Sunday School
A Troubled Birth
Genesis 25:19-34
Lesson 10 November 4, 2018
Even before the twin sons were born, they struggled against each other in Rebekah's womb. She was so concerned about this that she asked the Lord why this struggling was occurring. The Lord answered her in the form of a prophecy: "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." (Genesis 25:23 NLT).
One day, when Esau came back from hunting, he was extremely hungry and asked Jacob for some of the stew he was cooking. Jacob bargained with him and said he would give him some stew if he gave him his birthright. Esau was so hungry that he agreed and thus gave away his birthright.
The father's blessing was different from the birthright. The blessing was being a pronouncement made by the father to his sons of what he envisioned for their lives. Normally, the most valued blessing would be given to the firstborn son. But, as we will discover in the lesson for next week, Jacob and Rebekah tricked Isaac into giving Jacob the most favored blessing: "May many nations become your servants. May you be the master of your brothers. May all your mother's sons bow low before you. All who curse you are cursed, and all who bless you are blessed." (Genesis 27:29 NLT). Isaac thought he was giving the blessing to Esau, but his poor eyesight and other measures taken by Jacob and Rebekah deceived him.
Those of us who have been a party to sibling rivalry know one child can grow up disliking the other simply because the other did better in school or some other activity and, as a result, got more praise. The challenge to parents is to let all their children know they are special to them.
Based on First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, TN
Submitted by Donna Reed
Beth Eden Baptist Church
Dr. Craig M. Jenkins, Pastor