6th Portion [24-30 Nov 2024]
Theme of the Book of Genesis:
Desire for life, to choose life and to create!
Meaning of "toldot" = "generations"
This week's Torah portions:
Sunday: Genesis 25:19-26:5
Monday: Genesis 26:6-12
Tuesday: Genesis 26:13-22
Wednesday: Genesis 26:23-29
Thursday: Genesis 26:30-27:27
Friday: Genesis 27:28-28:4
Shabbat: Genesis 28:5-28:9 & Malachi 1:1-2:7
Apostolic Writings:
Romans 9:1-31
The previous portion ended with Isaac & Rebecca getting married. In this portion we read that they've been married for quite a while but didn't have kids yet. When Rebecca does fall pregnant, we read that there was a struggle in her womb between the twins - Esau & Jacob. During her pregnancy, God showed her that she would give birth to two nations and that they would be in opposition with one another. God also showed her that Jacob would rule over Esau.
Esau (the eldest) grew up hunting and spent most of his time being outside. Whereas Jacob didn't enjoy the same things Esau did. Jacob preferred to stay and cook and be around the tent. Isaac favoured Esau and Rebecca favoured Jacob.
In Scripture, we read that Esau returned home after a long day in the field. When he got home, he saw and smelled the delicious food which Jacob had made. Esau begged Jacob for some of the food and Jacob told him that he could get it if Esau gave Jacob his firstborn right. They made a deal and Esau gave away his birthright.
From the time of Abraham, the firstborn child would receive a spiritual right / blessing from their father. The firstborn right is a leadership position such as becoming a king (rule) or priest (serve), etc. in the household / congregation / community. It's a spiritual inheritance to rule in righteousness. There was also a financial blessing linked to this firstborn right. Jacob had his eyes set on these inheritances. And sadly, Esau did not value this inheritance as much as Jacob - even to the point where he was willing to give it up for a plate of food.
The fulfillment of God’s prophecy to Rebecca went into effect. There was an exchange / transaction that took place between Jacob and Esau. Agreements back in the time of the Bible, did not work the way we are used to it in the Western society today. “Contracts” was set in place based on verbal agreements. That’s why the entire Bible places high value on keeping our word.
From previous parashot (plural for parashat), we know that Abraham pretended that Sarah was his sister when they came to Egypt. He was scared that they would kill him to get Sarah. Just like bloodline inheritance works, Isaac pretended that Rebecca was his sister, as he also feared that they would kill him to get her.
We also read that Isaac re-opened the wells which Abraham dug. The Philistines (descendants of Ishmael) did not like what he (Isaac) was doing.
At this stage Isaac was well advanced in years and he wanted to bless Esau. He wanted to pass the firstborn blessing (which Abraham gave to Isaac) onto Esau before Isaac died. Isaac instructed Esau to go and hunt and prepare Isaac’s favourite dish for him and then Isaac would have blessed Esau. Rebecca overheard Isaac’s conversation with Esau and recalled the promise which Abba gave to her when se was still pregnant with the twins.
Rebecca took matters into her own hands and told Jacob to dress up as Esau so that Isaac would bless him instead of blessing Esau. From Scripture we know that Isaac initially did doubt if it was Esau indeed. However, due to his age he couldn’t see properly anymore. Isaac ended up blessing Jacob with the spiritual blessing of becoming a priest and proclaimed that he would rule over his brother. Isaac at the moment was unaware of who he was blessing, but it was literal prophecy going into fulfillment - just like Abba told Rebecca it would happen whilst she was still pregnant.
After Jacob received the blessing form Isaac, Esau returned from the field and realised what happened. Esau begged Isaac to bless him too, but the firstborn blessing was already given to Jacob - it could not be recalled. Esau was not happy with Jacob, to say the very least. Interestingly enough, here we read that Esau was upset - yet not long ago he gave up this exact blessing for a plate of food.
Isaac did bless Esau (not with the firstborn blessing) and said that Esau would live by the sword. Which is so clearly visible when we look at the descendants of Esau today. It was only after the blessing was spoken that Esau realised what he was missing out on.
He was so mad that he told Jacob that he was going to kill him. Rebecca and Isaac told Jacob to flee to Laban so that Esau would not be able to kill him.
(Take a moment to realise who the descendants of Esau are and who the descentdants of Jacob are - and suddenly you will realise that the picture of current world events lines up perfectly with Bible prophecy.)
Jacob followed his parents’ instruction and went to Laban (Rebecca’s brother). From Scripture we know that Jacob married Leah and Rachel (Laban’s daughters). Jacob was renamed by God as Israel - and that’s where the Israelites came from. Israel the physical land was renamed Israel because the Israelites (Jacob's descendants) lived there.
Since Esau was mad at his brother and father - he purposefully acted in a spiteful, he married two Hitite women. The Hitites were descendants of Ishmael (linking back to what we’ve shared in last week’s post). He knew that it would be heavy on his father's heart to do so.
