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ESAU AND THE EDOMITES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Genesis 36-37

Psalm 18:6-10

 

“…Blessed is the man

that trusteth in Thee.”

 

ESAU AND THE EDOMITES
 
Genesis 36 concludes the account of Esau and his family. For despising his birthright, he had forfeited the covenant blessing. He lost both the successions to the headship of the clan and the inheritance of the land to younger brother Jacob. Nevertheless, God kept His promise to Abraham that he should be the father of many nations, and also the prediction to Rebekah: “…Two nations are in thy womb…” (Gen 25:23). From father Isaac, Esau received a lesser blessing: “Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother…” (Gen 27:39-40).
 
Esau was also called Edom, meaning “red,” for at birth he “…came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau” (Gen 25:25). Edom also harks back to the sale of his birthright. When Esau lusted after Jacob’s red pottage: “therefore was his name called Edom” (Gen 25:30). By his three wives, Esau had five sons. From these, a vast family of Edomites was built to become a nation.
 
Since Canaan was to be Jacob’s inheritance, God gave Esau a lesser inheritance around Mount Seir (Deut 2:5; Josh 24:4). This was the inheritance of the Edomites. From Genesis 33, we saw that after his affectionate reunion with Jacob, Esau returned in peace to Seir (Gen 33:16), southeast of the Dead Sea. Whereas once Esau had struggled for Canaan and would have warred over it, now he tamely retired to Mt Seir. God’s Word is mighty and powerful. His counsels shall certainly stand. They determine the course of things appointed, and set limits to man’s habitation.
 
So, for Abraham’s sake, Esau also received his portion of blessing, but it was, alas, of a temporal nature “…the fatness of the earth…” (Gen 27:28). From him came forth many dukes and kings who “lived by the sword” and became Israel’s enemies.
 
THOUGHT: Kings and kingdoms come and go. Only the King of kings is from everlasting to everlasting.

PRAYER: All glory and praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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