Dave Burnette's Commentary

Genesis Chapter 25

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses
Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)
Overview: The Record of God's Chosen People (c 23-50)
Theme: The Story of Abraham (c 12-25)
Message: Abraham Dies (v 1-6)

Genesis 25 Commentary

(25:1-17) Abraham's Life Comes to an End - Although not perfect we see Abraham's Life come to an end and looking back we see a man who loved and trusted God. Abraham's name is recorded in the hall of faith in Hebrews chapter 11

(25:21) Issac Pleads God for Children - As Isaac pleaded with God for children, the Bible encourages us to ask and even plead for our most personal and important requests. God wants to grant our requests, but he wants us to bring our requests to him. Even then, as Isaac learned, God may decide to withhold his answer for a while in order to (1) deepen our insight into what we really need, (2) broaden our appreciation for his answers, or (3) allow us to mature so we can use his gifts more wisely. 

(25:25) Esau's Name Fits His Appearance -  Esau sounds like the Hebrew word for "hairy" 

(25:31-34)  The Honor of a Birthright - A birthright was a special honor given to the firstborn son. It included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family's leader. The oldest son could sell his birthright or give it away if he chose, but in doing so, he would lose both material goods and his leadership position. By trading his birthright, Esau showed complete disregard for the spiritual blessings that would have come his way if he had kept it.

(25:32-33) Esau Gives Away His Birthright - Esau traded the lasting benefits of his birthright for the immediate pleasure of food. He acted on impulse, satisfying his temporary desires without pausing to consider the long-range consequences of what he was about to do. We can fall into the same trap. When we see something we want, our first impulse is to get it. At first we feel intensely satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have obtained what we set out to get. But immediate pleasure often makes us lose sight of the future. We can avoid making Esau's mistake by viewing the short-term satisfaction in light of its long-range consequences before we act. Esau exaggerated his hunger. "I am at the point to die," he said. This thought made his choice much easier, because if he died of starvation, what good was an inheritance anyway? The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent. We often experience similar pressures. For example, when we face sexual temptation, a marriage vow may seem unimportant. We might feel such great pressure in one area that nothing else seems to matter and we lose our perspective. Getting through that short, pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Choosing Favorites


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. There are many applications we can make from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of Genesis with Chapter 25, and in today's text, we see the passing of Abraham, and the Bible shifts focus on Isaac and his twin sons Esau and Jacob. Esau was the eldest of the twins and owned the birthright but sold it to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. What catches my eye is a family in conflict. Jacob fought with Esau from the womb, from grabbing his heel at birth to Jacob tricking and taking advantage of his brother's birthright. I noticed in verse 28 that the parents have their favorite children more, enforcing this conflict. Yes, Esau should have never sold his birthright, and Jacob should have never tricked him, but I see the danger of choosing your favorite child in making an application. You might have more in common with one of your children, but having "favorites" can have long-lasting consequences. A little discipline could have helped these kids work together instead of apart. How about you? Do you see the results of choosing favorites? Let us learn from our text today to see that If we have children now or will have them in the future, be careful not to choose favorites because If we do, we will see a sibling rivalry that can escalate to a family feud.

 

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Genesis 25


Genesis 25

 1Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

 2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

 3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

 4And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

 5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

 6But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

 7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

 8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

 9And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

 10The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

 11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

 12Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

 13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

 14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

 15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

 16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

 17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

 18And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

 19And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

 20And 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.

 21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

 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.

 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.

 24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

 25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

 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.

 27And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

 28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

 29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

 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.

 31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

 32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

 33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

 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.