INTRODUCTION:  This lesson gives several examples, both negative and positive, of waiting on God.  Isaac waited on the right bride.  He also waits on the promised offspring (as opposed to his father who went in to Hagar).  He seeks God’s help through prayer.  Rebekah prays for an answer to the dilemma of the struggle in her womb and God gives her special insight into His plan.

On the negative side of waiting on God, we have both Jacob and Esau.  We hear most about Esau’s willingness to sell his birthright, but Jacob is not waiting on God either.  He uses advantage, and bargains for that which God would have eventually given him anyway.

1. GODLY MARRIAGE (Genesis 25:19-20 [19] And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: [20] And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
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1. The Generations of Isaac – from Terah’s sons
1. Haran – Lot
2. Nahor – Bethuel – Laban & Rebekah
3. Abraham – Isaac – Jacob & Esau
2. Isaac’s Marriage to Rebekah
1. He took her to wife
2. When he was forty years old
2. ANSWERED PRAYER (Genesis 25:21-23 [21] And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. [22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. [23] And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
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1. Isaac’s Prayer for Children (Genesis 25:21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
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1. Isaac’s intercessory prayer – he “intreated the LORD for his wife.”
1. To intreat means to make an earnest appeal.
2. Done as a subject approaches a king (Proverbs 18:23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
   See All...; Proverbs 19:6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
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2. Isaac’s answer to prayer – his wife conceives.
2. Rebekah’s Prayer for Understanding (Genesis 25:22-23 [22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. [23] And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
   See All...; James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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1. The cause of her prayer (Genesis 25:22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
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1. The struggle in her womb
2. The doubts in her soul
1. “If it be so” – If God has answered our prayer in giving us a child
2. “Why am I thus?” – Why is God’s blessing causing such a struggle in me?
2. The answer to her prayer (Genesis 25:23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
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1. She has twins.
2. The twins will head two different nations.
3. The twins represent two different manner of peoples.
4. The “elder shall serve the younger.”
3. BIRTH OF TWINS (Genesis 25:24-26 [24] And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. [26] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
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1. The Day of Delivery (Genesis 25:24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
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2. The Birth of Esau (Genesis 25:25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
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1. Born first
2. Red in appearance
3. Hairy all over
4. Named Esau, which means hairy
3. The Birth of Jacob (Genesis 25:26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
   See All...a)
1. Born second
2. His hand held Esau’s heel.
3. Called Jacob, which means heel-catcher or supplanter (Genesis 27:36And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
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4. The Age of Isaac (Genesis 25:26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
   See All...b) –sixty years old
4. THE BOYS GREW (Genesis 25:27-28 [27] And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. [28] And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
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1. Esau
1. A cunning hunter
2. A man of the field
3. Esau was the strong, silent type who loved manly activities like the hunting.  He took what he wanted by force.
4. Favored by Isaac (because of his venison)
2. Jacob
1. A plain man
2. A dweller in tents
3. Jacob was by no means effeminate.  However, he did not stand out among men as did his brother Esau.  He was “plain” in that he did not impress with his stature or bearing.
4. Favored by Rebekah (probably because of the prophecy)
5. THE BARTERED BIRTHRIGHT (Genesis 25:29-34 [29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: [30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
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1. Jacob Sod Pottage (Genesis 25:29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
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1. To sod means to cook by boiling; it is an older form of the word seethe.
2. Pottage is a thick soup or stew made of vegetables; sometimes meat and vegetables.
3. This pottage was made of lentils (Genesis 25:34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
   See All...), a vegetable of the pea family.
4. The lentils were red (Genesis 25:30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
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2. Esau Bargained for the Pottage (Genesis 25:29-33 [29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: [30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
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1. Esau came from the field faint with hunger (Genesis 25:29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
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2. Esau asked Jacob for some of the pottage (Genesis 25:30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
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3. Esau purchased the lentils with his birthright (Genesis 25:31-33 [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
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1. Jacob bargained for the birthright (Genesis 25:31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
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2. Esau held it as of low immediate value (Genesis 25:32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
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3. Esau swore His birthright over to Jacob (Genesis 25:33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
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3. Esau Is Also Named Edom (Genesis 25:30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
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1. Edom means red.
2. He was born with a red appearance.
3. He sold his birthright for red lentils.
4. He and his descendents settled in the country of Edom (also called Mount Seir in the Bible).  This land is located south of the Dead Sea and is known for its red sandstone cliffs.
4. The Importance of the Birthright
1. Esau came to despise his birthright.
2. The birthright was the right of the firstborn (Genesis 43:33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
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1. To lead his family
2. To receive a double inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 [1] Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. [2] For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)
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3. Esau’s lack of foresight in this matter shows his true evil nature (Hebrews 12:16-17 [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
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CONCLUSION:  What is your birthright as a Christian who is born into the family of God?  Certainly, we cannot lose the entire birthright.  But some Christians seem to be ready to sell their birthright in order to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  Name some ways in which Christians sell their birthright.  What is the better response?