There is no way to know how absolute this pronouncement may be. Anything, any sin, any behavior, any thought pattern, any god we place before the Holy One—anything that would keep us from receiving our birthright—is our bowl of lentils. Just as stew boils up under heat, so Edom puffs herself up thinking that she is self-reliant and invincible. The story begins as the Israelites are fleeing from Egypt, having just crossed the Red Sea, as Exodus 17:8 chronicles, "Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim." The opening words of Numbers 24:17 emphasize the long-range nature of this final prophecy. Many of the 400 men, then, were probably Horites, relatives of Esau's wife. Forty years later, when Israel is about to cross over Jordan, God reminds Israel of Amalek's perfidious act and charges them: Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. If we look at what the author of Hebrews says, the view that Esau is an illustration of somebody who is not a child of God must be rejected. God simply exercised His sovereign right as Creator God to do completely and totally according to His will. Hatred against a brother can lead a person to terrible acts, most often underhanded ones. What is Your Bowl of Lentil Stew? ... Esau was not a child of God. So, a promise of the cleansing of the Israel people as God destroys Esau-Edom, or the enemies of the Israel people. What sinful pattern of living could be keeping us from inheriting all things? ." Soon thereafter, their "ally" Nebuchadnezzar took over their lands as he had done to Judah (see Jeremiah 27:3, 6), and it was not long before the Nabateans pushed them out of their ancestral homeland and into southern Judea, where they remained a subject people. "Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.". The Amalekites appear again in the well-known episode in which God instructed King Saul to carry out this command: Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. They were slaves in Egypt. It appears that Isaac gravitated toward him almost instinctively. The details revealed in Obadiah support such a conclusion. It also led him to bitterness. Would he have had a greater appreciation for the birthright then? I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. However, he was persistent and persevering, and over a lifetime, he became a better man by far than his brother. God's revelation to Rebekah regarding the struggling twins is that two kinds or types of people were in her womb. These benefits were not real to him; he could not touch them. It was easy for the Edomites to believe themselves to be invincible due to the nearly uninhabitable territory they dwelled in. All About Edom (Part Two). Here, in this end-time prophecy, Edomites are still living in this inhospitable place. 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.". He determines His purpose and starts affairs rolling toward its fulfillment by inspiring an idea. He concludes by saying, "[T]hose who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (verse 21). People usually only sell something when they value something else more. The first part of Numbers 24:19 is a clear reference to Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49:10: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, . Hebrews 12 contains a similar metaphor of running. Deuteronomy 2:12, 22 records that the Edomites destroyed and perhaps absorbed a branch of Horites living in Seir, taking their land for themselves. Would we rather be free or have good food? Esau embodies this sort of godlessness. But nonetheless, Jacob would be the son of the promise. They were all related by marriage and blood! The biblical account of the life of Jacob is found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 25–50.. Jacob and Esau's birth. Esau came home in this condition and did his thinking and reasoning in this weakened state. He was careful to include specific details about who was born to whom and who ruled this or that area. Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, were in many ways blessed by God (Genesis 33:9; Genesis chapter 36). If most of Esau's time was spent out in the wild, how would he have been able to tackle the responsibilities of governing flocks and herds, gold and silver, male and female servants, donkeys and camels, as well as being his family's head and leader? God indeed blessed Esau, as Genesis 27:39-40 delineate: Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. God encapsulates the reason for His terrible judgment against Edom into a single word: "violence." This flaw became a prime feature of Edomite character. . When we hold a grudge, we’ve failed to acknowledge God’s goodness and providence over our lives. . Will there be, perhaps, some few Edomite survivors counted among those who are converted—who become part of spiritual Israel, in effect? They were too far in the future; they were not present at the moment. Readers of the midrashic texts quoted above might assume that the rabbinic association of Esau with Rome points to God’s unequivocal rejection of Rome and Christianity. The Sovereignty of God: Part Three. If any people would form and lead a confederacy against the Israelites, it would be Edom. Verse 16 mentions that Amalek became a chief among the Edomites. . Rather than humbly bowing before His will that the older shall serve the younger, Edom has waged perpetual war against Jacob's descendants. This reveals the mindset of Esau and his descendants, the Edomites. Edom's hatred is the primary consequence of his pride. For those of you looking to engage scripture in a fresh way, these studies/plans will refresh your soul and engage your mind. For most of us, these are ingrained patterns of life that we must overcome. Esau had built up a considerable following, amassing an army of 400 men (Genesis 32:6; 33:1). In fact, he valued his life far above his inheritance. