WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.259 Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean of Paddan Aram, 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:10.460 ! the sister of Laban, the Aramean, to be his wife. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:14.560 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren. 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:19.640 And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah, his wife, conceived. 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.000 And the children struggled together within her. 00:00:23.539 --> 00:00:24.420 And she said, 00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:27.879 If it is thus, why is this happening to me? 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.820 So she went to inquire of the Lord, and the Lord said to her, 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:37.799 Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided. 00:00:38.219 --> 00:00:40.840 One shall be stronger, and the other. 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:43.159 The older shall serve the younger. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:48.640 And when her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 00:00:49.099 --> 00:00:53.099 And the first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:55.239 So they called his name Esau. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:01:02.400 And afterward, his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so that his name was called Jacob. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:05.760 Isaac was six years old when she bore them. 00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:11.400 And when the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:14.420 while Jacob was a quiet man dwelling in the tents. 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:18.620 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game. 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:20.880 But Rebekah loved Jacob. 00:01:21.460 --> 00:01:26.620 Once, when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.700 And Esau said to Jacob, 00:01:29.020 --> 00:01:31.939 Let me eat some of that red stew, for I'm exhausted. 00:01:32.520 --> 00:01:34.340 Therefore his name was called Edom. 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:38.280 And Jacob said, Sell me your birthright right now. 00:01:39.080 --> 00:01:41.400 And Esau said, I'm about to die. 00:01:41.580 --> 00:01:43.880 Of what use is a birthright to me? 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.560 And Jacob said, Swear to me now. 00:01:46.679 --> 00:01:50.599 So he swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.640 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.179 And he ate and drank and rose and went his way. 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:01.199 Thus Esau despised his birthright. 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:02.019 Let's pray. 00:02:03.899 --> 00:02:08.060 Lord, we're thankful even for the failures of technology. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:13.139 Father, we're thankful for your word, for it shows us that you work through imperfection. 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:20.519 That same gospel message that gives us life to sinners that are in need of grace, that are imperfect, 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:23.000 permeates through all of life. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:28.000 Even in brothers that fight against each other. 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:34.479 Lord, we ask that you might show us Jesus this morning through the story of Jacob and Esau. 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:36.539 And it's in Christ's name we pray. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:37.239 Amen. 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:37.400 Amen. 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:43.600 Full disclosure, this morning is going to be a little bit nerdier than I normally am. 00:02:43.700 --> 00:02:46.580 Which probably some of you are like, oh yes, thank goodness. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:48.960 And some of you are like, oh no. 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:55.060 If you're in the oh no category, you might not recognize where this is from. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:57.300 But you've heard it before. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:02:59.680 It was the best of times. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.819 It was the worst of times. 00:03:02.480 --> 00:03:08.659 Now if you never read a single book in high school, not that I commend that, you know that phrase. 00:03:09.260 --> 00:03:11.760 But it's from Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:16.680 It's a book about two men, two countries really, that want the same thing. 00:03:17.980 --> 00:03:19.900 One Frenchman, one Englishman. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:22.879 They couldn't be any more different than each other. 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:28.319 And yet, they want the same thing, the same woman. 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:30.500 It's a paradox really. 00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:33.639 They even look like each other. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:38.719 How could they be so different and yet the same? 00:03:39.699 --> 00:03:42.479 So even if you're not a literature person this morning, 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.639 you've felt the tension of a paradox like that. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.780 You've walked through difficulty in life and thought to yourself, 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:55.120 how is God working or maybe even seeing God working through the midst of difficulty. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:03.759 If you've walked on this earth, you've felt sadness and happiness all at the same time. 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:06.500 And those two things are being held together. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:08.479 And you don't know how they're the same. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:11.800 In the same instance, they both can be true. 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:16.660 You might have even heard the phrase, 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:19.019 you have to spend money to make money. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:22.199 How can you spend money and make money at the same time? 00:04:22.359 --> 00:04:23.740 Or maybe something like, 00:04:24.099 --> 00:04:26.159 he was too smart for his own good. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:29.139 He was so studied that he had no common sense. 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:32.779 Or maybe on a bigger scale, 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:35.959 how can a sinner be holy? 00:04:37.099 --> 00:04:41.339 How can a follower of Christ still struggle with sin? 00:04:42.159 --> 00:04:45.379 We've talked about that time and time again in Romans. 00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:47.560 But that contrast, 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:50.579 those two things being held together at the same time, 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.079 is at the center of this story. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.300 But it's in the form of these two brothers, 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:56.639 Jacob and Esau. 00:04:58.219 --> 00:05:03.719 How could they be brothers when they're so, so different? 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.060 Almost different in every way. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:09.240 But even in the midst of all of that, 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:10.459 God is working. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:14.480 And God is at work even now. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:17.660 So this morning, we're going to see that God is at work 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:19.399 in the story of Jacob and Esau. 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:22.519 But he's at work in two things that seem kind of silly. 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:25.899 He's at work even in the midst of sin. 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:30.439 And he's at work in the midst of a big stew incident. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:31.579 Okay? 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:34.220 Sin and stew. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:36.820 But I want us to remember this morning, 00:05:36.940 --> 00:05:39.400 the main point is that God is working 00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:41.440 to accomplish his purposes 00:05:41.440 --> 00:05:43.300 in spite of sin 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:46.520 and even in spite of stew. 00:05:48.320 --> 00:05:50.920 Those are the divisions of this section of Scripture. 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:52.920 Your Bible might even highlight those. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.580 And as we think through this, 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:55.840 I mentioned it earlier, 00:05:55.980 --> 00:05:58.140 that we're jumping back from the book of Romans 00:05:58.140 --> 00:05:59.100 back to Genesis. 00:05:59.820 --> 00:06:01.140 And as we do so, 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:04.219 I want us to keep in mind what we've learned so far 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:05.659 in our earlier time in Genesis. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.819 That God has promised Abraham and his descendants 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:11.759 a great blessing of children 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:13.979 and something that's eternal. 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:17.839 And now we have Abraham's descendants. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:19.759 Not too far removed, 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:23.120 but forgetting all that was promised to him. 00:06:24.219 --> 00:06:26.599 So this morning, let's first look at sin. 00:06:27.419 --> 00:06:29.839 Look with me at that first part of the story. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.359 It's a story that doesn't begin 00:06:31.359 --> 00:06:32.679 with Jacob and Esau at all. 00:06:32.799 --> 00:06:34.000 In fact, it begins, 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:35.779 this is really the story of Isaac. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:37.359 But in Isaac, 00:06:37.659 --> 00:06:40.259 the most important thing that comes from Isaac 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:41.439 is Jacob. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:43.759 If you remember, 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:47.039 Isaac is that long-promised son of Abraham. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:51.519 Not simply a promise of blessing, 00:06:52.039 --> 00:06:53.739 but descendants and a family 00:06:53.739 --> 00:06:54.799 and a kingdom 00:06:54.799 --> 00:06:56.379 that would be everlasting. 00:06:57.179 --> 00:06:59.439 Except there's one problem, right? 00:07:00.219 --> 00:07:01.639 He's got no kids. 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:06.660 And that new family tradition 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:08.860 of great promise of blessing 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:09.899 and fruitfulness 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:11.819 continues with Isaac. 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:13.759 He has that promise, 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.279 but he has no children. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.740 Look back with me at verse 19. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:22.240 These are the generations of Isaac, 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:23.159 Abraham's son. 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:25.439 Abraham fathered Isaac, 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:27.180 and Isaac was 40 years old 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.120 when he took Rebekah. 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:29.000 That's important. 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:30.280 We'll come back to that later. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:35.459 The story is less about Isaac 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:37.160 and more about his children. 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:38.840 Apart from what will be 00:07:38.840 --> 00:07:40.160 a little short snippet 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:41.379 about Rebekah 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:43.860 and her family relations, 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.379 it immediately goes in verse 21. