that normally belonged to the oldest son, from his blind father (Genesis 27:41-45). Jacob goes to the home of his mother's brother, Laban. There he meets a young lady, named Rachel. Jacob promised Rachel's father, Laban, the he would serve him 7 years for the right to marry her. The agreement was made. His love for her was so great that the 7 years seemed but a few days. Have we ever felt that way? Or, do we say, "I thought this day would never come." Let's desire to work for the Lord with the same attitude Jacob had while working for Laban. Let's so desire and enjoy working in His service that our labor seems as but a few days. Jacob had 12 sons, and the 12 tribes of Israel came through these 12. Only two were the children of Rachel. Who were they?______________and_________________. Jesus, our Lord, was a descendant of which son of Jacob?_______________Hebrews 7:14.