Jan 9 (Genesis 25-26)

Genesis 25

(vv.7-8) This chapter starts out with the death and burial of Abraham. We notice that Abraham and Sarah are buried in a foreign place, not where their ancestors lived. Since only Sarah preceded Abraham in death, it's interesting that the Scripture says that Abraham was "gathered to his people." This is a reference to "Abraham's Bosom" that Jesus spoke about in Luke 16:19-31. This is important to remember when our kids ask us where all the Old Testament faithful went to until the Christ frees them and takes them with Him to heaven.

(v.23) God is telling us early on, that the Jews would have a continuous enemy on earth...the descendents of Ishmael and Esau. God blessed them and made them strong in number, but they are to be subservient to the descendents of Isaac and Jacob, their younger brothers. Also, the Edomites (sons of Esau) served under King David.

I like to tie in current events to make this stick with my kids, and I show them that even today, the sons of Esau and the sons of Jacob are at odds. And all this goes back to the battle between Satan and God.

(vv.29-34) Esau didn't value his birthright as the oldest son to head the family. His emotions and pride were influencing him. We could also say that Jacob was quite cunning to take advantage of this, but I believe that God had orchestrated this from the start.

The firstborn status is significant and honorable. Jesus is called the Firstborn of all creation. Most of the time, the oldest son born to a family would have that status, but God's ways are not always man's ways. The term, firstborn is a status, not a lineage or order of birth. The Hebrew word used is arche, which we get our word, "architect" from.

My kids like to find all the examples of the firstborn status going to a younger brother:

Seth instead of Cain
Shem instead of Japheth
Isaac instead of Ishmael
Jacob instead of Esau
Judah and Joseph instead of Reuben
Moses instead of Aaron
David instead of all his brothers

Genesis 26

I like to point out two things in this chapter:

Isaac follows in the footsteps of Abraham by not telling the complete truth about his wife, and saying she is his sister. I point out that even though Isaac is sinning like Abraham did, God still uses him for great purposes.

Also, when Isaac was finally obedient and went to Beersheba like God told him to, Isaac started hearing from God again. It's like that with us...when we are walking with Him in obedience, we are in tune with Him, but when we get offtrack, we don't hear God so well.