GENESIS 36 SUMMARY OF A GENERATION The last verses of chapter thirty-five and chapter thirty-six, list the descendants of Jacob and Esau. Truly, the promise to Abraham that he would be “the father of many nations,” is a fact. Not only Israelis, but many of the Middle East tribal groups are descendants of Esau as the Jews are from Jacob.
Reading through the lists of names of Esau’s family like Edomites, we find Teman. Eliphaz the Temanite was one of Job’s friends. Job was from Uz, so he probably lived somewhere in Edom. Amalek, the enemy of the children of Israel, was one of the chiefs of Edom. His tribe was the first to come against the children of Israel when they left Egypt. Before Israel had a king, there was a monarchy in Edom.
There was a separation between Esau and Jacob when they were both in the land of Canaan because of the need of pasture land to support the livestock each had. When Esau moved to Mount Seir, he also took more wives and had children by them as well as by the Canaanite wives he had earlier.
In spite of many errors and failures, the children of Israel were of the spiritual line which can bring the fruits of truth being transmitted through that nation to other nations. The principles of life being lived as God intends were clearly taught and written down by Moses for our instruction as well as that of the Jews. In Esau’s descendants the fruit of the flesh is exposed. Some was of good quality and some was bad, but they were all of the flesh. Fleshly things may seem like good fruit, but the true nature of the flesh will always be fleshly.
Ultimately, there will be war between that which is of the flesh and that which is of the Spirit of God. The Edomites would not allow the children of Israel to cross their land on the way to the promised land four hundred years later. Under the rule of David as king of Israel, Edom was subject to Israel. Then when Israel failed as a nation, Edom rebelled and rejoiced at the fall of Israel. The bitterness remained after generations had passed, because there is no way that which is of the flesh, can co-exist with that which is spiritual. The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit can be experienced in the personal life of a believer, and it leaves them unhappy, conflicted and dysfunctional as a Christian.
Thankfully, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
ESAU, A PROFANE PERSON The twin sons of Isaac are a study in contrasts. Outwardly, Esau must have been attractive and his life was interesting. Jacob seemed to be unattractive in personality because of his sly ways and unappealing house-bound interests. We have to learn as we live and deal with people, to take them as they are. People change as years pass and to pass judgment on them by what they once were or how they fit our criteria as to what is attractive, can be very wrong.
“Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” The right principles of living, and the practice and conduct of a person life can change when a person comes to Christ for salvation and are changed by the new birth and new nature given to a believer. It is up to us to determine what is important and apply it ourselves to things that are eternal rather than things that are temporal. Appropriate practice and conduct are not automatically learned. We choose who we will serve and how we will live.
Esau’s history gives us insight into one born into privilege, who thinks they are entitled to have given to them whatever they want. He was favored by his father, but even so, “despised his birthright.” His true character was revealed in that, even before Jacob offered the food Esau wanted in exchange for his birthright, he had considered his birthright of no real value to him. Each of us need to take the time to consider what is of real importance in our life. The accumulation of money, goods and property are things that most people place a high value on. We need to realize as the children of God, that we have this opportunity while living here on earth, to lay up treasure in heaven.
Esau’s marriage to two Canaanite women, was a deliberate act on his part to be connected with the world system around him, rather than to be known as the heir of Abraham and Isaac. The principles of faith and living by faith were far from his area of interest. He lived for the moment as do many people today who think “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” is what life is all about.
Esau again took matters into his own hands when he realized what he had done, and Jacob had left for Haran with his father’s blessing. Perhaps he thought by taking a wife from Ishmael’s family, he could retrieve his position at least in the eyes of Isaac and Rebekah. For all of his hot-headed ways, he seemed to have a warm-heartedness about him that Jacob didn’t have. But none of the charm and nice characteristics of the man outwardly, reached to his soul. He, and those after him of his tribe, continued to demonstrate hostility toward Jacob and the children of Israel.
Esau’s character traits seemed to be that of a person with a bright outward disposition who wasn’t easily troubled by what went on around him as long as he could do what he wanted. However, under the bright exterior was a man of an impulsive nature who could bear a grudge and a bitter spirit. He was a “profane” (sensual) man who lived to satisfy himself, his physical desires and would sacrifice whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t seem to want anything to do with God.
This characteristic is true of those who live for themselves and what they can get. Some people avoid any teaching about God and determine to put God out of all their thoughts, lest they become troubled by a guilty conscience. The root problem in the life of any person who lives a purely secular life, is that they are like the person who said, “No God for me!”
Superficial attractiveness is not enough to give meaning to life. Advantages such as personal attractiveness, financial success, opportunities to advance in the eyes of the people and even a certain moral integrity, are not enough to form a spiritual relationship with God that will last forever. People may surround you when you please them, but superficial things do not last very long, and then their deceptiveness is exposed and the person is forgotten.
Divine grace is essential for salvation from sin and it is also essential for the development of Christian character. A new nature bestowed by God’s grace, opens the door to a whole new life that rises way above anything education, circumstances and opportunities may give a person. Faith in Christ gives us a life that is abundant and coordinates our life with the life of our Lord. It is then “Christ is our life.”
We all have opportunities to be what God intends, but what we do with those opportunities depends on us. A person can grow up in a godly home with loving Christian parents, and yet reject all that was taught and their spiritual influence. To deliberately set aside what we have been taught may be the greatest lost opportunity a person will ever have.
Esau finally realized the importance of what he had discounted as of little value and had despised. But he could never get it back even though he wept bitter tears. Tears of regret are not repentance toward God. An awakened conscience and unfulfilled hopes do not mean that self-will gives way to faith in God. God is righteous and He gives opportunities to all men everywhere to repent and come in faith to Him and be saved. But a person does “reap what they sow.” “He that being often reproved and hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Divine grace demonstrated by the wonder of God’s mercy should never be taken lightly. Our responsibilities in life may sometimes make us stop and take account of what we have done and compare that with what we should have done. We can’t undo what has been done that is wrong, but thankfully, “God is long-suffering, and is not willing that any should perish,” and He wants all to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth. Esau’s tears of regret and remorse did not bring him to the place of repentance. He wanted things on his own terms and walked away rejecting revealed light. His seed became a nation because of the promise of God to Abraham and Isaac, not because he deserved it or earned it.
Thankfully, there are those from the heritage of Esau who have been saved and will be saved even though he was lost. “Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation,” there are those whom have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and who will enjoy the eternal blessings of God that are promised to any person who will come in personal faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.