“Brothers Part Their Ways”

Genesis 36 - 37:1

 

This is it! We have come to the conclusion of Jacob’s story. Can you believe it?! Jacob has returned to the place where he began his journey after being in and out of exile to Bethel. He has received a new name. He has received the blessing and he has been given the prediction of kings of many nations. Then loved ones start dying. His family turns on itself again with firstborn rivalries and the last person to die is his father, Isaac. Jacob’s story began with “These are the generations of Isaac.” At the age of 40 Isaac became a father to his son, and now his father has died. 

 

Actually, the narrative of Jacob is over. Today’s conclusion is not really a story. There is a short narrative combined with mostly a long genealogy of the non-chosen. 

We already know the genealogy of Jacob. He has 12 sons and now three wives. 

 

Today’s long, long list and genealogy is of Esau.  I will leave for you to read the names on your own as you try to fall asleep tonight. The remaining chapters of Genesis will be the story of Jacob’s sons, beginning with Joseph. 

 

Today we have read a short narrative of the family of Esau, otherwise known as Edom, meaning “red.” Which you may remember was the name he was given when he sold his birthright for the “red, red stew.” 

 

The narrator also reminds us that Esau took his wives from the tribes around them in Canaan. He had two Hittite wives, a Hivite wife and an Ishmaelite wife. Of these four wives, we are told Esau was given five sons. Next we are told, verse 6, 

“Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.”

Turns out, the brothers just had too much stuff. The land was not able to support them both because of their livestock. So Esau, again we are reminded of his name “Red Man” went to settle in the hill country of Seir. Which in Hebrew means, “hairy.” Another pun, in relation to Esau’s description. 

Why does Esau or Edom have to pack up all of his family, livestock and belongings and move? Hasn’t he been the son who stayed at home, worked with his father and been faithful? The prodigal son comes home and now the faithful one has to leave? Why can’t the brothers live in unity in the land of Canaan? 

In fact, when Jacob returned and Esau first met him, Esau invited Jacob to come live with him in Seir. But Jacob’s response was, “Oh yeah, go ahead and I will meet you there.” Only to have Jacob go in the opposite direction. Jacob had no intention of dwelling with his brother. But here we are given an additional reason that we weren’t told earlier. It was because they had too much stuff. 

Jacob’s scheming manages to get him the blessing and abundance, yet still in the end, Esau too was blessed beyond measure. In fact, you may recall when Jacob lavished his brother, or tried to bribe his brother, with the overload of gifts, Esau told him he didn’t want them because he already had much. Esau ended up taking the gifts anyway. So part of why Jacob has too much stuff, and now, some of what Esau has, is because of ill-gotten gain. 

In Hebrew, there is a particular word for this type of wealth, it’s the word, “betsa.” It stands for the type of wealth one accumulates through dishonesty. 

The brothers cannot live together because the two brothers have too many possessions. And how is it that Jacob has so many possessions? Through his deceit and treachery. We are not told how Esau got what he has, but we do know that some of it has come from Jacob. So, this lack of unity has been caused by Jacob’s actions. Jacob’s ill-gotten gain has caught up with him and prevents him from living with his brother in unity. 

We’ve been here before. Hyperlink back to Abraham and his nephew Lot. Abraham treated Lot like a brother. After they return from Egypt, where Abraham lied to Pharaoh, and still was able to walk away with a multitude of possessions, the two realize the land cannot hold them. They could no longer dwell in unity but had to separate. 

The failures of the generations replay themselves. It continues today. How many families no longer live in unity because of their “stuff.” Parents leave behind their wealth, whether through property or investments and the children argue and fight. Often to the point where they no longer talk or live in unity. On this sad note, we complete the narrative of Jacob. 

What follows is the four genealogies or at least four lists of names. There are some interesting details given within the list. The descendants of Esau intermix with and connect with the pre-Edomite inhabitants of the land, just like Jacob’s descendants are going to intermix and connect with the people of the land of Canaan. At one point in the genealogy we are told about a son named Anah, who was out in the wilderness one day, and he just found some fresh hot water springs. Why is this piece of information stuck in there? 

It may just be a reminder that even though Esau and his descendants may not be the main characters in the Biblical narrative, and the focus will be on Israel and his descendants, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t active and taking care of all the nations. Esau was a son of Isaac as well. God provides Eden waters for all of his creation. 

Then we are given a list of the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before the kings reigned as king for the sons of Israel. The list is fairly long demonstrating that there were descendants of kings that outlived both Esau and Jacob. So even though God promised Jacob he would have kings in his lineage, a few chapters ago, it doesn’t mean God was going to exclude his brother Esau. The non-chosen goes off and yet God provides him with little Eden gifts long before there were kings in Israel. 

 

It’s a reminder that God has His “chosen,” but that should not be mistaken as they are the only ones that God watches over and is involved with. Things are happening in other nations. In fact, to be the chosen one is actually to be signed up for even more trouble in your life. Because being chosen means you are accountable. Those living in Edom, yes, they still have to love their neighbors, but they would be nowhere near as accountable as Jacob. 

We began this with Esau taking wives and going to dwell in the mountains of Seir. We end with verse one in chapter 37 with Jacob dwelling in the land of the migrations of his father, in the land of Canaan. The next verse in chapter 37 begins with, “These are the generations of Jacob.” Which is exactly the way Jacob's story began, “These are the generations of Isaac.”  

