Blessed in Different Ways, Preserved in One

Genesis 36:1-8

Esau’s Descendants

^36:1These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). ²Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, ³and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. ⁴And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; ⁵and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

⁶Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. ⁷For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. ⁸So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)

(ESV)

Thought:
At the completion of Jacob’s story, we also find the completion of Esau’s. We are about to move on to focus on the next generation which would often be separated by a genealogy. The focus here is often Esau’s descendents which would become the Edomites, sworn enemies of Jacob’s descendents, Israel.

The first 8 verses record Esau’s time in Canaan when he dwelt alongside his father in the land. He has a number of sons from several wives but then it reaches a point where Jacob and Esau can no longer co-exist due to their vast amounts of livestock. So one of them must move and who is it? Esau, the older brother, most likely because it was Jacob who was given the promise passed down from Isaac, that he would inherit the land of Canaan.

Esau would settle in Seir, which would become Edom, and would become the dominant force in that region. He had many sons, 14 of them, just as Jacob did and they grow into a mighty nation. They both appear to be blessed by God, but there is one difference. One will be known as God’s people, the other will be known as his enemies, as they oppose his people. One was in covenant with God and the other was not.

Reuben for reasons unknown chooses to sleep with his father’s concubine, his half-brother’s mother. Through this act of disrespect to his father and blatant act of rebellion against God, he forfeits his rights to be the one from whom the Messiah will come.

⁴⁵ ... For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Esau and his people were blessed materially, and with many descendents but they did not have God, and eventually their opposition to God would lead to their destruction. The Edomite people have been interbred with other nations and lost to history as a distinct people, but yet the Jews remain, and as do the people of God represented in the church. God will bring earthly prosperity to both the good and evil, but it is only those who trust in God and worship him alone, that will be preserved and receive eternal life with him.

Reflection:
As I go about my day, I need to remember that earthly prosperity is not the measure of God’s favour. Esau flourished, yet he lived outside the covenant. It’s easy to look at others who seem to thrive and wonder why, but God sends rain on the just and the unjust. Today I need to apply this by valuing God’s presence above His gifts, trusting that what He preserves in me is far greater than anything the world can offer.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for every good gift You give, both seen and unseen. Help me not to confuse prosperity with Your favour, but to treasure being Yours above all else. Keep my heart anchored in Your covenant love, and teach me to seek eternal life rather than temporary gain. Amen.