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:47.040 Look with me. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:48.340 Isaac prayed to the Lord 00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:48.340 00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:48.960 for his wife 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:50.420 because she was barren. 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:51.580 That family tradition 00:07:51.580 --> 00:07:53.040 of not having children 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.939 now is fulfilled 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:55.720 because it says 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:56.879 the Lord granted 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:58.120 his prayer 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.400 and his wife conceived. 00:08:01.140 --> 00:08:02.480 There's a lot of information 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:03.700 in this first section, 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:04.920 and this should be 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:06.160 a little bit of a preview 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:07.100 of what's going to happen 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:08.320 in Jacob's life. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.700 Laban is really irrelevant 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:12.939 to this story right now, 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:15.620 but in a couple chapters, 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:17.420 a couple verses later, 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:18.800 Laban is going to figure 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:20.159 very prominently 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:21.459 because he's going to make 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:23.139 Jacob's life miserable. 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:26.139 It's a foreshadowing 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:27.659 of what's in store for Jacob, 00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:30.759 but there's this longing 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:31.699 for a family, 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:33.220 and that familiar storyline 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:34.759 for Abraham 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:36.220 is now true in Isaac, 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:37.580 and we might see 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.360 those similarities 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.080 and think, 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:40.539 hey, what's going on here? 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.080 And if you know 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:42.039 a little bit about Scripture, 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:43.500 this is going to happen again. 00:08:44.800 --> 00:08:45.460 And sometimes, 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:47.019 that causes us to question 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.460 the truthfulness of Scripture. 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:50.240 How could this happen 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:51.139 so often? 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.240 And it's caused some 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.720 to question the authenticity 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:55.960 of these accounts. 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:57.919 But it's really 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.159 a literary technique 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:00.779 where we draw in similarities 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:02.100 to then highlight 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:02.779 the differences 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.980 of what's going on. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.920 So it's drawing us back 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:07.120 to the story of Abraham, 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:09.080 and he's trying to highlight 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:10.399 not a difference, 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.560 but a similar theme. 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:15.139 That God was at work 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:16.259 in Abraham and Sarah 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:17.980 just like God is at work 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:20.320 in Isaac and Rebecca. 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:22.639 And the means 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.080 that he uses to bless them 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:25.759 is their prayer for a child 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.399 and their prayer 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:28.440 that he's going to grant 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:29.879 some 20 years later. 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.500 God is the one 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:33.500 that's in control 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:34.799 over infertility. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.159 God is the one 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.939 that sovereignly grants children. 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:40.179 That fact's unchanged 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:41.740 from Isaac to now. 00:09:42.439 --> 00:09:43.299 I know that's difficult 00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:44.299 for some of us. 00:09:45.099 --> 00:09:45.919 The high hopes 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:47.679 and then falling 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.120 each time 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:50.620 the test comes back negative. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.120 Doctors appointments, 00:09:52.479 --> 00:09:53.799 endless doctors appointments, 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:56.000 maybe even praying with me, 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:57.779 others in this room. 00:09:58.199 --> 00:10:00.419 I don't know why that happens. 00:10:01.439 --> 00:10:02.339 And Rebecca's 00:10:02.339 --> 00:10:03.659 in the same spot. 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:05.120 She doesn't know why either. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.559 But I do know 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:07.719 it's not just you. 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:10.779 It's also this family. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:12.519 But even in the midst 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:13.600 of that heartache, 00:10:13.839 --> 00:10:15.179 God is still at work. 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:17.939 That fact is unchanged as well. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.860 But Rebecca's story 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:22.899 is happy. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.559 Rebecca conceives a child. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.740 We see that at the end 00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:27.439 of verse 21. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.419 What great joy! 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:30.179 But then there's something wrong 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:30.799 that we see. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.699 The children inside of her, 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.399 she doesn't know it yet 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.179 that they're children, 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:36.479 but there's a great 00:10:36.479 --> 00:10:37.959 struggling inside of her. 00:10:38.819 --> 00:10:39.240 Literally, 00:10:39.459 --> 00:10:41.159 they're smashing each other 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:41.899 together 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:44.079 inside of her womb. 00:10:45.219 --> 00:10:47.099 Like demolition derby, 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.759 two cars just driving 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.419 at each other 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:50.500 with no care 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.659 for safety. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:53.159 And the struggle 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:53.839 that began 00:10:53.839 --> 00:10:55.159 with these two brothers 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:56.379 inside the womb 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.719 will continue. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.079 It will slip out 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:01.259 into real life. 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:03.679 And it's so much 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:05.259 that she's asking herself, 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:06.740 why is this happening 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:07.319 to me? 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:10.420 If we think 00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:11.180 we're the only ones 00:11:11.180 --> 00:11:11.800 that struggle 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:12.879 and ask God why, 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:13.820 think again. 00:11:14.280 --> 00:11:15.080 Rebecca here 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:16.379 asks the same thing. 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:17.900 Even on the heels 00:11:17.900 --> 00:11:18.860 of such a blessing, 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:20.940 there's so much turmoil 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:21.860 inside of her, 00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:23.000 she questions 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.960 what is going on. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:26.879 Now, 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:28.200 Rebecca seeks the Lord 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.420 and read 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:31.740 the Lord's response 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.160 to her. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.260 Look at verse 23 00:11:33.260 --> 00:11:33.780 with me. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.100 The Lord said to her, 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:37.439 Two nations 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:38.299 are in your womb 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:39.439 and two peoples 00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:40.720 from within you, 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:42.279 you shall be divided. 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:43.399 The one shall be 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.500 stronger than the other 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.559 and the older 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:47.179 shall serve the younger. 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.039 Now, 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:49.100 think about this. 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:49.699 It's the days 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:50.600 before the ultrasound. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.000 She doesn't know 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.919 yet for sure 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.139 that she has two children. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.259 She just knows 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.240 something's going on 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:56.899 inside of her 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.939 and she doesn't know 00:11:57.939 --> 00:11:58.679 what to do. 00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:02.279 But us as the reader 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.539 know the pain 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:04.779 that she's experiencing 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:06.219 is because those two 00:12:06.219 --> 00:12:07.399 are already fighting 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:08.319 against each other 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:09.419 and that battle 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.519 is just more than 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.719 sibling rivalry. