Genesis 25-27

A Story of Attitudes! Esau didn’t sell his birthright, he lost it! One cared (Jacob) and one did not (Esau). Esau didn’t sell his birthright, he lost it!

Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? Doctrine & Covenants 132:37: they (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are Gods.

Genesis 25:8 “Gathered to his people” This is more evidence that the early patriarchs had a clear knowledge of gospel principles taught to them from Adam down to Abraham. This expression…denotes the reunion in Sheol with friends who have gone before. Sheol is the Hebrew word for the world of spirits where one goes when one dies, the equivalent of the spirit world. The Hebrews had not only a concept of life after death but also a correct concept of the intermediate place between death and the Resurrection.

Genesis 25:16 The Twelve Tribes of Ishmael The twelve tribes of Israel who eventually descended from Jacob are much discussed, but it should be remembered that another twelve tribes also came from Ishmael. Genesis 25:30-34 “The Birthright” Like Esau many of us experience failure or unhappiness because we trade what we want most for what we want at the moment. (Spiritual Foolishness)

Genesis 25:30 “The Edomites” “Edom means red.” The Edomites (descendants of Esau) played a significant role in the Old Testament, usually as antagonists to the Israelites. They inhabited the territory in and about Mount Seir between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. Esau’s descendants today are also found among the Arab nations.

The Birthright Blessing includes: blessings, powers, privileges and land inheritances. “The justification for this system in a large part lies in the preexistence preparation and training of those born in the lines destined to inherit preferential endowments” (Mormon Doctrine, 87). Esau placed little value on his birthright. His bodily needs were more important to him than the covenant. This rationalization seems to reflect more scorn on his part than hunger. Jacob would almost certainly have succored Esau freely if his life were in jeopardy. Additional evidence of this is Esau’s marriages to Canaanite women, which broke the covenant line (Genesis 26:34-35). If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead (Neal A. Maxwell).

Three Things the Firstborn Inherited: 1. Authority to preside (also Patriarchal blessings, sealing power). 2. A double portion of their Father’s possessions. 3. Responsibility of caring for mother and sisters.

Birthright Under the patriarchal order the right or inheritance of the firstborn is known as birthright. This generally included a land inheritance as well as the authority to preside. The firstborn of the flocks and of human families was considered as belongings to the Lord, and was expected to be dedicated to him. This dedication could be either literal or by the payment of redemption money (Exodus 13:11-16).

From time to time certain prerogatives, opportunities and blessings have attended those who were born of a particular lineage. Thus the office of high priest (of the Aaronic order) and the office of the patriarch to the Church (in the Melchizedek Priesthood) are hereditary in nature. Lineage alone does not guarantee the blessings or spiritual power of the office, but the opportunities are offered to the firstborn of the selected lineage. There are several instances in the scriptures of the one who was the firstborn losing his birthright because of unrighteousness, and his office being given to another; such is the case with Esau (Bible Dictionary, 625).

Genesis 25:34 Pottage comes in many forms, but each mess responds to appetites---like lust, hunger, status, wealth, praise, and so forth. It is in the darkness of dimmed perceptivity that such an appetite can cause us, like Esau, to despise our birthright and to surrender our possibilities. Succumbing to temptation is, therefore, not the result of one’s being grossly over programmed, but of grossly undervaluing oneself (Neal A. Maxwell, Notwithstanding My Weakness,” 78-79).

Genesis 27 Jacob obtains the Birthright from Esau. There is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father. Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. Joseph Smith, however taught that certain errors had crept into the Bible through “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” (Teachings, 327).

Rebekah is right! Isaac is wrong! Rebekah new by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant (Genesis 25:22-23). Jacob reluctantly gave into his mother’s wishes after she told him that she would take the responsibility for what they were about to do. Although these early patriarchs and their wives were great and righteous men and women who eventually were exalted and perfected, this fact does not mean they were perfect in every aspect while in mortality. These shortcomings do not lessen their greatness and their eventual perfection.

Genesis 27:37 Isaac could have cursed him, but he knew that it was right. Genesis 27:38 Esau was blessed, but like most of us he valued what he had lost after it was gone. Genesis 27:42 Rebekah averted a double tragedy (loss of both sons) one by murder and one by execution as the law would have required. Genesis 27:46 If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Jacob as a type or shadow of Christ: His brother lost his birthright. His brother hated him and sought to destroy him (Gen. 27:41) Overcame his brother (Gen. 27:37-40) Was promised that his followers would be stronger than those of his brother (Gen. 25:23) The chosen son A plain man (Gen. 25:27)