The Book of Genesis
Part 69
The Divided Household
Chapter 35:21-37:2
Said one thinker to another, “The more I consider God and His infinite grace, the greater becomes the problem in my mind as to why God discriminated between Isaac’s two sons, saying, ‘Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.’ Why should He hate the one and not the other?”
“The hatred of God is not my problem at all,” replied the other. “My problem is, why should God love Jacob?”
Thank God for the deep mystery of His love! When men merited only His hatred, He loved them and gave His only begotten Son for them.
Long before Christ became incarnate, the Lord intimated the truth that Christ Jesus, in the days of His flesh, stated clearly, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53).
It is difficult to appreciate that God in His grace should choose to save some while others are left in their natural sinful state. This divine purpose has been defined: “God, that Sovereign Being who has an absolute right to do what He will with His own, having determined to create man and to leave him to the freedom of his own will, foreseeing he would certainly fall; of His own free distinguishing love, chose a certain number out of the apostate race of Adam, and ordained them to a participation of grace here, and to the enjoyment of glory hereafter” (The Reign of Grace, Abraham Booth).
The natural man cannot discover any accord between the acts of the Sovereign Being and the freedom of the human will. This, nevertheless, is understandable, God has decreed that all who trust the redemptive work of Christ are destined for heaven; whereas, all who refuse to confide in that accomplishment, endure the reasonable consequence of sin, which is hell. Man is left to the freedom of his own will to make a choice between these.
Let us consider the records of this divided family. In the generations of Jacob, by the grace of God, is the scarlet line of redemption, the scarlet line of the Messiah. In the generations of Esau, by his profane act (Heb. 12:16-17), is the scarlet line of sin, the scarlet line of lawlessness and rebellion.
Jacob and Esau United
The account of the death of Isaac appears here in anticipation of the actual event. From a comparison of the ages of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it appears that Isaac did not die until Joseph had been in Egypt for ten to twelve years. No doubt the record is inserted here in order to show that Jacob was the true heir and head of the household. The indulgent father Isaac and the fugitive restored son must have enjoyed times of sweet fellowship together. Isaac, the man of the home, mellowed by quiet communion, and Jacob, the man of many experiences, matured by conflict, defeat and victory probably found secret delight in those years together.
Eventually, at 180 years of age Isaac died, and his sons Jacob and Esau buried him. In this narrative the place of burial is not mentioned, but when Jacob gave instructions for his own burial, he asked to be buried beside Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah (Gen. 49: 29-31). It is interesting to know that the three greatest patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all rest in the cave at Machpelah awaiting a glorious resurrection.
The two brothers, Jacob and Esau, were brought together by their common bereavement. They were still suspicious the one of the other; their natural dispositions conflicted and made them hostile rivals. Such a condition is very sad in any household, but it is increasingly so within a Christian household. Men, natural brothers and professing Christians, have been known to act toward each other as if they were without even natural affection. A scathing rebuke to all such may be found in chapter two of John’s First Epistle.
Jacob and Esau Separated
To see two brothers permanently part company is tragic, and we might well enquire into the reasons why. Probably there were certain natural qualities as well as some spiritual influences which contributed to this matter. Of course, it can be argued that wealth alone caused the division between them. “Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan: and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together” (Gen. 36:6-7). Notwithstanding, the great contrast drawn between these two brothers in the Epistle to the Hebrews convinces one that there are causes deeper than material riches.
In a general review of Esau’s life there are many commendable features, but an analysis of deeper characteristics reveals Esau as a neglectful person for he despised his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34); disrespectful, he married a daughter of a Hittite and grieved his parents (Gen. 26:34-35); changeable, later he sought the blessing with tears (Gen. 27:34); compromising, the second time he married, he took a kinswoman, an Ishmaelite, in order to win the favour of his father (Gen. 28;9). To these traits we might add that he was revengeful, he determined to slay Jacob (Gen. 29:41; 33:1). In spite of many admirable qualities, Esau was an unreliable self-centred person.
Jacob, as we have seen, was shrewd to an objectionable degree, but he valued spiritual things and sought after them, although he did so in a wrong way. He certainly was respectful to Isaac and Rebekah, and brought God into his life. One recalls his visit to Bethel. Jacob himself is an example of great love and of deep devotion, and his consideration for others is evidenced along the return route from Padan Aram.
There are moral differences between these two men which could cause them to separate, but the real point of division rests not in wealth or moral traits and standards, but in spiritual relationship to God. We read, “By faith Abraham, … sojourned in the land of promise, … dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11:9).