Genesis

Last night I listened to the entire KJV of Genesis. It is just as confusing as I remember it always being whenever I try to read it. Is it me or is it the case that there is always a choice between two boys, an older and a younger, whereby God always seems to favor the second born male. What's the meaning of that. And of those boys that are rejected, I feel so badly for them. They want love and approval and they get denied that. I understand why they might react with anger and jealously. So, what am I missing?

Are you talking about Jacob and Esau, or Cain and Abel. Or both?

Good question I suppose God wants to show us the nature of good and evil. The firstborn usually has all the priveliges simply by being firstborn but God often reverses this because he doesnt show favouritism unlike our earthly parents who often will favour the firstborn. Those of us who are a second born child, know this kind of insitnctively that...we will always be second best, get the handme downs, be treated as second. Our birth is never the miracle that a firstborns is to new parents . We cant disrupt the birth order.

God sees beyond that and looks at our character and the way we treat each other and respond to Him.

Welcome to CC, MMarie...
I suspect that part of the confusion you feel stems from an unfamiliarity with the culture of that day. The oldest son was typically given the bulk of the family assets; he was the "strength" of the family; their future. The second and other sons were naturally given something, perhaps just "gifts", depending on the number of sons. The sons would have expected this, having grown up in the culture.

When we inadvertently try to apply 21st-century values to stories that took place in a vastly different culture, we are likely to view those events with confusion, suspicion, or even derision. Remember also that God's purposes in those early years were different than His purposes for His church today.

If you haven't read the entire Bible, don't try to understand Genesis by itself. If you have, also look for materials that give you a better sense of the cultural context. Your statement that God "doesn't show favouritism" might need some reconsideration as well. Allow the Bible to inform your understanding of its culture, rather than imposing your cultural values on it.

A lot. Every person has a choice to do good and be righteous or do evil and be wicked. Cain was a wicked man, and Esau was a godless man. Everyone wants love and approval, but they will not get it if they choose to commit crimes or sacrilege.

The stories of God choosing one child and not another teach us of spiritual things.

Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice and Cain hated him for it. Jacob wanted the blessing of the firstborn and Esau gave it away for temporary satisfaction.

These things speak of Jesus and faith or unbelief in him. It's good to learn about what the New Testament says about these characters. What they teach applies to us today.
Like Ishmael and Isaac,

as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Gal.4:29

Take your time MMarie.

Throughout Scripture, God always sets aside the first and chooses the second.

Second Adam over the first Adam
Abel over Cain
Isaac over Ishmael
Jacob over Esau
David over Saul
NT over the Law
Etc...

The first represents the flesh, the second the spiritual

Whoa! All of Genesis in one evening. I'll bet the most impressive was all the genealogies: this begat him then he begat another. That is a bad way to start into the word. The way I always instruct those that are just starting: is to first get to thinking like God. A good way to do that is Proverbs. Just one chapter per day, think think about what you read.

If you can allow yourself two reading sessions a day, start with the Gospel of John. Next start into the Synoptic Gospels: say Matthew. Read that and then Acts. When your first reading is done say you have gone through 31 chapters of Proverbs about twice you can start Psalms.

Don't try to do more than two thirty minute sessions per day as you will just run it all together into a mishmash of information. Read then meditate, read then meditate. Pretty soon the Holy Spirit will be directing on just what read and just how long.

Yeah, that's what caught my attention. I wondered if it was my mistake to see such. The pattern makes more sense inserting Jesus as the second Adam though. It's also interesting see see it elaborated on, as you've done. Thanks.