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Even though it has secured political power in Palestine, it will not renounce its perpetual hatred against the state of Israel—not even to become a viable player on the world stage. He is not labeled as worldly like his twin but a true man of faith like his father and grandfather before him. We could be working so hard laboring for the meat that perishes that we ignore and neglect the spiritual food and promises God has offered us. The way Paul explains this love-hate concept shows God displayed His "hatred" before either Esau or Jacob had ever done a thing, and that His choice of Jacob expressed His love. Once Isaac had given his - really God's - blessing, there was nothing left for Esau. If he wanted anything done, Esau was a man who could do it. We can use this godly insight and power to learn and grow in the way of living that will please God. The "Land of Hatti" was the major empire of Abraham's time, having the commercial, cultural, and military power to influence the entire Levant. It is a privilege to be called of God and chosen of God. All About Edom (Part Five): Obadiah and God's Judgment. As we have learned over the years, the birthright contained a two-fold promise: physical promises and spiritual promises. Zechariah 2:8 describes Israel as "the apple of His eye." Paul judges him as "profane," which marks a person as irreverent toward what is sacred. In this oracle, the time setting jumps forward to the end time and the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings. Genesis 27 shows Jacob, with Rebekah's urging, using food, clothing, and craftiness to take advantage of Isaac's blindness and deceive him. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Each son's approach toward and manner of life irritated the other. Between them and their prize, however, walked a strung out line of Israelite wanderers, who seemed to be, not only laden with Egyptian loot, but also easy pickings. However, Esau did evil in the eyes of God, and God just stopped chastising or punishing Him. A survey of recent Middle East history shows how Hamas has set itself against the Jews; no other group bears such vehement hatred for them. . Whatever the case, until this point the birthright was Esau's. Are we letting covetousness become a bowl of lentils? What must we do to cherish rather than despise our far more glorious inheritance? Our birthright, as firstfruits of God, makes Esau's birthright seem trivial. Unlike the more volatile Esau, Jacob's temperament was virtually devoid of peaks and valleys. . There is a line of the children of Seth in Genesis 5 up to Noah and then in Chapter 6 we read: Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair Esau married into the Canaanite devil seed line (Genesis 26:34-35; 28:1-9). If the aged Abraham had held him in his arms (and that seems to have been the case) he would have looked at him as the one in line to inherit the promises God had made to him. Esau's impulsive, unholy, live-in-the-now lifestyle was about to cost him and his descendants dearly. Esau moved through life without thought of God, and that resulted in foolish choices. When Jacob betrayed him and stole his blessing, Esau couldn’t handle the injustice, so he held a grudge (Genesis 27:41). Perhaps Paul had Habakkuk in mind as he wrote it, since he quotes Habakkuk in Hebrews 10:37-38. It would quickly flare into anger and then subside just as quickly, so that it was difficult for him to hold a grudge. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed" (verse 9). God sent the prophet Samuel to tell Saul that He had rejected him as king, as well as to execute Agag. In actuality, Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawima al-Islamiyya, the Islamic Resistance Movement. Evidently, Esau's wife "Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite" (verses 1, 24) was also a Horite, who were the people who "inhabited the land" of Seir (verse 20). That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. . Or, it could be the pleasures of this life, the vanities of this age, or unconquered sins. It is not that God hated Esau (although I understand that this is what is said literally in both Malachi 1:2 and in Romans 9:13). "Cooked" would be better translated "boiled" or "seethed." The theme for verses 17 and 18 is found in Malachi 1:2-3: "I have loved you," says the LORD. Habakkuk 3:3 shows the area of Teman in parallel with Mount Paran, which some consider to be a poetic reference to Mount Sinai, but it more likely refers to Mount Seir in central Edom. No, He did it because He is God. The two men prepare for their meeting like warriors about to enter into battle. Paul reminds us that the stories God includes in the Old Testament are there to help us avoid making the same mistakes (I Corinthians 10:11-12). Other scriptures also show Jacob cunningly deceiving Laban, his father-in-law. He treasured his time out in the wild, and he had dedicated his life to pursuing the chase. This little book confirms, not only Edom's part in the confederacy against Israel, but also that the evil alliance is joined at the end time. Any mind that lacks the Holy Spirit will, like Esau's, be limited in its outlook, unstable to some degree, and focused on itself. God says through the prophet Amos, "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity; his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever" (Amos 1:11). We should never settle for temporary relief if it will knock us off the path! Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. It is interesting that each parent favored the son whose characteristics were most unlike him or her. We would likely find him to be frank, impulsive, generous, even chivalrous—but also careless and sensuous. By treasuring this "wild" existence over his birthright, Esau displayed how irresponsible he was toward it. From the outset, these two characters were complete opposites. Despise is a strong word, meaning "to be scornful" or "to treat with contempt." They go through their days thinking that what they see in front of them is all there is to reality. The coming of the Messiah is "not now" and "not near"; indeed, it would be 1,400 years until His coming as the Son of Man and another 2,000 years or more until His return as King. This could not have been the only food in the camp of a very wealthy man like Isaac; it was merely the first food he came to. The Amalekites, descended from Amalek, a grandson of Esau, fall naturally into the anti-Israel alliance. One consequence of this is prophesied in verse 40: There will be continual strife between the "have," Jacob, and the "have-not," Esau; they would engage in a constant, internecine quarrel over "the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven." However, Esau could not imagine the unimaginable wealth, power, military might, political impact, and world leadership his descendants could have. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." Obviously, some Amalekites escaped Saul's army. In this case, a national leader decides to send an ambassador to other nations to form a military alliance against Edom. I can relate to this situation, having grown up hunting and fishing. Jacob, however, is described as a "mild man," which in Hebrew suggests he was a complete person, that is, he had a well-rounded personality and could divide his energies among a number of projects and interests. you . "Field" is sadeh, translated as "country," "field," "ground," "land," or "soil." We need to understand that Esau was not a vile person. The Edomite challenge at the end of Obadiah 1:3 bears some scrutiny: "Who will bring me down to the ground?" Having an upset stomach or being somewhat queasy just does not compare with the abnormal amount of jostling and grappling the unborn brothers were doing. The book of John Chapter 1 verse 12 says " But as many as received Him, to them He gave the… All About Edom (Part Five): Obadiah and God's Judgment. Remember Jacob had a twin brother Esau and both boys were the grand children of Abraham, and the children of Isaac. When God repeats Himself, He is usually trying to convey an important matter. They felt invulnerable, and this filled them with pride. Is it worth it? It seems that their parents played favorites, as unfortunately occurs too often in families. He was always planning how to get the upper hand and the best of a deal to come out on top. In Marilynne Robinson’s novel, Gilead, the old pastor, John Ames, laments the sort of religious person who, in his pride, works hard at defending the truth without having first experienced it. Those among the nations who are scheming against Edom are merely agents God will use to fulfill His decree. He was a man’s man, a skilled hunter, and a daddy’s boy—the favored son. How quickly they forgot! Abraham's descendants would ultimately be a force for good on the planet, especially because from Israel would come the Messiah. Richard T. Ritenbaugh God has chosen the Jews, and God has chosen the Christians, who are the real children of … These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife." THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE HAVE BEEN LED TO PRIZE IT AND TO TRUST THE FAITHFUL PROMISER. Jacob obviously valued it, although he obtained it by trickery and deceit. (From Forerunner Commentary). If we cannot or will not realize what God has offered us, we can let such great a prize slip away as tragically as Esau spurned his birthright (Hebrews 2:1; 12:14-17). The point is clear. Otherwise, they could feel secure because their fortresses were carved out of the rock, so they could either hunker down for long periods or engage in guerilla warfare. Compare these blessings, however, with what God gave Jacob, or Israel. However, Isaac preferred Esau. You shall not forget. Passover and I Corinthians 10. I chose to side with the moderate majority who were willing to accept the offer of the school board, an offer that was very close to what we had asked for. Indeed, God's relationship with Israel is a driving factor behind Edom's hot anger—it is essentially jealousy! In introducing the family of Esau, Moses includes the names and derivations of Esau's wives: "Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth" (Genesis 36:2-3).