God's covenant blessings and promises would pass to Jacob but not Esau. What was the difference between these two men? What does it mean for you? ****************************************Subscribe on Youtube: use the top left icon on the video!**************************************** Now... lets cover the action and events leading up to the section of scripture I am going to take a look at: · Sarah dies, Abraham purchases a tomb for her in Canaan· Abraham plans for family succession. He arranges for a suitable wife for the son who will carry forward the covenant. He does not want him to marry into the Canaanite people. He understands that God wants the descendants of the covenant to remain separate.· Abraham's servant goes back to the land they came from to find a wife from among the extended family. He returns with Rebecca.· Abraham dies, we get a wrap-up of all his descendants. But the only one we are hereafter concerned with is Isaac. God's blessing pass to Isaac. **************************************** Get a FREE bible study guide: Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion ************************************* Jacob's Sons Genesis 25:19-23 two sons are conceived and born into the covenant family. But the blessing of the covenant would only pass along to one of them. Why? We know from later on in the record that Jacob has 12 sons. The blessings and promises of the covenant pass along to all of them. Why wouldn't both of Isaac's sons share in the covenant? Answer: because one of them despised it. Despise: means to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration, to look upon with contempt, aversion, to consider worthless. It suggests an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing. God knew one son would grab hold of the blessings and promises of the covenant, and the other son would be indifferent. God didn't force the older son to feel that way. He just knew in advance that's how it would go. Genesis 25:24-34 Esau didn't care about what he was born to, and what might have been his. Hebrews 12:15-17 Esau was interested in hunting, fishing, chasing pretty women. He was a man's man, his dad loved him best, but that wasn’t what mattered to God. Esau knew abut the birthright, the promises, the covenant... he offered them as payment for a bowl of soup. He knew the truth and he didn’t care. Esau made his own decision, he chose poorly. Some people grow up knowing the truth, knowing God's plan, knowing our potential to have a place in it... and yet treat it as no big deal, they never really commit or buy in. I have watched many such people end up rejecting the truth, or resenting it because it interferes with the cares of  life they become attached to. We’ll see that Esau wanted to settle down among the Canaanites. He didn’t want to stand apart from the world around him. He wanted to fit in, be one of them, and enjoy what life had to offer.Action & Events (Genesis 26)A famine hits the land. God talks Isaac into staying in the Gerar (Gaza) instead of Egypt Genesis 26:2-6. Isaac prospers but the people of the area get jealous and keep taking his wells forcing him to move from place to place. Genesis 26:23-24 Isaac returns to Canaan and God reiterates the covenant promises.Genesis 26:34-35 Abraham had been very concerned that his son not marry Canaanite women. He knew that if they went down that path they would become absorbed into the Canaanite people and cease to be a special and unique covenant people before God. Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16 God’s people must remain separate.  Which means you are going to stand out… people will think you are strange.Esau's starts cavorting with Canaanite women. He ends up marrying not 1 but 2 of them. He seems unconcerned or outright rebelliousness toward the whole idea of living as a separate  covenant people. God’s prophecy is starting to unfold.But, Isaac doesn’t want to face the facts. He is grie