1. “The Fighting Twins” Genesis 25:19-34 01/31/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles

2. “The Fighting Twins”
With the death of Abraham the book of Genesis immediately switches to the next birth narrative, with the account of the wondrous things happening in Rebekah’s womb.

3. “The Fighting Twins” Introduction: The “Toledoth” of Isaac (25:19-20)
19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, (Gen. 25:19)

4. Genesis 25:20
20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. (Gen. 25:19-20)

5. “The Fighting Twins”
The Hebrew term toledot is derived from the verb yalad, “to give birth to.”
The fact that Isaac’s life is passed over is shocking when we consider how wondrously his life began.

6. “The Fighting Twins” The Birth of Twins (25:21-26).
Isaac’s Prayer and Rebekah’s Conception (25:21).
21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. (Gen. 25:21)

7. “The Fighting Twins”
In light of Rebekah’s barrenness, Isaac takes the initiative to pray.
Isaac had to persist in prayer for twenty years before God answered.
Rebekah’s Prayer and the LORD’S Oracle (25:22-23).

8. Genesis 25:22
22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. (Gen. 25:22)

9. “The Fighting Twins”
Although conception is a gift for this couple, it is also a mystery filled with conflict.
The verb “jostled” (ratzatz) would be better translated “crushed” (Judges 9:53).

10. Genesis 25:23
23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

11. “The Fighting Twins”
The two boys represent two nations who will be in perpetual conflict.
These two boys will differ in strength, but “the older will serve the younger.”

12. “The Fighting Twins”
God maintains the right to totally subvert the social order, and He makes no apology for the disruption it will cause.
Jacob’s life will be riddled with conflict from beginning to end.

13. “The Fighting Twins” The Birth and Naming of the Twins (25:24-26).
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. (Gen. 25:24)

14. Genesis 25:25
25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

15. Genesis 25:26
26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

16. “The Fighting Twins” Twins Divided from the Womb (25:27-34).
Differing Passions (25:27).
27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. (Gen. 25:27)

17. “The Fighting Twins” Divided Parents (25:28).
28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Gen. 25:28)
Favoritism on both sides will leave a legacy of damage for more than one generation.

18. “The Fighting Twins” Differing Priorities (25:29-34).
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) (Gen. 25:29-30)

19. Genesis 25:31-33 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

20. Genesis 25:34
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

21. “The Fighting Twins”
Esau will forever remain as the icon of what it means to throw away eternal reward for the sensual appetites of the moment.
15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Heb. 15:15)

22. Hebrews 15:16
16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

23. “The Fighting Twins” Lessons from the Twins.
The gift of being called - life from the dead.
We discover that for Isaac and Rebekah, a couple whose marriage was made in heaven, being chosen does not release them from pain.

24. “The Fighting Twins”
As children of promise we learn that for every generation life is the gift of God, one that can never be manipulated by man.

25. “The Fighting Twins”
The weight of being called – “the older will serve the younger.”
We learn from this couple that being chosen does not ensure a life free from conflict, but one destined for conflict.

26. “The Fighting Twins” The ambiguity of being called.
This election not only brings a weight to bear, but it has a certain ambiguity as well.
From a human standpoint, Jacob seems extremely flawed.

27. “The Fighting Twins”
God has chosen us and placed his holy seed within our souls, but the flesh remains at war against the spirit in a never ceasing battle (Gal. 5:17), like the conflict that these twins engaged in.

28. “The Fighting Twins” The hope of being called.
Despite all the ambiguity in life, God’s election still shapes history.

29. Romans 9:11, 16
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. (Rom. 9:11, 16)

30. “The Fighting Twins” Genesis 25:19-34 01/31/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles