Read: Genesis 36
This chapter
is largely genealogies showing the descendants of Esau. It is carefully written to precede the fuller
and more important account of the descendants of Jacob. It starts with a bit of review – Esau took
pagan wives and a wife from the daughters of Ishmael. These genealogies are included in Scripture
to show how exactly God fulfilled the promises he made to him (see Gen. 25
& 27). Verse six leads us to believe
that Esau and Jacob had dwelt together in Canaan. Here we see how Esau left this area because
the land was unable to support both of them (v. 7). So, Esau settled in the hill country of Seir
(v. 8). Esau had five sons and ten
grandsons (v. 9-14). Esau’s sons and
grandsons produced 14 chief’s (v. 15-19).
Verses 20-30 list five chiefs associated with the Horites showing how
Esau’s descendants became the dominant force in this region. A number of kings emerge from the line of
Esau (v. 31-39). The chapter concludes
with listing a number of Edomite chiefs according to their clans and dwelling
places (v. 40-43).
Prayer and Journaling
1. The
Messiah could only come from one family, from one line, and God chose Jacob
rather than Esau and Isaac rather than Ishmael.
This does not mean that God did not value the others but rather that His
purposes were different for the others.
We must learn to accept God’s plans and purposes for our lives and
fulfill them. There is no room for
grandiose thoughts of greatness, only submission to the will of God. There are no tasks to small; no act done for
our God will go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Even little things will all be greatly rewarded in eternity if they are
done in obedience to God’s plan and purpose for your life! Thank Him for giving significance to the
things that may seem ordinary or mundane.
Thank Him for bringing value to all areas of our lives. Thank Him for giving us purpose in life!
2. Genealogies
are often seen as the boring parts of scripture but it is important to know
that they are proofs of the prophecies of God that a Messiah would come from a
particular family. Genealogies testify
to the belief of the Jew that the Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the promised
Messiah. This chapter clearly shows that
the Messiah did not come from Esau’s line, just as God had prophesied. Thank God for the truth of His Word. Every word uttered from the Lord is true and
will be fulfilled. Ask Him to give you a
greater desire to study the prophecies in Scripture and pray for their
fulfillment. Thank Him for being a God
we can love and trust in all circumstances.
3. Esau
was not the promised heir and he did have some moral failures while he was
younger but we have no evidence that he ended his life living in
wickedness. Rather, it seems that he
forgave his brother Jacob and that they dwelled together in Canaan until the
land couldn’t support them both. Then we
see Esau willingly leaving Canaan leaving his brother in the Promised Land
showing submission to God’s plan of giving the land to Jacob’s descendants not
his own. Esau finally realized that the
promise was for his brother and not himself and he accepted it. This must have taken much humility and love
of God! Many of us struggle with being
happy for others when good things happen to them or if we think they are better
off than us in some way (example: social status, wealth, beauty, position,
talents, spiritual gifts, houses, vacations, spouses, children or even family
relationships or friendships). As
Christians we must stop comparing with each other and rather focus on our own
walk with God and His plan for our lives.
Ask the Lord to show you anyone who you struggle comparing yourself
to. Then ask the Lord to help break this
stronghold of comparison and to re-focus your eyes on Him and His plans for
your life.
