The Book of Genesis
Part 70
The Generations of Esau and Jacob
Chapters 36 And 37
We have reached another transition in the book of Genesis. At this point of change the generations of Esau are merely listed; whereas, the generations of Jacob are given with considerable detail. Without doubt the Spirit of God is more interested in following the ancestry of the Messiah than engaging time and thought in the history of other peoples.
The Generations of Esau
From chapter 36 we learn that Esau founded a strong kingdom which advanced rapidly to a place of some importance. The number of dukes mentioned were probably governors who were able to provide a thousand men for the Edomite army.
Esau’s descendants, comparatively speaking, were more quickly organized to national status than were the descendants of Jacob. Alacrity and advancement are quite characteristic of the man of the flesh. The impressive enumeration of the names of these dukes may be in honour among men, but Christians might well rejoice that their names are written in Heaven rather than upon an honour-roll on earth.
A Canadian Christian who had been honoured by the Queen of England for his outstanding work, on being congratulated by a friend, replied, “Rejoice rather that your names are written in Heaven.”
As one follows the apparent success and the increasing strength of Edom as a nation and the slow development of Israel, he might be tempted to doubt the predictions made concerning Jacob and his posterity. In the blessing that Isaac pronounced upon Jacob he said, “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be Lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be everyone that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee” (Gen. 27:29).
Centuries later, Balaam, whom God forced to bless rather than to curse Israel, prophesied, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corner of Moab, and destroy all the children of Seth. And Edom shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly” (Num. 24:17-18). Seven and a half centuries were to pass before even a partial fulfilment of these prophecies appeared. God is not slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness, and what He has promised that He is able also to perform. Eventually, during the reign of David, the type of Christ the Star and Sceptre, it was recorded, “He put garrisons in Edom, throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David withersoever he went” (2 Sam. 8:14). David, God’s king over Israel, subdued Edom and ended temporarily the Edom monarchy. Thus “we have the word of prophecy confirmed; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Pet. 1:19, margin).