Esau And Jacob

by Bell, J. C. | Category: Types And Shadows In Genesis | Sept 1955

As the apostle Paul thought of some of the Lord's people of a past day and the lessons that could be learned from their achievements and failures, he wrote, "Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come " (1 Corinthians 10.11). The inspired record of these two men, Esau and Jacob, reveals, in type, divine truths which affect us in our walk before the Lord.

Perhaps the first thing which impresses us is the purpose of God in electing grace. This took place ere the boys were born, and before any actions, either good or bad, had been committed (Romans .9. 10, 11). Thus Jacob by electing grace became a vessel of mercy. We shall never be able to plumb the depths of mercy by which we were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world. For whom He foreordained them He also called and whom He called them He also justified. (Romans 8. 30) Having thus known the goodness of God in such a marvellous way we should make it our life's work to send the One who chose us May we as those who have known the mercy of God through the Beloved One, hear His firm yet gentle tones as He whispers to our hearts, "Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that ye should go and bear fruit" (John 15.16).

By the Spirit, the apostle reveals that "That is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural ; then that which is spiritual." Looking back over the events of Scripture, we note many instances where this was true, and the couplet before us is a case in point. Esau would speak to us of that which is natural and its desires, while Jacob portrays the spiritual side wherein lie the promises and blessings of the Lord.

As the boys grew to be young men, their natural characteristics became manifest. The record reveals Esau as a person whose chief interest was in the present. As the firstborn, the birthright and blessing would in the normal way have been his. But on that day when he was hungry, the satisfying of his natural desires was more to him than that which should have been his most prized possession. Thus he despised his birthright, and, by the Spirit, he is termed a profane person (Hebrews 12. 17). How he loved the chase!

In contrast, Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents, like his father and grandfather, looking for the city which is to come (Hebrews 11.9). His mother may have told him that he would be the recipient of God's blessing, and his brother, though his senior, would serve him. Such blessing may have seemed distant in its fulfilment, but by faith Jacob laid hold on it and sought it diligently. These characteristics, as seen in Esau and Jacob, did not die with them, and at times are seen in children of God today. How sad that there are children of God who have known the Father's goodness and care, yet seem to demand what they call freedom to move about from place to place, never willing to assume responsibility but ever seeking something thrilling or exciting! The steady pace of faithful Christian service does not appeal to such. Is it not so that such are blind, seeing only the things that are near? All who are children of God have been born again with a spiritual birthright, which has promise of inestimable blessing in service for the Lord, according to His revealed will. Jacob-like, may we lay hold on the life which is life indeed. It will not be a glamourous life, for we shall need to maintain our separated position, and live constantly in the prospect of the city which is to come.

The Hittite women, whom Esau chose to be his wives, were a source of grief to his parents, thus, with God-given guidance by Isaac, Jacob learns where he should go for a wife. Our hearts go out to beloved young brethren and sisters as they are exercised in heart as to the choice of a companion for life. May they ever listen to guidance given that they marry only in the Lord! Should they turn their eyes towards young people in the sects around us, it will cause grief of heart to loving parents in the flesh and in the Lord, and to the assembly.

There is a sense of sadness when we ponder the home scene, as Isaac proposes to bless Esau. There were things which caused the father to favour his elder son, while Rebekah's affections tended toward Jacob. How diligent parents need to be to maintain a unity in the home before their children in relation to the things of the Lord, and other circumstances! The events surrounding the obtaining of the blessing by Jacob created bitter feelings and hatred on Esau's part because of his brother's actions. True, the blessing was Jacob's from the Lord, and he, no doubt, could have obtained it by some other than this deceptive way. How imperative it is that we endeavour to align our thoughts and actions with the will of the Lord! Many heartaches are caused by endeavouring to run before the Lord or lag behind Him.

Jacob wrestled on through life, and, in his dealings with men, how often he prevailed! In twenty years he increased from a lone man to two companies, with numerous flocks and herds. But before looms a danger which he greatly fears. His brother Esau, who had threatened to kill him, was coming to meet him with 400 men. He must use every means at his command to make the meeting peaceable, but before he took all the steps for appeasing Esau, it is important to observe that he took the matter in prayer to God. (See chapter 32.9-11.) Afterwards he sent the present across, and lastly his wives and handmaids and his eleven children, and thus he was left alone with God. The place was called the ford of Jabbok, which means "emptying," and Jacob knew something of being emptied of self and being made to cling to the mighty One for the blessing. Having received the blessing, the place now becomes Peniel, which means, "the face of God." Can we not fit ourselves into similar circumstances when in times of difficulty? When our problems lie before u~ like mountains may we get alone with God, do all possible according to our ability, and then it may be that we shall need to know somewhat of the emptying of self and its confidence and being made to trust upon the Everlasting Arms. What an assurance and strength can be ours when in our weakness and outpouring of heart to the Lord, we each can say, "I have seen the face of God," or "I have been in the presence of God about it',

The last time we see the two brothers together is on the occasion of their father Isaac's death (Genesis 35.28). At this juncture in the sacred record a list of the sons of Jacob and the sons of Esau is given. As time rolls on, the sons of Jacob become the Children of Israel, and the sons of Esau, the Edomites. To Jacob, God had revealed primarily somewhat of the House of God, and to his seed at a later date God says, "Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them." Of them it was written, "What nation is there that hath a God so nigh unto them?" They were indeed a favoured nation, and well might the apostle write

"Israelites ... ; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen" (Romans 9.4).

How wonderful that all this can be traced back to the man Jacob, who strove with God and prevailed! (Hosea 12.3, 4, R.V.M.). May we seek to have that same spirit of pursuing the things of God with all the power we possess that so we may be blessed, knowing that Israel's God is our God, and when He blesses we shall be blessed.

Even when these two men had long passed away, we find the same natures at work in their progeny. We note in numerous scriptures which describe the strained relations existing between the descendants of Esau and Jacob that their relationship as brothers is often stressed (Deuteronomy 2. 4-8; 23. 7; Numbers 20. 14). When the children of Israel neared the promised land, God gave instructions that they were not to fight with Edom and they must not expect to possess their land, for God had given them Mount Seir for a p05session. Nevertheless, the animosity flared up again and no kindness or favours would be given to Israel in their journeyings (Numbers 20.14-21). This was because (despite any outward friendship at times), they were contrary in their natures the one to the other. Is it not so that in our own Christian experiences there are many things in us and around us which are contrary to our spiritual desires? In many cases we require to live with them, but we must be fully

assured that, as one is natural and the other spiritual, we need never expect the animosity to cease. Beloved, beware lest a friendship is found existing between two things of which the Lord says they are contrary and at enmity the one toward the other. (See Galatians 5.17.)

Among the foreign women whom Solomon loved, of whom it is written that they turned away his heart from the LORD, were some from Edom. Then in those years when it had become evident that the LORD was not with Solomon as before, who should be his adversary but Hadad, the Edomite? This is another lesson to us of the great danger of becoming unequally yoked with any whose hearts are not set on the highways to Zion, for eventually they become our adversaries.

Turning to the prophet Obadiah, we hear his scathing condemnation of Edom who stood by, and even took part, in the sore trial which befell Israel when God's hand was heavy upon them. Then, when in the mercy of God, a measure of restoration is granted to Israel, their feelings in the day of their anguish are expressed in such words as Psalm 137. 7: "Remember, 0 LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; who said: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof." And so on down to the present day the Arab and the Jew are at variance and wrestle with each other for the upper hand.

Bell, J. C. | Sept 1955
Types And Shadows In Genesis