TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB...(2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*"...TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB..." (2)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Gen 25:30

*And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

God makes nations of people.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

In Gen 25:30, Esau was referred to as Edom.

The circumstances surrounding his birth says he was *"....red all over, like a hairy garment".* Gen 25:25.

The name may look like a nickname associated with the colour red because he was born *"...red all over..."* but it became his real name, and his life was shaped by red.

His destiny has been severely weakened by the name Edom. It was not a result of prayer but as a result of association to uncontrolled appetite or taste for anything red.

Why did Jacob cook a red pottage/stew, knowing his brother's fantasy for red pottage was done in exchange for his birthright?

It was his mother, Rebecca's doing!

Esau's inability to put to death his craving for red destroyed his ability for headship.

It was Rebecca's intention to exchange Esau for Jacob in their father's blessings. It was Jacob's motive to take over the first spot of a firstborn child.

Esau had lost the firstborn even before the blessings were given to Jacob.

However, Esau's name change was a confirmation of God's promise to make a nation of him, Gen 25:30.

Edom became a nation but was a nation of trouble. Esau was the father, and they settled in Mount Seir. Gen 36:9 says

*And this is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir.*

Both Sier and Edom were used interchangeably. Ezk 35:15 says *You shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom.*

Though Esau was a descendant of Abraham and so Edom became a brother to Israel, both were violently hostile to each other, and never lived as brothers.

Deut 2: 1-5 tells us of God's pronounced word that each twin would be a nation when God told Moses that Israel should not take the land that belonged to Edom.

The hostility between the two brothers was clear from the refusal by the Edomite king when he refused Israel access.

Subsequent kings of Israel fought Edom, 1 Sam 14:47-48, 2 Sam 8:13-14.

Edom was judged for pride and its violence, and its harsh treatment of Israel

Obadiah 1:3.

God declared that Edom would be a wasteland, occupied only by wild animals, Mal 1:2–5.

The name Edom 'predicted' Isaac's blessings to Jacob in Genesis 27:29

Isaac blesses Jacob. *"May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you." *

The name Edom became a terror. Though Isaac has blessed him with *".....the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;....."*, Gen 27:39, but

fom the pronouncement of Isaac, it was the beginning of war against his twin brother.

*And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.*, Gen 27:40.

Foundations are very important.

As important names or how poor names can be, prayers can change and impact any name and turn it to good.

Esau was also blessed, just as all nations are blessed with at least one or more mineral resources. There is no nation that God has, neither given natural resources nor a way to achieve economic success. Those who do not have natural resources embark on driven economic growth through their location and infrastructure, to attract brains and tourism, etc, to generate income.

Those who do not have natural resources

forged strong alliances with resource-rich nations to secure and access good interrelationships.

Esau was a bad foundation, and he never tried to make amends or forge a good relationship with Israel.

From biblical accounts, they continued to be enemies.

While God remains the governor of nations

Psalms 22:28, the foundation to building a strong nation starts with an individual.

Esau could capitalize more on the blessing of fatness than terror. That he would serve his younger brother did not mean he would be wicked. His descendants did not help matter.

God hated Esau, Rom 9:14 did not mean God hated him as a human being. God loves. He does not hate His creations, ref John 3:16. It only meant that God chose Jacob over him and would prefer Jacob over him.

God can use you to build a strong nation!

*Remorse corner.*

The story of the twins teaches us the power behind names. Israel was given to Jacob by God. Edom was circumstantial, which often depends on life's forces.

*Call to Word action.*

Both Israel and Edom became nations, but the impact of blessing is apparent.

Blessings and curses change things.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Blessings changed and repaired Jacob's foundation. Curses destroyed Esau's foundation.

*Prayer.*

Lord, use me to build my nation. Use me to repair the faulty foundation of my nation, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and be blessed as you come into His presence.

God bless you.