This parashat is focused on fruitfulness and about the next generation / an offspring. It's a rhythm of being fruitful which was set in place. Fruitfulness is a blessing - in other words it’s a rhythm of blessing. It once again confirms Abba’s heart for us. He desires for us to live in His rhythm of blessing from generation to generation. In order for us to live in this rhythm - we have to take up our inheritance as kings and priests to serve Him. Kings rule and priests serve and bless. We are called to rule from a place of authority, blessing and servanthood for the glory of His Kingdom.
This week's portion teaches us that we should be a generation that serves the next generation to continue living in the rhythm of His blessing. It’s about living in such a way that we equip the generation after us so well that they would be able to also equip the generation after them!
By know we know that if we want to be the Bride of Yeshua, we have to die to ourselves. In the New Testament we read about the potter and the clay. The potter can form the clay any way he wants. This does not mean that our lives are pre-destined or that God makes all the decisions. It’s about the exact opposite. If there’s one thing that we have to realise, it’s that we do have a choice!
In the New Testament reading linked to this portion, Paul refers back to Jacob and Esau and confirmed that Jacob would rule over Esau like God showed Rebecca even before they were born. At first glance it may seem unfair that God choose Jacob and Esau did not have a choice. But that’s not the case! God knew that Esau didn’t value the importance of the firstborn blessing and that he wouldn’t think twice to transfer it to his brother for a plate of food. Esau had the choice and God knew in advance what choice Esau would make.
God doesn’t decide who gets saved and who doesn’t. In Romans (this week's New Testament portion), we see how Paul continiously teaches that salvation is for anyone who has faith, not only a select few whom God has chosen. God wants the whole world to be saved, but the whole world won't be saved, because not everyone will make the choice to serve Him. If we argue that God chooses who get saved, then it would make Him an unfair God - and that He is not! He is a just and righteous God and He loves us so much that He leaves the choice up to us. Even more, He honours that choice - even if it means that we don’t choose Him.
Through faith we have been saved! And through faith alone! Not through our glorious works or through abiding by the law. We become righteous through faith and not through law.
We are all presented with a choice. Do you choose Yeshua (righteousness through faith)? Or do we disregard it (like Esau who did not understand the value of the firstborn blessing)? The choice belongs to each individual. God gives us a choice, and then He chooses those who have chosen Him! That’s the chosen ones which we read about in the Bible. God doesn’t pick who gets saved - we do! And when we choose Him, we become the chosen ones, the remnant, the elect.
Added thoughts:
Gen 25:27 - “And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.”
The thought came to me: if Jacob was the one with whom God confirmed the covenant He made with Abraham & Isaac (& then also Jacob)... why then would Scripture label him as "a plain man" - like nothing special? Yet he would become the father of Israel. So I dived into the original Hebrew... the word HORRIBLY POOR translated as "plain" is the Hebrew word "tam" (תם). It means: perfect; undefiled; upright; lacking nothing in physical strength; sound; wholesome; with integrity; morally innocent; ethnically pure
Mind blowing! How much have we lost through translation? This was revelational to me. Because turns out - this verse actually described Jacob as anything but "plain."
When Rebecca was pregnant, God revealed to her that she would give birth to twins. And that the younger would rule over the older (Gen 25:23). Esau was the firstborn. Yet he didn't value the firstborn right (verse 34) and sold it to Jacob for a plate of food (verse 31-33).
Esau wasn't under ANY pressure to sell/pass on/hand over his birthright. He knowingly & willingly did so because he didn't see the value of it.
Esau married two Hittite women; Judith & Bashemath (Gen 26:34). It grieved both Isaac & Rebekah. Despite the fact that Isaac favoured Esau (Gen 25:28), the women whom Esau CHOOSE to marry despised Isaac.
The Hittites were descendants of Ham (Noah's son; Noah - Ham - Canaan - - - Hittites). Like Ham's offspring, the Hittites continued living contrary to Abba's instructions.
Isaac was a descendant of Shem (Noah's son; Noah - Shem - - - Terah - Abraham - Isaac - Jacob & Esau). God made the covenant with Abraham & confirmed it with Isaac (Gen 26:3-5).
All throughout Scripure we see that the Hittites were adversaries of God's people.
Esau CHOOSE to:
Sell his birthright
Marry women who are not walking in Abba's ways.
It was the custom to bless the firstborn with the firstborn blessing. When Isaac was old he wanted to bless Esau (Gen 27:1-4). Rebekah overheard the conversation and gave Jacob instruction to make food for Isaac and to pretend to be Esau so that he could receive the firstborn blessing. Jacob was hesitant but listened to his mother's instruction.
She remembered that God told her that the younger would reign over the elder and she understood and valued the weight which the firstborn blessing carried. So in a sense she probably thought Jacob had to get that blessing so that it could be fulfilled what God spoke to her whilst she was still pregnant. Whether it was okay for Rebekah to take matters into her own hands, is a discussion for another day. I'm of the opinion that if God told her that Jacob would rule over Esau, He would have made it happen with or without her help.