There’s a pattern… it goes like this….

Abraham died, we are told about Isaac and Ishmael. 

Isaac is blessed. 

Ishmael is the non-chosen, but he was blessed and he went to live in the east. 

Then we were given a genealogy of the non-chosen. It’s like he was ushered off stage. 

We carry on with the story of Isaac and Jacob. The long complicated story we just went through. Then comes the death of Isaac. 

The non-chosen gets ushered off stage with a long genealogy only to return to the chosen one and his sons. 

So far we have heard of stories from…

Adam to Seth,

to Noah,

to Shem, 

to Abraham, 

to Isaac, 

to Jacob. Where it will single in on Judah, the fourth-born.

Every one of them will have a counterpart or an anti-type, or non-chosen one who is not happy about it. Beginning with the snake,                                                   Cain,                                                                                          Ham,                                                                                          the brothers of Abraham,                                                  Ishmael,                                                                                  Esau and                                                                                          the other sons of Jacob. 

Looking back, the entire scroll of Genesis is really all about the seed of the woman. 

There has been a focus on tracing the lineage of the hoped for messianic king who will crush the snake. Every story has been filled with somebody set up and chosen. And every chosen one has blown it, had rivalries, involving escalating violence, conflict, sexual abuse, at which point God has to respond. 

Have you noticed, God allows terrible consequences to catch up with people to bring moments of total disaster? 

And whether they deserve it or not, He always brings His chosen one through it, to the other side. He provides them another chance or He gives the next generation another chance. He certainly is the God of second chances. One can’t help but start to see Jesus. 

Jesus himself even connects to this in Luke 24. Jesus has been crucified, has risen from the dead and has returned to talk with His disciples. 

He shows them the marks on His hands and feet and then asks if they have anything to eat. While he is munching on some broiled fish, Jesus said, verse 44,

“This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Then we are told in the next verse that He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them this, verse 46-7, 

“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” 

The Messiah is put into a position of honor and blessing, just like all through the Scripture the narrative images have been the chosen representatives. 

And something happens that leads to suffering and death. Think of the many ways there has been suffering and death within the Jacob story. Whether it was evil committed by the representative anointed one or evil done to them or evil catching up with them, it leads to some sort of suffering. Which then through the de-creation of escalated suffering leads to death. 

And yet, there is resurrection on the third day. Why? 

So that God can provide a chance to turn around. 

God in His infinite mercy offers everyone a chance to turn around and discover a different way to be human. We are provided an opportunity so that our failures can be forgiven. 

Jesus proclaimed it at that moment while having a meal with His disciples. 

Since the beginning of time, God has provided all of His creation 

an opportunity to turn around and be human and live differently, 

to be forgiven of our failures, 

and that the message would be proclaimed in the name of the anointed one, 

to all the nations, starting in the very spot He sat with His disciples, the New Eden, known as Jerusalem. 

Check in time. 

There is something about the Jacob story that depicts the complexity of human motives in a way that is unique within the Hebrew Bible. There is something about the portrait of Jacob that allows the reader to relate to and to reflect on. 

This narrative goes beyond the individual and provides us with thoughts for how our church communities behave and how we should reflect on that. There is so much potential for critical self reflection and community reflection. The issues of the misrepresentation of God for our own agenda, issues of gender inequality, sexual abuse, and the use and abuse of power are the things any person, family or church community should reflect upon. Yet, throughout Jacob’s entire story the primary focus of God has been to bless people. Not just the chosen ones, not just the ones that deserve it, but to all that He has committed Himself to. God is not seen as vindictive and judgmental but rather merciful, patient and kind. The fruits of the Spirit. 

 

 

 

Let’s pray. 

Thank you God for your mercy. That we are not judged for all the things we do, but when we seek Your face, we are forgiven. Thank you for the opportunity to be able to turn around and be human and live differently. Help us live like the chosen ones that we are by passing this blessing on to the nations, because of what Your Son endured for our sake. 

Amen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[You can read the names of Esau’s sons: verses 10 - 30]

10 These are the names of Esau’s sons:

Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

11 The sons of Eliphaz:

Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.

12 Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.

13 The sons of Reuel:

Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

14 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, whom she bore to Esau:

Jeush, Jalam and Korah.

15 These were the chiefs among Esau’s descendants:

The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau:

Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16 Korah,[a] Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in Edom; they were grandsons of Adah.

17 The sons of Esau’s son Reuel:

Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

18 The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah:

Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

19 These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs.

20 These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.

22 The sons of Lotan:

Hori and Homam.[b] Timna was Lotan’s sister.

23 The sons of Shobal:

Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

24 The sons of Zibeon:

Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs[c] in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.

25 The children of Anah:

Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

26 The sons of Dishon[d]:

Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.

27 The sons of Ezer:

Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.

28 The sons of Dishan:

Uz and Aran.

29 These were the Horite chiefs:

Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs, according to their divisions, in the land of Seir.

The Rulers of Edom

[You can read for yourself the names of the rulers of Edom from beginning with verse 31 - 40]

31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:

32 Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.

33 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.

34 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.

35 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.

36 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.

37 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.

38 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.

39 When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad[e] succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.

40 These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions:

Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied.

[When you have read these verses you will have read the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.]

This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.

37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.