from bibleguidance.co.za-
Jacob and Esau
The intense hostility between Israel and Edom originated in the history of Jacob and Esau, as Esau was the founding father of the Edomites. In Genesis 25, we read about the twins to whom Rebecca gave birth: “And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterwards his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob… So the boys grew. And Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents… Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary. Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, Sell me your birthright as of this day. And Esau said, Look, I am about to die; so what profit shall this birthright be to me… So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:25-34).
Esau had a reddish appearance and he also sold his birthright for a stew of red lentils; consequently, they called him Edom, which means Red. With the help of his mother Jacob obtained the blessing of the firstborn from Isaac, which Esau already sold to him. Esau was nevertheless furious about the situation and asked his father to bless him also. Isaac said to him: “By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from your neck” (Gen. 27:40). In the next verse we read: “So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
“So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir” (Gen. 36:8-9). Esau indeed lived by his sword as Isaac had told him. He moved from Hebron to Seir, which was later called Petra, and also took possession of the whole region that was to become known as Edom. Esau is not mentioned among the Old Testament’s heroes of faith, instead, God equates his conduct with those who will fall short- “…looking diligently lest anyone should fall short of the grace of God… lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb. 12:15-17). Esau had exchanged his eternal inheritance for temporal gain and his life ended in wickedness.
Esau was called “Edom” and Jacob “Israel.” They both became founders of great nations.
The Edomites dominion is fast
approaching
do·min·ion:
rule; control; domination
The remnant of Israel flees to Petra @ Mid-Point
- March 21st, 2013
Matthew
24:15
When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, 16.) Then let
them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Why to Petra? The only reasonably safe area to move into would be the mountains along the shores of the Dead Sea- the highest and most inaccessible mountains being south of the Dead Sea are at Petra.
According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, groups of Jews fled to Edom and Petra during the Babylonian invasion of Judah in the sixth century BC, when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. When the Romans destroyed the city and the temple in 70 AD, many Jews fled to the mountains along the Dead Sea. A number of them made a futile last stand on a mountaintop at Masada. Others moved further to Bozrah and Petra south of the Dead Sea. Petra is about 220 kilometres-136.7 miles southeast of Jerusalem. This flight reminds strongly of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, the Lord then cared for His liberated people in the wilderness, which means that He will also fulfil the end-time fugitives’ needs of food and water. It is clearly stated that a remnant in Israel will be “nourished for a time and times and half a time” (Rev. 12:14).
Mid-Point - March 21st 2013
God Bless,
Gail