Twin Brothers

“When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.” — Genesis 25:27

Isaac and Rebekah waited a long time for children. Isaac prayed for his wife, and God answered his prayer. Rebekah was going to have twins!

Even before they were born, the twins struggled and pushed inside her. God told Rebekah, “Two nations are inside you. One will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

The first baby to be born was red all over and covered in hair, so they called him Esau. Then his twin brother came out, holding on to Esau’s heel! They called him Jacob, which sounds like the word for “heel” and means “he grabs”.

The boys grew up very different. Esau loved to be outdoors, hunting wild animals. Jacob was quiet and liked to stay at home among the tents. Isaac loved Esau best, because he loved eating the meat Esau brought home. But Rebekah loved Jacob best.

In those days the oldest son had a special place in the family, called the birthright. He would get the biggest share of everything when his father died, and he would lead the family.

One day Jacob was cooking a pot of red lentil stew. Esau came in from the fields, very hungry. “Quick, give me some of that red stew!” he said. “I’m starving!”

“First sell me your birthright,” said Jacob.

“Look, I’m about to die of hunger,” said Esau. “What good is a birthright to me?” So Esau promised his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of stew and some bread. He ate, and drank, and went on his way. Esau didn’t care about the special gift God had given him.

Years later, when Isaac was very old and couldn’t see any more, he called Esau. “Go and hunt for some meat and make me my favourite meal,” he said. “Then I will give you my blessing before I die.”

Rebekah overheard. She wanted the blessing for Jacob instead, so she made a plan. She cooked the meal herself. She dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes, and put goatskins on his hands and neck so that he would feel hairy like his brother. Then Jacob took the food to his father.

“I am Esau, your firstborn,” Jacob lied.

Isaac felt his hands. “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are Esau’s hands,” he said. And he gave Jacob the blessing.

Soon afterwards Esau came in with his meal. When he found out what had happened, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Bless me too, my father!” But the blessing had already been given.

Esau was so angry that he planned to kill his brother. So Jacob had to run away from home, all the way to his uncle Laban in Haran, far away.

The family was full of favourites and tricks and lies, and it ended in tears. But even in the middle of all that mess, God’s plan didn’t fail. God had said that the older would serve the younger. And God was not finished with Jacob yet.

Read it in your Bible: Genesis 25:19–34; 27

Dear God, help me to be honest even when I want something very much. Thank you that your plans don’t fail, even when people get things wrong. Amen.