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.480 It's a division 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.860 of God's people. 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:15.919 It's a division 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:16.659 of people 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:19.339 that God promised 00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:21.799 that's already begun. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.379 And the most odd thing 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:25.099 about this whole promise 00:12:25.099 --> 00:12:25.799 that we see 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.899 is a reversal 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:27.959 of the birth order. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.659 First is one of the brothers 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:30.019 is going to be 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.259 really stronger, 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.579 a lot stronger 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:33.139 than the other. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:34.179 And the second 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:36.620 is a reversal 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.860 of the traditional order. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.779 The younger brother 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:39.480 will prevail 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.960 in strength 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.559 and the older 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.759 will serve the younger. 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:44.539 That's a weird promise 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:46.019 just on its face. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.659 Now, 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.740 throughout this passage, 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:49.559 and this is what 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.639 I was alluding to earlier, 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.319 there's all these 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:52.319 weird connections 00:12:52.319 --> 00:12:53.480 between the words 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.860 and how they're structured 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.220 or how they rhyme, 00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:57.139 but we don't get that 00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.179 when we read in English. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.379 And so I'm going 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.120 to help us out. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.279 Now, 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:02.860 the word serfs 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.720 is really slave, 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:05.919 but guess what? 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.899 It also rhymes 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:07.519 with Jacob. 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.139 So the author 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.879 is trying to make 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.659 this connection 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:11.919 between what's going 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:12.980 to happen with Jacob 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.100 and the younger, 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:15.940 it rhymes with the word 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.220 for another name 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:17.899 for Esau. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.500 And so in granting 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:21.000 this kind of weird promise, 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:22.919 God is tipping off Rebecca 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:24.779 what will really happen, 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.740 except it's a weird reversal. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:26.899 Esau. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.460 Esau will be the slave 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:30.340 and Jacob 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:32.460 will be the one 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.080 that's stronger. 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:33.620 Jacob, 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.700 the one that's younger, 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.060 will be the one 00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:37.980 that is mightier. 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:39.200 Okay, 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.220 that's all good and well. 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.480 This kind of weird promise. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.480 We have this 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.779 God working through 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.840 and granting children, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.860 but what about 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.820 these two brothers? 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.720 Here comes the long 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.419 awaited day 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.320 of the birth 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:52.899 and Rebecca 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.860 has this promise 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:54.620 that she doesn't know 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.440 what to do with 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.060 and inside of her 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:57.740 they're smashing 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.700 against each other 00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.520 and remember, 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:00.480 she doesn't know yet 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:00.980 for sure 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.940 that she's going 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.520 to have two. 00:14:02.760 --> 00:14:04.080 She believes God's promises, 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:06.260 but she hasn't seen them yet 00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.280 and then they're twins 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:08.620 and the first one 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.180 is Esau. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.040 What do we know 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:10.660 about Esau? 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:11.520 He's red. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.360 We don't know 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.100 if he's red-headed 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:14.380 or red-skinned, 00:14:14.540 --> 00:14:15.380 but he's red 00:14:15.380 --> 00:14:17.160 and he's hairy 00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:18.060 all over 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.960 and his name, 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:21.480 actually his other name, 00:14:21.660 --> 00:14:22.160 Edom, 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.780 where we get to Edomites, 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.039 the people that will oppose 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.000 God's people 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.740 for really all of time. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.039 Those people are named 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.819 after him 00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.559 and it's a play 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.699 on the word red. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.899 And so the image here 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.779 is this wild, 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.879 crazy man, 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.339 uncivilized, 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.000 out in the wilderness. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.839 Verse 27 tells us 00:14:44.839 --> 00:14:46.360 that Esau grew up 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.459 and all of that 00:14:47.459 --> 00:14:48.179 was channeled 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:48.980 into hunting, 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.839 a skillful hunter, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.179 a man of the field. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:54.099 And as he grows, 00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:55.059 this wild, 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.659 untamed personality 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:58.539 comes to full fruition. 00:14:59.179 --> 00:15:00.259 So that's one brother. 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.459 The other brother 00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:02.139 is Jacob. 00:15:04.339 --> 00:15:05.239 And the reason 00:15:05.239 --> 00:15:05.799 I'm spending 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.979 so much time 00:15:06.979 --> 00:15:07.620 on the names 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.079 is something 00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:08.899 that we've seen 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.919 before in Genesis. 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:11.019 The names 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.099 are actually prophetic. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.559 They say something 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.139 that's either going 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.059 to happen to them 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.859 or that they will become. 00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:17.879 And Jacob 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.979 is no exception, 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:19.399 right? 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:21.159 Verse 26 tells us 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.279 he comes out of the womb 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.139 and he's doing what? 00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:25.219 He's grabbing Esau's heel. 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.019 It's as if this newborn 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.899 kind of bar fight 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.699 spills out 00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:30.819 not into the street 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:32.439 but out into the real world. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.360 It just continues 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.279 from her womb. 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.240 And his name 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.459 is from that event. 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.719 And not only 00:15:39.719 --> 00:15:40.639 does his name 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.699 look like the word 00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:42.500 for heel, 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.339 but it also 00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:45.399 alludes to him 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.439 being a deceiver, 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:47.539 a trickster. 