Day 19- Genesis 25

Rebekah was barren, just like Sarah had been.

God answered Isaac's prayers and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.  Already at that point, the two boys were fighting within her (vs 22).  So Rebekah asked God why, and he answered her plainly.
"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other, 
and the older will serve the younger." vs 23


Jacob and Esau grew to be opposites.  Esau was an outdoorsmen and Jacob stayed indoors.  You could say Jacob was a momma's boy.  Rebekah loved Jacob and Isaac loved Esau.  Blatant favouritism expressed in families never turns out well.

I've always pictured Esau as a massive redhead.  If you've ever seen this years' "How to Train Your Dragon," the main character's father (who is voiced by Gerald Butler.. of course) is basically what I've always imagined Esau to look like.

Jacob seems more like a skinny, quieter, shy boy, momma's boy..

Esau is the firstborn of the twins.  In those days, the firstborn sons would receive the inheritance, and would be given a blessing by their father.  Esau didn't really care about being the firstborn, or he didn't seem to respect the honor of being the firstborn.
"Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.  He said to Jacob, 'Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!' Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look I am about to die,' Esau said. (what a drama queen!) 'what good is the birthright to me?'
Vs 29-32

Jacob understood the honor and importance of the birthright.  There are a few thoughts about Jacob's actions in this passage.  Did Jacob see that Esau obviously despised his birthright, and decided that he would be a more appreciative recipient?
Because Rebekah loved Jacob, she probably told him about God's reply to her earlier inquiry. (the older will serve the younger).  Was Jacob acting this way, trusting that God would fulfill his promise?
Maybe he didn't even care about what God had in store for him at this point of his life, and he was just selfishly trying to take something that had yet to be given to him.

Why does God choose Jacob? Why does he tell Rebekah that the older will serve the younger? Is it because God is all-knowing and he knew that Esau would reject his birthright?  God's ways are not the ways of the world, is it because he sometimes chooses the unexpected person to fulfill his promises and carry out his will?

This passage brings up another question..
We are heirs with Christ, so what birthrights are we willingly forfeiting because we are stuck in the moment thinking about "what I want/need RIGHT NOW"?