3. Birth of Jacob and Esau Isaac’s Faith vs. Abraham’s Faith Isaac is sixty years old Twenty years after his marriage to Rebekah Abraham had waited twenty-five years when he and Sarah began to doubt and thus came Ishmael Isaac, on the other hand prayed for his wife’s barrenness (Gen. 25:21) and she had twins

4. Birth of Jacob and Esau The Birth of Twins Ordained to Reveal Election Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb causing Rebekah to inquire from the Lord Remember, she did not know she was having twins! Where did she go “to inquire of the Lord?”

5. Birth of Jacob and Esau God’s answer to Rebekah relates to the doctrine of election Genesis 25:23 / Romans 9:10-12—The original language emphasizes that both men came from the same act of intercourse thus removing all possible objections (i.e.; conceived in sin, etc.) The prophecy is fulfilled completely with Jacob’s descendants (Israel) ruling over Esau’s (Edom) This also why Esau’s descendants (Edom) are perennial enemies of Israel

6. The Stolen/Reclaimed Blessing Esau despises his birthright Esau sells the birthright for “red bean soup” Esau is nicknamed “Red” thus the name Edom The Binding Nature of Isaac’s Blessing Attested to in the Mari and Nuzi texts Questions raised by the episode of the stolen blessing How God’s sovereignty interacts with man’s freewill Does God ever honor the words and will of a man?

7. The Stolen/Reclaimed Blessing Rebekah’s Faith and Isaac’s Failure Rebekah acts in accord with the prophecy Isaac’s actions contradict the prophecy What the Lives of Esau and Jacob Reveal Esau’s life shows how the life of an “unchosen” man fulfills its “unchosenness” Jacob’s life shows how the life of the “chosen” fulfills its “chosenness” (see Genesis 27:13, 43 and 28:7)

8. Flight From Esau Isaac’s Second Blessing Reasons for Jacob’s Flight Esau vowed to kill him Rebekah did not want Jacob to marry a Hittite or Canaanite Jacob was obedient (HE WAS 77 YEARS OLD!)*

10. Twenty Years in Haran Jacob’s Two Wives (When 1 + 1 = 4) Jacob tricked into marrying Leah Jacob marries Rachel one week later Jacob’s Children (“the war of the wombs”) Jacob’s twelve sons (*see chart handed out in class) Jacob’s daughters