How was Jacob related to Esau?
Rebekah became pregnant with twins, and the Bible states that they struggled with each other in her womb. When she asked God about it, He said that two nations were in her womb and that one would be stronger than the other.
Jacob and Esau are two important figures in the Old Testament of the Bible. They are twin brothers, born to Isaac and Rebekah. However, despite being twins, they had very different personalities and destinies. In this blog post, we will explore how Jacob was related to Esau and the significance of their relationship.
The birth of Jacob and Esau
The story of Jacob and Esau begins with their birth. According to the Bible, Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was barren for many years. However, God heard Isaac's prayer and granted him a son. Rebekah became pregnant with twins, and the Bible states that they struggled with each other in her womb. When she asked God about it, He said that two nations were in her womb and that one would be stronger than the other.
The twins were born, and the first one was covered in red hair and named Esau. The second one was born holding onto Esau's heel and was named Jacob. Esau grew up to be a skilled hunter, while Jacob was more of a quiet, peaceful man who tended to the flocks.
The birthright and the blessing
One day, Esau came back from a hunt and found Jacob cooking stew. He was famished and asked Jacob for some food. Jacob agreed, but only if Esau would sell him his birthright. The birthright was a special privilege that belonged to the firstborn son and included a double portion of the inheritance, authority over the family, and the right to be the family's spiritual leader.
Esau, who was more concerned with satisfying his immediate hunger, agreed to sell his birthright to Jacob. Later, when their father Isaac was old and blind, he decided to bless his firstborn son, Esau, with the family blessing. However, Jacob and Rebekah conspired to trick Isaac into giving the blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. Jacob dressed up in Esau's clothing and covered his arms with goat hair to make them feel hairy like Esau's. Isaac was fooled and gave the blessing to Jacob instead of Esau.
The consequences of their actions
The consequences of Jacob and Rebekah's actions were severe. Esau was furious when he found out that Jacob had stolen his blessing. He vowed to kill Jacob, and Rebekah sent Jacob away to her brother's house in Haran to protect him. Jacob stayed there for many years, worked for his uncle Laban, and married his two daughters, Leah and Rachel.
When Jacob returned to Canaan, he was afraid to face Esau. However, God had promised to be with him and protect him. Jacob sent gifts to Esau to appease him, and when they finally met, Esau embraced Jacob and forgave him. From that day on, they lived in peace.
The significance of Jacob and Esau's relationship
The story of Jacob and Esau teaches us many things. First, it shows us the importance of the birthright and the blessing in ancient Hebrew culture. It also shows us the consequences of deceit and trickery, as well as the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Moreover, the relationship between Jacob and Esau has a deeper significance. The Bible teaches us that the struggle between the two brothers was not just a personal conflict but a spiritual one. God had told Rebekah that two nations were in her womb, and the conflict between Jacob and Esau represented the struggle between the people of God and the people of the world.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul uses the story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate the difference between faith and works. He writes that God chose Jacob, not because of his works but because of His grace, and that Esau was rejected because he cared more about his physical needs than his spiritual inheritance.