Jacob and Esau, who do we resemble most?

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BenAvraham

Senior Member
Aug 30, 2015
838
254
63
#1
PARASHAH: TOLDOT (generations)

GEN 25:19-28:9....MAL 1:1-2:7.....MATT 10:1-11:30; ROM 9:6-13

This study starts out with the generations of Abraham and Sarah. After years of waiting and praying they finally had Yitzchak. The legacy continues, the promise of YHVH is revealed once more, but not without testing of faith. Yitzchak and Riv'kah also have to wait, about 20 years, yet they prayed and entreated the LORD to have a child. “The prayer of the righteous prevails” the following is from the Talmud (B. Yevamot 64: a)

“Why were our ancestors’ barren? Because the Holy One (blessed be He) longs to bless the prayers of the righteous”

Since Yitzchak and Riv’kah were righteous, and part of the covenant promise, YHVH (in HIS timing) answered their prayer. Does that mean that ALL prayer is answered? Yes, it is, but not always the way we want Adonai to answer it. The answer comes in three forms; Yes, No, and “later on” The sick are prayed over, and many are healed, others are prayed for, and YHVH takes them home. It doesn't mean to stop praying or pray once, God likes “continuous prayer” I prayed for 40 years for the LORD to reveal to me my biological family, and finally, about 4 years ago, HE DID! But in HIS timing.

The birth of “B'nei Yitzchak v’ Riv’kah” came as a surprise, “twins inside” and the battle ensued. Yet the LORD speaks to Riv'kah saying:

“Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people will be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger”

When we look at this today, we see prophecy revealed plainly as day. From “Ya'akov”, we get “Am Yisrael” the (Nation of Israel) and from “Esav” we get the name “Edom” which is almost the same as “Adam” with the exception of the “o” or in Hebrew the letter “Vav” (v) If we look at the paleo-Hebrew, one could get the symbolism of “Esau” who was made of “Blood and spirit” was connected (Vav) to “chaos” Esav was a “man of the earth, disinterested in spiritual things, he was materialistic, he related more to the “red” earth than the things of God. From “Esav/Edom” we get Haman (the Agagite) and from Haman, the nation of “Rome” was formed.

Rome was stronger and conquered a good part of the world, and Israel was under the yoke of Rome, YET today, we look at Israel, it has the strongest, and one of the most advanced and modern Military in the world. And it was indeed an honor to serve under the IDF two years ago, and I am looking forward to supporting the IDF again in the future.

Jacob and Esau, twin brothers but two separate nations, two brothers, yet worlds apart, One spiritual, interested in the things of God, then other, interested in the things of the world. Esau and Jacob represent the world of today. We have the “lost” “unrepented man” and we have the “born again believers” which include ALL who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah as LORD and Savior, doesn't matter if we are a Sabbath observing messianic believer, or a Sunday, church-going believer, we are ALL part of God's family.

Yet we see that Jacob exhibited “carnal behavior” he wanted things “his way” yet when God sent Jacob to uncle Laban's “school of hard Knocks” he came out different... (but that is in the next parashah). Jacob symbolizes “all believers” both carnal and spirit-filled. We ALL have growing and maturing to go through on this side of heaven.

I would like to take a look at three names; Adam, Edom, Esau, Jacob/Israel. How are we like these names? Adam and Edom are spelled almost the same. Adam was the first man made in the “image of Elohim” he was made from the earth, “Edom” means “red” perhaps the earth with which Elohim made Adam was a reddish color. Esau was a carnal man, and gave in to his hunger and ate of Jacob’s “red” lentil stew. Adam was made perfect in all ways, yet sin broke fellowship between him and God, thus, sin was passed down to all generations. Esau and Jacob, one could say were like “twins”. Yet one sought after spiritual things and the other, after carnal things. Jacob and Esau symbolize the spiritual man and carnal man, yet we can decide which “man” we want to follow and emulate

Esau despised his birthright for lentil stew, we can see the same today, many people will prefer a life of sin, money, fast cars, drugs, fame, you name it, and reject the gift of God, “Salvation” (YESHUAH) and then “perish” for all eternity. That's kind of like “exchanging” Eternal life with God for a “temporary life” of comfort and ease, riches, etc. Just doesn't make sense, does it?
We can also see this in believers. In believers, we have the “Esau” nature, and the “Jacob” nature. The “Esau” nature is our carnal sin nature, that responds to the flesh, but the “Jacob” nature, is our “spirit-filled” nature which is attracted to the things of the spirit, the things of God. It is our choice which “nature” governs our lives.

The time of blessing comes, Isaac is old and blind, and there has been a family “division” Esau “Loved” Esau (because of his wild game) yet Rebecca “loved” Jacob. Does that mean that Isaac didn't love Jacob and Rebecca didn't love Esau? No, only means that there were “family favorites” which is a big NO, if we are to live in peace with our children today, even between “students and teachers” no favorites, please!

We see in Chap 27, that Jacob passes for Esau, and Esau gets the shorter end of the stick. Taking advantage of poor Isaac's blindness, yet there is a saying “The chickens come home to roost” and “What goes around, comes around” We will see LATER, what happens, Jacob is the younger, and pretends to be the older. When Jacob gets married, he thinks he's getting the younger daughter but gets the older daughter. Jacob deceives Isaac in his “darkness” (blindness) and Jacob gets deceived being in the “darkness” (night time, dark tent) and maybe he had too much to drink to know who got in bed with him.