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.339 So we have 00:15:49.339 --> 00:15:50.179 this deceiver, 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:50.779 trickster 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.539 who's grabbing 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.539 his brother's heel 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.399 who's been fighting 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.500 inside the womb 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.579 and we get 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.339 this impression 00:15:57.339 --> 00:15:58.639 from Esau 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.419 that he's this 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.439 wild kind of 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.240 mountain man. 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:03.120 And then we get 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:03.759 this impression 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.500 from Jacob 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:06.079 that he's very different. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.599 It says he's quiet, 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:09.120 dwells in tents. 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.879 It doesn't mean 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.539 that he's like 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.919 an inside kind of kid 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.919 because he's going 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.519 to grow up 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.579 and be like a shepherd 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:16.079 like his father, 00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:16.839 like a farmer. 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:18.720 But he doesn't live 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.220 out in the open field. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.460 He doesn't live 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:23.160 hunting under the stars 00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:23.980 like his brother. 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.680 And if we think 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:26.259 that Jacob 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.620 is the perfect child, 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.000 let me remind us, 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.800 he is not. 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.259 He's tricky, 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.840 he's deceptive, 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.180 and he fights his brother 00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.440 even before he's born. 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:37.639 This is a great family, 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.019 right? 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.379 The parents 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:41.040 are even more awesome. 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.759 We see kind of 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.420 bubbling up 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.620 what's bubbling 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.560 underneath the surface 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.500 of this contrast. 00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.719 Esau is this way, 00:16:49.099 --> 00:16:50.139 Jacob is that way, 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.379 and then the parents, 00:16:51.739 --> 00:16:52.219 quite honestly, 00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:53.339 might even be worse. 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.500 And why do I say that? 00:16:54.739 --> 00:16:55.319 Look with me 00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:56.199 at verse 28. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:58.719 Isaac loved Esau 00:16:58.719 --> 00:16:59.839 because, 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.399 why? 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:03.359 He ate of his game, 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.460 but Rebekah 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.819 loved Jacob. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.359 This is not a recipe 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.720 for anything 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.720 but disaster. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.359 One parent loves one, 00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.259 and the other 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.619 loves the other. 00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:16.500 it's more than 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.679 sibling rivalry. 00:17:19.219 --> 00:17:20.519 Here is the first 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.399 installment of 00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:22.879 clear sin 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:24.559 that Isaac 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.000 loves Esau 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.119 because he loves 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.779 to eat, 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.739 and that's why 00:17:29.739 --> 00:17:30.779 he loves his son. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.919 It's ironic 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:34.979 that the thing 00:17:34.979 --> 00:17:36.359 that he loves him for 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.239 is the thing 00:17:37.239 --> 00:17:38.399 that's also going to 00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.779 trap his own son 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.519 that he loves 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.179 to eat. 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:43.900 this great family 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.860 dynamics here. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.779 God's preserving 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.480 his line, 00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.200 he's preserving 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.960 his promise 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.340 through two children 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.500 that can't get along 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.600 from the womb 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:54.740 and that continue 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.400 to fight 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:57.820 for a really long time. 00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.740 And then we have 00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.440 parents 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.060 that separate them 00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:01.880 and love one 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.680 more than the other, 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:03.500 and the parents 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.320 are pitted against 00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:04.840 each other. 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:06.980 And yet God 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.299 preserves his people. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.240 It's kind of like 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.279 going to a car lot. 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:11.899 Is anybody 00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.699 bought a used car? 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.899 When you do, 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.980 you're kind of thinking, 00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:16.519 okay, 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.759 where's the play here, 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.139 right? 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.199 How do I know 00:18:19.199 --> 00:18:19.699 this guy 00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:20.379 who's selling me 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:20.879 this car 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.819 isn't selling me 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.199 a lemon? 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.199 I have to go 00:18:23.199 --> 00:18:23.899 through the smoke 00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:24.459 and mirrors, 00:18:24.959 --> 00:18:25.980 and despite his 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.000 kicking the tires 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.740 and doing all 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.299 those things, 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.240 I have to figure 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.639 out if this thing 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.259 is good 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.579 or if it's a piece 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.679 of junk. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.659 He might be 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.439 trying to sell me 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.759 something that 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.619 looks good, 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.159 but it has engine 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:40.579 trouble. 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.119 It's been in accidents. 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:43.500 And this scene 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.399 that we have here 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:45.460 is not dissimilar 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.039 to that. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.819 We as the reader 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.720 are trying to sort 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.019 through, 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.039 who's the good guy 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.359 here? 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.399 Is it Jacob? 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.879 Is it Esau? 00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.299 It's definitely 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:55.240 not the parents. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.839 But this story 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.579 is different 00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.699 than us trying 00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:00.359 to find that 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.679 one shining 00:19:01.679 --> 00:19:02.439 new 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.680 new to us 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.220 car, 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.059 right? 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.779 They're all 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.740 lemons in this 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.120 story. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.440 Jacob is a 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:10.680 lemon. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.740 Esau is a 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:11.920 lemon. 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:12.620 The parents 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.140 are lemons. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.160 They're all 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:14.580 junk. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.340 Jacob has 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:16.279 problems just 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:16.900 like everyone 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.259 else. 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.160 He's a deceiver. 00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.920 Esau is wild 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.700 and the parents 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.180 are against 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.759 each other. 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.759 So what are 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.100 we supposed 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:23.759 to do with 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.059 this? 