Bible Survey - #7 - Genesis 25-35

The Next Generation of the Promise

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob and his twin brother Esau. Before the two boys were born, God revealed to their mother Rebekah that Jacob, the younger, would be the child of the promise in his generation.

The way that this was fulfilled was not automatic or easy. Jacob took advantage of his brother's weaknesses in order to purchase a claim to the birthright that Esau did not at first value. Much later, when Isaac was reaching the end of his life, Rebekah and Jacob schemed together to deceive Isaac into giving his blessing to the younger son that God Himself had chosen so long ago.

Esau hated his brother, and he wanted to murder him. The Lord was with Jacob throughout decades of difficulty and struggle. God spoke again to him the promise that was given to Jacob's father and grandfather. More than this, He showed Jacob a ladder reaching up to heaven, that would one day be revealed to be Jesus, the Son of God. Jacob knew that he had seen the house of God.

Through the struggles of His life, and ultimately through His wrestling with God, Jacob became Israel. He learned that there was nothing more important to His future than the blessing of God. He became a man who could instruct His family to turn away from false gods.

The path of life is not an easy road.

The promise that we have by grace is sure,

But we must learn to follow Christ the Lord.

Through trial Jacob would be Israel.