Siblings pt 2.1

For our regular bible study time on Sunday 8/26, we reviewed the story of Jacob and Esau that we did a couple weeks ago. You can find the notes on that bible study here. Reviewing took up quite a bit of time. After that, we kept reading about Jacob and Esau, after Jacob takes the final blessing from Isaac that was meant for Esau.

In Genesis 28, Isaac blesses Jacob and commands him not to marry a Canaanite woman. Then he tells him to go to Paddan Aram, where his maternal grandfather lives. Esau realized this (the part about the Canaanite women) and marries one. And not just anyone, but Ishmael's daughter. You may recall that Ishmael and Isaac are half brothers. It's weird how God chooses a certain group of His people and then another line of His people become enemy nations. That's what happens with Jacob and Esau. You might say it's unfair but isn't it God's decision who to use for what purpose? Romans 9 talks about that.

But the people God uses obviously need a relationship with Him. Every person whom God uses. Even though Abraham was Isaac's father, Isaac still needed a personal relationship. The same with Jacob, later on when we study Joseph, and everyone else God uses. Despite Jacob's confusing vow to God at the end of chapter 28, God still uses him. I say confusing because it sounds as if Jacob is saying, "Hey God, if you do this for me, then I'll follow ya." It's as if he was bargaining or something. Hopefully, it was meant more as a vow as it says. Either way, God still blessed him.

Next week, we'll see what happens at the end with Jacob and Esau.