Esau, the first born of Isaac, had choices to make. He made certain decisions in his life and brought the judgement of God upon his own family:
1. REBELLIOUS : He had the knowledge of his father’s desire and yet he decided to disobey.
“Esau knew that his father Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob, “You must not marry a Canaanite woman.” He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram. It was now very clear to Esau that his father did not like the local Canaanite women. So Esau visited his uncle Ishmael’s family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters, in addition to the wives he already had. His new wife’s name was Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son.”
Genesis 28:6-9 NLT
2. DESPERATION : He lost his father’s blessing and tried in desperation to acquire it in his own strength. He decided to enter into marriages and grow and expand.
“Esau married two young women from Canaan: Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite. He also married his cousin Basemath, who was the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.”
Genesis 36:2-3 NLT
3. REJECTION : Esau made a third decision to leave the land of his father. He rejected God as he moved to the land of Seir:
“Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle — all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob. There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired. So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.”
Genesis 36:6-8 NLT
From being a Privileged son of Isaac, in the line of Abraham, Esau became a Prideful person through every decision he made in his own wisdom. As a result Edom became an enemy of God and God’s people. God’s judgement was against the Edomites.
“The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’ you ask boastfully. But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.”
Obadiah 1:2-4 NLT
Today, is the day when we must decide which path we take? Jacob, returned to God and His people. Esau lost the path and went away from God and the land of his father. Let us all walk in the way of the Righteous God, the Life Giving God, God of Israel (El- Elohe- Israel)
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalms 119:105 NLT
Amen 🙏