The beginning of  a series of conflict tales – Esau v Jacob, Isaac and the Wells, Rebekah & Jacob v Esau, Jacob v Laban, Jacob, Leah, Rachel v Laban, Jacob v YHWH, Jacob v Esau.

v 19 Isaac’s descent 

v 20 Rebekah’s descent

v 21 barrenness again. Despite the careful arrangements to ensure “good stock” “ there are no natural guarantees for the future and no way to secure inheritance” (Bruggemann) 

“The role of the mother and father in this birth narrative is prayer. It is their task to cast themselves solely on God. To pay as they must is to know that life is given as a gift.”  cf John 1:12-13, James 1:18, 

“When Jacob and Esau are born, their life is already decisively shaped by this Other One to whom their parents pray. their life is encompassed in a mystery of graciousness before they see the light of day” (WB) 

v22 “struggle” – ‘means “smash” or “crash against” implying a violent encounter … represent the rivalry of siblings, the strife between two opposing nations, and the conflict between two competing ways of life.” (Dianne Bergant)

Jacob, “is born to a kind of restlessness so that he must always insist, grasp, and exploit. His life is trouble not only for himself but for those around him” (WB) 

v23 this struggle will reverse social customs of primogeniture. “the first will be last and the last will be first”

God does not align Gods-self only with the obviously valued ones, the first born. Matt 5:3-7. Social privilege is not to be taken for granted in the way God orders matters. Human conventions are not to be taken for granted.

“God chose what is low and despised in the world to bring to nothing the things that are.” 1 cor 1:28

v24 Esau named for his appearance, Jacob for his character – “supplanter,” which is often interpreted as someone who seizes, circumvents, or usurps. or “heel, – one who kicks his way out.”

v27 The boys have different ways of life – hunter/urban, rough/sophisticated, loud/quiet, irresponsible & boorish/shrewd and sophisticated, Edom\Israel

v 28 The parents have chosen sides. 

“Jacob is a scandal from the beginning. the powerful grace of God is a scandal. It upsets the way we would organise life.”

v 29 The brothers negotiate what God has already determined! 

• Jacob drives a hard bargain – but Esau gets his food
• Esau/Edom is destined for pottage and no more – Jacob/Israel is destined for birthright. Birthright concerns security, prosperity, fertility, and land.
• Esau is hungry and can not wait, Jacob may also be hungry – but he can wait. Waiting can be done if one trusts God and does not doubt the outcome
• contrast between material blessings that can be taken managed and controlled and well-being that must be received only as a gift. “Here (but not always in his life) Jacob is a man who will depend not on seizing  and grasping but the sureness of God’s promise. 

Hebrews 11:20-21 – By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.”

Hebrews 12:12-17 See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.

Romans 9:6-13 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. … Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue,not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” As it is written,“ I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”