In Genesis chapter 25, we find Abraham had remarried and had six more sons. He died when he was 175 years old and left all that he had to Isaac after ensuring that all his other children had been given gifts. Ishmael and Isaac buried their father in the cave with Sarah. Ishmael had 12 sons, two of which became nations that are mentioned later on in the Bible. He lived to be 137 years old.

Isaac prayed and pleaded with God to have a child as Rebekah was barren, similar to his own mother. After 20 years of marriage, Rebekah became pregnant. It was a rough pregnancy though, so she went to pray to God to see what was going on. The Lord told her that she had two nations in her womb that were struggling for power and that the older child would serve the younger one.

She soon gave birth to twin boys. The older one was a hairy child named Esau (based off of his red skin color), and the younger was named Jacob (or usurper because he was holding his brother’s heel when he came out). As they grew up, Isaac preferred his son Esau the hunter and Rebekah preferred her quieter son Jacob. Meaning that the parents had favorites.

One day, Jacob was making stew and Esau came in really tired and hungry. Esau asked for some stew and Jacob said he would sell it to Esau for his birthright – that is the blessings and honor that come from their father due to being the first born son. Esau said that he was so hungry that he was going to die, so he did not care about his birthright and sold it to Jacob. Jacob fed Esau, who ate and went on his way despising his birthright. He did not care if he sold it or not.

This passage reveals the nature of the two sons. One completely focused on the physical, how he felt and what he ate. The other focused on his position and blessings, things that would come from having the birthright. Sometimes we too can get caught up in the physical wants of our bodies that we forget about the position and blessings we have been given.

Be encouraged though that God cares about both. Do not forsake one for the other, but seek God when and where you find places of need and He will provide for you. He will give you all that you need and will not require you to sell Him anything in return because He is a God who loves people and gives freely.