Esau doesn't change, he marries a “Hittite” woman and then gets another wife from his uncle Ishmael, all to “get back” (maybe) at Isaac for giving away his birthright, but didn't he already sell it? Hello?

So, the question is; “Jacob or Esau” who do we resemble most? It might be a thought-provoking question, but it is a question we must ask ourselves. We may be born-again believers, yet if our thoughts are earthly, and God’s Word doesn’t fill our minds daily. If our daily life is more carnal than spirit-filled, and our words are less than kosher, then, we would have to be honest with ourselves and say; “We are Esau!” yet it doesn’t have to be that way.

If we say; “I take after Jacob!” then, are we guided by God’s Word, his Spirit? Remember that his name was changed to “Israel” (Yashar-El) “Straight to God” Do our thoughts go “straight to God?” Are we living our own lives, or are we living the “God-in-us” lives? Is it really our life or God’s life that is within us?
 
Jul 9, 2020
846
492
63
#2
Jacob or Esau? Who do I resemble most? Hopefully neither one!

Esau was incredibly stupid. He had extremely short time preferences. Just absolutely pathetic.

But Jacob was worse. He was a swindling crook. A filthy con-artist. How bad of a person do you have to be to take advantage of your retarded brother like that?

I'll take Esau the ignoramus over Jacob the jerk any day of the week.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#3
I think scripture is quite clear; God chose Jacob because that's what God wanted to do. There was nothing about Jacob that merited God's favor.
Anything of merit that became Jacob in his life was planted and cultivated by God. In this is way alone do I desire to have any similarity with Jacob; that God in spite of my serious character defects would choose me and plant and cultivate something in me that is favorable to God.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#4
How do folks come up with this stuff?
Does turning Jacob into a spiritual minded man somehow make us capable of leveraging God's favor? Is God desperate for a few good men?
Hog wash! The whole load of it.
Reaching for some relevant topic to bent a mans ear, to twist his thinking, maybe if I be more spiritual I can garner Jacob-esque favor from God. Maybe God will give me Laban's flocks and herds, and his daughters to marry, and lands and a name among men.
What a promotion of self exhalation, and temptation to sin.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,230
6,526
113
#5
Jacob was renamed Israel by the Father. This is important in understanding his character, and how our Maker regarded Jacob.
 
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#6
Esau is the firstborn which represents our flesh man. Jacob is the second born which represent or second birth or spiritual man.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,612
274
83
#7
Esav was a “man of the earth, disinterested in spiritual things, he was materialistic, he related more to the “red” earth than the things of God.

Esau despised his birthright for lentil stew, we can see the same today, many people will prefer a life of sin, money, fast cars, drugs, fame, you name it, and reject the gift of God, “Salvation” (YESHUAH) and then “perish” for all eternity. That's kind of like “exchanging” Eternal life with God for a “temporary life” of comfort and ease, riches, etc. Just doesn't make sense, does it?
We can also see this in believers. In believers, we have the “Esau” nature, and the “Jacob” nature. The “Esau” nature is our carnal sin nature, that responds to the flesh, but the “Jacob” nature, is our “spirit-filled” nature which is attracted to the things of the spirit, the things of God. It is our choice which “nature” governs our lives.


Esau doesn't change, he marries a “Hittite” woman and then gets another wife from his uncle Ishmael, all to “get back” (maybe) at Isaac for giving away his birthright, but didn't he already sell it? Hello?

So, the question is; “Jacob or Esau” who do we resemble most? It might be a thought-provoking question, but it is a question we must ask ourselves. We may be born-again believers, yet if our thoughts are earthly, and God’s Word doesn’t fill our minds daily. If our daily life is more carnal than spirit-filled, and our words are less than kosher, then, we would have to be honest with ourselves and say; “We are Esau!” yet it doesn’t have to be that way.
It's a very good question. I have to say that I see this edomitic thinking in many believers despiteful attitude towards the Lord's supper or communion or the sacrament of the altar. They despise the reality of the real presence and think too low of the bread of wine being mere symbols. Leaning to their own materialistic and rationalistic thinking. Indeed I see Esau every time I hear the denials of this, seeing someone despising such blessing, which is rightfully his.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#8
It's a very good question. I have to say that I see this edomitic thinking in many believers despiteful attitude towards the Lord's supper or communion or the sacrament of the altar. They despise the reality of the real presence and think too low of the bread of wine being mere symbols. Leaning to their own materialistic and rationalistic thinking. Indeed I see Esau every time I hear the denials of this, seeing someone despising such blessing, which is rightfully his.
And there is a great irony about this.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
John 6:53‭-‬64 ESV

The same way they grumbled and couldn't accept it from Jesus himself is the same as today. Except they didn't try to rationalize it and continue on as if he meant something else.
He even explained to his disciples that his words are Spirit and truth. Not symbolic and ritualistic, but Spirit and TRUTH.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#9
Esau is the firstborn which represents our flesh man. Jacob is the second born which represent or second birth or spiritual man.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated.
Interesting