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.799 How do we 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.340 make sense 00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:25.779 of God 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.640 preserving his 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.259 line through 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:27.880 these people 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.920 when they're 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.680 all bad? 00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:31.900 God is at 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.220 work. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.400 Not because 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.080 Jacob's the 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:34.960 perfect child 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.840 or the 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.820 likable child 00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.420 or the 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.460 obedient child. 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.559 God is at 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.460 work just 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.080 because there's 00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:42.940 doting parents? 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.840 No, not even 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.320 that. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.480 He's at work 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.420 in this mess 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.100 of a family 00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:48.960 to bring about 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.740 his promises. 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:50.940 It's kind of 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.500 similar to the 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.220 story of Jesus 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:52.720 if we think 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.100 about it. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.200 We as 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.539 sinners 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:57.019 don't deserve 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.539 grace, 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.039 but it's 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.860 offered to 00:19:58.860 --> 00:19:59.279 us. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.519 And this 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.319 story should 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.059 inform how 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.619 we think 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.059 about the 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.420 good news 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:03.920 of Jesus. 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.399 We're not 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:05.940 a gleaming 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.539 new car 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.819 on the 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.160 lot. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.279 We're broken 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.819 down, 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.519 marked by 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.000 sin, 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.579 and yet God 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.379 plucks us 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.180 out, not 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.700 because we 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.299 look new 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.819 and shiny, 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.059 not because 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.639 we're worth 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:16.960 it, 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.000 but because 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.599 he loves 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.000 us. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.039 Nothing in 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.619 ourselves. 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.079 And Paul 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.160 reminds us of 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.019 that in Romans. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.299 for while we 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.000 were still 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.779 weak at the 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.519 right time, 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.660 Christ died 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:29.980 for the 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.559 ungodly. 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:31.960 We are 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.700 sinners and 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.240 God has 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.960 offered to 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.639 work through 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:37.279 us to 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.980 give us 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.279 eternal life, 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.200 not because 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.980 of our great 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.740 wealth, of 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.539 our appearance, 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.579 because of 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.539 our confidence, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.799 our competence, 00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:47.359 our character, 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:47.920 our intellect. 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.599 None of that 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.139 matters. 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.579 God gives us 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.339 eternal life 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.779 because he's 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.220 God. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.339 And he gives 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.059 it to each 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.599 of us. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.240 So if you're 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.720 here this 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.819 morning, take 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.119 it. 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:01.859 Put your 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.480 faith in 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:02.799 Jesus. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.139 Now, our 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:06.859 family this 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:08.459 morning is 00:21:08.459 --> 00:21:09.119 messed up. 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.139 We know 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.480 that. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.359 To the 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.019 earlier comment 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.539 I made about 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.579 the trustworthiness 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.279 of the Bible, 00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:16.699 it's a more 00:21:16.699 --> 00:21:17.980 complicated argument 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.559 than that. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.139 But if I'm 00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:21.399 simply embellishing 00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:22.619 a story and 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.439 trying to 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:24.319 convince you 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.700 of this, 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.279 I'm not 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.939 putting this 00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:26.519 story of 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.059 this family 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.500 in there. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:28.259 In fact, 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:28.740 I'm going to 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.220 leave that on 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.539 the cutting 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.279 room floor. 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.879 But even in 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.559 the midst of 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.119 all of this, 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.079 God is still 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.679 at work. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.079 And that 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.460 should give 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:35.859 us great 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.259 confidence in 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.659 our own 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.059 lives. 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.039 So God 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.700 is at work 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.899 in the midst 00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:41.599 of our sin, 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.539 in spite of 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.019 our sin. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.439 But now we 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:45.000 come to the 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.819 great stew 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.659 incident of 00:21:46.659 --> 00:21:47.259 Jacob and 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:47.659 Esau. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.819 I don't know 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.460 how many of 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:49.939 you and your 00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.799 families have 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.779 these things 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.399 of lore, 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.059 this great 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.559 incident. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.779 Maybe it's a 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.599 decision you've 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:55.980 made. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.160 Maybe it's a 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.839 decision in your 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.420 marriage. 00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.660 Maybe it's 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.200 something that's 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.660 funny. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:01.799 I have a 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.480 friend that 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.740 refuses to 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.740 call arguments 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.720 arguments or 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.240 fights. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.500 He calls them 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.779 by the word 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.379 Ingalls, 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.079 which if you're 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.759 from the south, 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.720 that's a place. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.660 It's not a thing. 