But when reading this part of Scripture, the thought comes to mind that Jacob & Rebekah deceived Isaac (& Esau) in the process. However, what we have to understand is that Esau had ALREADY given away his birth right before Isaac wanted to bestow the firstborn blessing. In other words, the firstborn blessing no longer "belonged" to Esau anyway because he himself gave it away. Esau also went and married Hittite women, living contrary to his father's ways and Abba's instructions. There's no way that God would have confirmed His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and then someone who didn't live according to His instructions. Esau eliminated himself from the blessing long before Isaac wanted to bless him. This changes the situation completely don't you think?
Jacob was the one rightfully to receive the firstborn blessing!
In the blessing Isaac spoke over Jacob he said "cursed be everyone that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you" (Gen 27:29). Confirming God's promise to Abraham from Genesis 12:3 - “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Confirming once again that the covenant blessing would go through Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. God Himself later on in Scripture also confirms this to Jacob. If Jacob wasn't the one whom God intended to run the covenant blessing through, He would not have confirmed it with Jacob as well. It wasn't an after thought / how things turned out - it was the way God ordained it to be.
We then read that Esau came back after hunting for meat for his father and came to receive his blessing. He found out that Isaac already bestowed the blessing on Jacob. Esau was bitter immediately (Gen 27:34) despite the fact that the firstborn blessing no longer belonged to him as he had already passed it onto Jacob long ago.
By the time Esau realised the true value of the firstborn right - he had already given it away - it was too late to get it back.
Esau claims to be the victim, as if Jacob have stolen something from him. However, truth is that he didn't value it and freely and knowingly gave it away. Plus he choose to go and marry Hittite women and steer away from Abba's instructions. The firstborn blessing was never his to receive and it was no one's fault but his own.
Esau begged Isaac to also bless him (Gen 27:38). And Isaac said in Gen 27:40 - “By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
In verse 41 we read - “So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Take note: The only way for the firstborn blessing to be passed onto someone else once spoken over the person is when the person is no longer alive. Thus Esau wanted to take Jacob out. Not simply because he was mad at Jacob but he understood that as long as Jacob was alive, he (Esau) couldn't have the firstborn blessing. **We'll get back to this in a bit!
Rebekah heard that Esau planned to kill Jacob and therefore she and Isaac sent Jacob away to live with her brother Laban. Isaac told Jacob before he left to NOT marry the daughters of Canaan (like Esau already did) (Gen 28:1) and he blessed Jacob again (Gen 28:3-4):
“May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham.”
Esau heard his father instructing Jacob to not take wives from the daughters of Canaan, like he already did. He (Esau) then went to Ishmael (Isaac's half-brother) and married wives from Ishmael's offspring. He knew that it would displease his father, Isaac, yet he still did it.
Quick recap on Ishmael. God gave Abraham & Sarah the promise that they would conceive and have Isaac. They didn't believe that they would have a child in their old age and Sarah told Abraham to sleep with Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham.
Ishmael believes that he is the firstborn that should have received the blessing of the covenant which God made with Abraham. However, he was never the child whom God had promised to Abraham - Isaac was.
Ishmael hated Isaac because he believed that Isaac stole something that belonged to him, however from Scripture we know that it never did.
Esau hated Jacob because he believed that Jacob stole something that belonged to him, however from Scripture we know that it never did.
Lateron in Scripture, God renamed Jacob as Israel. The Israelites are the literal descendants of Jacob (aka Israel). The nation of Israel became "Israel" because that was where the Israelites lived.
Abba made his covenant with Abraham, Isaac & Jacob (Israel). It's an everlasting covenant. Israel is still Israel today. The descendants of Ishmael & Esau still to this day believe that their birth right was stolen from them. How can they get the firstborn right? By eliminating the one who received the firstborn right and all of their offspring. As long as there's an offspring alive, the firstborn right continues down that family line. So the only way to get that right is to eliminate the entire line.
I'll let you figure out who the descendants of Ishmael and Esau are today in the modern world. Those trying to eliminate Israel. Go figure. If I post it I'll get shadow banned!😆
Furthermore, in Malachi 1:2-3 we read God's own words quoted: “Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated...” In verse 4 God referred to them (Esau's offspring) as "the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.”
In Romans 9:7 it once again confirms that God’s covenant was not with all of Abraham’s sons. Remember that Abraham had Isaac (with Sarah) and Ishmael (with Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant) and more kids with Keturah after Sarah’s death (Gen 25). Here in the New Testament, it’s confirmed what was said in the Old Testament. The covenant was made with Abraham, confirmed with with Isaac (the child whom God promised to Abraham) and confirmed with Jacob (the child whol God told would reign over his older brother).
From this verse we see that the seed of Abraham which God blessed / made the covenant with was not all of his children. It says “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
Verse 8 says "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”
Verse 9-10 then speaks about Sarah & Rebekah's pregnancies. In verse 11-13 we read "for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.””
God called both Isaac and Jacob long before they were born.
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