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.920 Ingalls is a 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.680 grocery store 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.240 because for 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.059 generations, 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:17.079 his family 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.539 always called 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.599 fights Ingalls. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.339 Why? 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.159 Because they 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.939 got into a 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.559 fight in the 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.319 Ingalls parking 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:23.699 lot. 00:22:25.439 --> 00:22:26.500 Now that's 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.500 funny, but 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.339 some of us 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.480 have stories 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.079 that are marked 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.939 by heartache, 00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:32.179 pain, 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.359 defining choices 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.480 to marry this 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.339 person and not 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.839 another, a job, 00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:39.299 maybe moving to 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.879 Colorado, 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.859 Colorado Springs, 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.039 maybe an 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.519 accident. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.199 In all of 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:46.819 those things, 00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:47.480 God is at 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:47.859 work. 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:47.899 work. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.740 It might 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.479 seem silly 00:22:52.479 --> 00:22:53.240 or infamous, 00:22:54.199 --> 00:22:55.439 but in our 00:22:55.439 --> 00:22:56.500 family, the 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.099 thing that we 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:58.019 keep going back 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.539 to is the 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.179 butter dish 00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:00.699 incident. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.679 The butter 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.419 dish incident 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:03.979 is not 00:23:03.979 --> 00:23:05.279 actually an 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.379 incident surrounding 00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:06.819 a butter 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.500 dish, but a 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.599 decision that I 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.259 made as a 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.439 husband to 00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:11.159 go to an 00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.219 army school 00:23:12.219 --> 00:23:13.639 right before I 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.039 was going to 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.699 leave for a 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.139 really long 00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:15.539 time. 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.839 And it was 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.759 a source of 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.640 great disagreement 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.119 and I 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.480 thought I 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.079 should go. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.400 Now to be 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.500 fair to myself, 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.359 I had been 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.059 canceled from 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.519 this school 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.500 many times 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.200 over and 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.619 over. 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.619 And I 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.839 went and I 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.259 thought the 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.180 whole time I 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.559 was going to 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.799 fail as God's 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.759 judgment on me 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.339 for going. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.180 But I 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.500 passed and I 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.420 felt guilty the 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.000 whole time. 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.660 So what did I 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:40.920 do? 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.279 I brought back 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.700 my wife some 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.599 nice pottery. 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:44.679 pottery. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.199 And this 00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:47.199 butter dish. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.839 And what did 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.480 it do in my 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:49.799 suitcase? 00:23:50.199 --> 00:23:50.919 It broke. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.119 And it's 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:53.099 broke every 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.480 time we've 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.219 moved since 00:23:55.219 --> 00:23:55.579 then. 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.419 And it's 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.279 still broken 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.119 and I keep 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.000 gluing it back 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.419 together. 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.240 That's funny, 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:02.599 right? 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.719 But it's 00:24:03.719 --> 00:24:04.719 marking a more 00:24:04.719 --> 00:24:05.819 serious thing. 00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:06.359 Kind of like 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.039 this stew. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.079 It's not 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.919 really about 00:24:08.919 --> 00:24:09.539 the stew. 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.419 It's about 00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:11.299 something far 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.859 greater. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.799 It's about 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.359 Jacob and 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.359 Esau struggling 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:15.959 over a 00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:16.479 birthright. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.479 Birthright, 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.219 inheritance, 00:24:19.219 --> 00:24:20.219 same thing. 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.399 It's not 00:24:21.399 --> 00:24:22.159 really about 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.799 the stew. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.419 So we have 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.059 the stew 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.679 pointing to 00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:27.240 this much 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.319 greater reality 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.059 just like the 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.459 butter dish is 00:24:30.459 --> 00:24:31.419 reminding me 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:33.259 every day of 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.679 my own 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.519 selfishness. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.319 So what 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:37.219 comes next in 00:24:37.219 --> 00:24:37.779 the life of 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.259 Jacob and 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.679 Esau? 00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.740 But the 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.699 stew incident. 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.960 Look with 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.120 me at 00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.000 verse 29. 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.180 Once Jacob 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.700 was cooking 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.200 stew, 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:47.960 Esau came 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.460 in from the 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:48.940 field and 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.200 he was 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.900 exhausted. 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.340 And what 00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:51.660 does he 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:51.960 say? 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.640 Remember, 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.180 he's this 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.279 wild man, 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.920 uncivilized. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.740 He says, 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.720 I, and 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.140 he's also 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.799 obsessed with 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.360 food, and 00:24:59.360 --> 00:24:59.700 he says, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.420 I'm about 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.180 to die. 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.240 He's led 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.740 by his 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.539 stomach just 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:04.960 like his 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.400 father. 00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:06.700 And Jacob 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.779 is deceptive. 00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:09.319 So he 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.960 comes home 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.539 and demands 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.039 food. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:11.920 And how 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.200 many of 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.600 you parents 00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:12.960 have ever 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.380 heard your 00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:14.000 kids come 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.360 in and 00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.079 say, I'm 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.720 about to 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.120 die. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:16.960 It's the 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.819 same concept 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.259 here. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:18.860 He's not 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.620 really about 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.980 to die, but 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.720 he's starving 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.480 and he's 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.100 thinking with 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.720 his stomach. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.720 And what 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.019 does he 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.340 eat? 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.460 Well, what 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:26.759 does he 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.840 see that 00:25:27.840 --> 00:25:28.700 Jacob has? 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.600 Verse 30, 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.200 Esau said 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.620 to Jacob, 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.240 let me eat 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.500 some of 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.900 that red 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.440 stew for 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:32.700 I'm 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.200 exhausted. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.579 So the 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.460 red man 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.880 wants the 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.600 red stew. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.440 The connotation 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.059 is that he 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.920 has something 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.600 like a 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.380 meaty stew. 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.500 Maybe Esau 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:42.940 had killed 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.200 it the 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.880 day before. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.500 The great 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.320 stew incident 00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:48.779 is Jacob's 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:51.140 time when 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.920 he deceives 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.500 his brother. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.259 Read verse 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.620 31. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.440 The 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.100 connotation 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:57.680 is he's 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.380 seizing the 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:58.980 opportunity. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:25:59.700 So he 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.600 says, sell 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:00.980 me your 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.519 birthright 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.279 right now. 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.240 And Esau 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.140 responds with 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.860 what we'll see 00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.360 in a second. 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.299 It's got no 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.059 use to me. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.000 He seizes 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.879 the opportunity. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.419 He's been 00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.180 waiting and 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.539 watching and 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.279 waiting to 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.299 strike at 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:14.680 Esau. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.279 And Esau 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.240 overcome with 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.740 hunger and 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.259 he's about 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.759 to die. 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.579 He says, 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.299 what use 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:19.700 is this 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.139 birthright 00:26:20.139 --> 00:26:20.500 to me? 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:20.859 Because I'm 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.319 about to 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:21.639 die. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.259 You know, 00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.099 the birthright, 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.680 your future 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:25.240 inheritance, 00:26:25.379 --> 00:26:25.799 the double 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.339 portion, 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.960 not food at 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.279 the dinner 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.659 table, 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.039 but of 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.419 riches. 00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:30.859 He 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.839 exchanges his 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.839 future blessing 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.419 for immediate 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.299 gratification. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.159 And Jacob 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.019 seizes the 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.559 opportunity. 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.920 Every time 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.400 I read this 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.000 story, I 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.559 think about 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.259 Esau just 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.019 so quickly 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.839 giving away 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.700 that which 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.200 is so 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.819 important. 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:47.660 And I 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.139 think about 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.680 the missionary 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.319 Jim Elliot. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.539 He was the 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.019 missionary to 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.599 South America 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.139 who lost 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.759 his life. 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:53.859 And then by 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.519 losing his 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.539 life, the 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.099 expansion of 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.500 the gospel 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.079 went out to 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.559 this Indian 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.099 group, but 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.420 he wrote 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.299 this in 00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.819 his journal. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.980 He is no 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.619 fool who 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.259 gives what he 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.980 cannot keep 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.539 to gain that 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.980 which he 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.900 cannot lose. 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.980 It's the 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.040 exact opposite 00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.720 of Esau. 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:10.420 Esau gives 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.100 away the 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.519 thing that's 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.360 most important 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:13.440 to him, the 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.019 thing that he 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.460 should not 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.980 lose. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.259 He gave up 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.019 eternal 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:19.200 blessing for 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.440 a pot of 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:20.780 stew. 00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:22.160 But remember, 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.420 it's not simply 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.140 the inheritance. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.360 If we track all 00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:25.980 the way back to 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.160 Abraham, it's 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.040 this promise, 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.920 not of riches, 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.400 but of 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.259 greatness, a 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.820 kingdom of 00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:32.360 power, eternal 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:33.580 ruling over one 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:33.800 another. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.240 We get all 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.659 that from the 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.859 context, but 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.299 it's this 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:39.480 promise that 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.960 there would be 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:41.579 a people, a 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.299 great kingdom 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.659 that goes on 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.159 forever. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.740 And he traded 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.579 this for a 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.279 bowl of 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.619 soup. 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.440 And as if 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.700 the trick to 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.079 get the 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.180 inheritance wasn't 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:52.759 enough, what 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.619 does Jacob turn 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.200 and then give 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.480 him? 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.740 Not red stew 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.379 with meat in 00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.159 it, but he 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:58.139 gives him lentil 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.460 soup and bread. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.180 So we see that 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:02.000 Esau has just 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.099 traded that which 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.119 was most precious 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.559 to him for a 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.619 bowl of vegetable 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.159 soup. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.259 He doesn't even 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.559 get the red 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:11.919 stew. 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.639 He's a wild 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.159 man. 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:15.839 And so it's 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.859 keeping with his 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:19.279 character that 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.259 cements what we 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.199 know about Esau, 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:23.240 that he trades 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.159 away all of 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.639 this in a 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.059 moment. 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:27.419 And in 00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:28.519 closing, he 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:30.419 says, or the 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.319 writer says, 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.639 he despised his 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.180 birthright. 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:35.160 Esau trades 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.780 things that are 00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:36.600 eternal for 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.080 soup. 00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:38.500 He trades the 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.220 promises of 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.520 God not simply 00:28:40.520 --> 00:28:41.320 for the meaty 00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:42.000 stew, but for 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.720 that vegetable 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.180 soup. 00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:44.200 And as I think 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.420 about that, I 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.420 keep saying that 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.360 God is at work, 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.200 but it's hard to 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.000 see in the midst 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.500 of this. 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.560 It's hard to 00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:51.340 see in the midst 00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:52.660 of the sin of 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.600 favoritism of the 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.640 parents, the sin 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.340 of the brothers, 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.460 the sin of Esau. 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.400 And this is why 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.280 the writer of 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.160 Hebrews calls 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:02.200 him unholy. 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.500 Esau has 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.519 chosen, but he 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.399 didn't choose 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.480 God. 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.960 He chose his 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.299 stomach. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.720 To be fair, this 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.519 should serve as a 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.500 warning to us, 00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.779 that we don't 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.819 exchange things 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.779 that are unfading, 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.740 that are eternal, 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.359 that are life-giving 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.200 for things that are 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.940 temporary and 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.299 fleeting. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.379 But we do that 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.579 every day, even 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.319 if we're Christians. 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.839 We think about 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:26.559 what we're going to 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.920 eat, which is 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.339 important. 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:29.599 We think about 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.039 what we're going 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.439 to wear. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.339 We think about 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:31.839 what we're going 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.779 to go and do. 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:34.059 And those things 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.339 captivate our minds 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.019 and our attention. 00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.740 But we need to 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.059 fix our eyes upon 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.659 Christ. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.240 We think about 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.299 security and 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.240 better jobs and 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.939 better homes. 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.039 Those are all good 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.839 gifts, but those 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.859 are not eternal. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.579 If we walk away 00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.299 from this, though, 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:53.279 and think Jacob 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:55.019 is perfect, we've 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:56.919 missed the story. 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.439 I have a friend 00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.000 that's an Old 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.179 Testament guy, and 00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:02.259 he calls Jacob 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:04.619 positively obnoxious. 00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:07.279 And we'll see why 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.980 in the coming 00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.480 chapters. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.039 But even in this 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:12.500 instant, he is 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.259 obnoxious. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.639 And we'll see that 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.599 more and more as 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.919 Genesis unfolds. 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.379 God is at work in 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:19.359 spite of Esau's 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:19.639 sin. 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:21.119 God is at work 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.339 even in Jacob's 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.319 failing, in his 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.379 character flaws, 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:26.259 in his own sin. 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:28.019 And he uses us, 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.559 he uses him, he 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:31.420 uses others, because 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.819 God is at work in 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.859 spite of people. 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.900 And God is holding 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.279 out this promise that 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.660 will come later. 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.700 That even in a 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.759 family tree full of 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:44.019 tricksters and 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.220 cheats and bad 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.700 parents, he's 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.799 holding forth this 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:49.140 promise that he 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:50.259 will make all things 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.660 right. 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:52.059 And that one day he 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:52.940 would bring a 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:54.940 redeemer from this 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.420 family. 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.240 family, yes, even 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:58.880 this family, to 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.220 offer salvation and 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.660 to bless the entire 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:03.840 world. 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.620 God is at work. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.120 Even in the midst 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:08.920 of sin, God is at 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.259 work. 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.019 Even in 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:12.759 stew, he's at 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:14.420 work to bring us 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.240 to Christ. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.560 To bring Christ 00:31:17.560 --> 00:31:18.340 to us. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.640 Let's pray. 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:22.200 Lord, we're 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.860 thankful this 00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.500 morning for the 00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:25.940 reminder that you 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.520 are at work. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.200 That you're in 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.040 work in spite of 00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:29.820 sin, our own sin, 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:31.460 the failings of 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.420 this world, and you 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.820 use very unimpressive 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:35.400 people to make 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.259 these grand 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.440 promises come 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:37.860 true. 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.240 And we pray that 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.780 you might remind us 00:31:40.780 --> 00:31:41.880 of that through the 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.420 person of Jacob and 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:43.820 Esau. 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:45.200 God is at work 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:49.139 and we pray this in 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:49.759 Christ's name. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.299 Amen. 00:31:53.639 --> 00:31:54.859 Please stand as we 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.759 sing in response to 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:55.899 God.