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28 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five of Commentary on the Book of Genesis.
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Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Melvin Lee. Commentary on
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Speaker 1: the Book of Genesis by Matthew Henry, Chapter twenty five Genesis,
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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five. The Sacred Historian in this chapter numeral
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Speaker 1: one takes his leave of Abraham with an account one
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Speaker 1: of his children by another wife Verses one through four,
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Speaker 1: number two of his last will and testament, Verses five
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Speaker 1: and six, number three of his age, death and burial
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Speaker 1: Verses seven through ten. Numeral two. He takes his leave
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Speaker 1: of Ishmael with a short account one of his children
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Speaker 1: Verse twelve through sixteen, two of his age and death
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Speaker 1: Verses seventeen and eighteen. Numeral three. He enters upon the
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Speaker 1: history of Isaac one his prosperity verse eleven two, the
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Speaker 1: conception and birth of his two sons, with the oracle
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Speaker 1: of God concerning them Verses nineteen through twenty six three
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Speaker 1: their different characters Verses twenty seven and twenty eight four
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Speaker 1: Esau's selling his birthright to Jacob verses twenty nine through
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Speaker 1: thirty four Abraham's death b. C. Eighteen twenty two Verse one.
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Speaker 1: Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was
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Speaker 1: Katurah verse two. And she bare him Zimran and Jakhshan
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Speaker 1: and Midan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah verse three.
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Speaker 1: And Jakshan Begakshiba and Didan. And the sons of Dedan
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Speaker 1: were Asherim and Lethushim and Lemm verse four. And the
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Speaker 1: sons of Midian Ephah and Ephir and Hannok and Abaidah
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Speaker 1: and el Dah. All these were the children of Katurah
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Speaker 1: verse five. And Abraham gave all that he had unto
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Speaker 1: Isaac verse six, but unto the sons of the concubines
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Speaker 1: which Abraham had. Abraham gave gifts and sent them away
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Speaker 1: from Isaac, his son, while he yet lived eastward into
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Speaker 1: the east country verse seven. And these are the days
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Speaker 1: of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, and
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Speaker 1: one hundred three score and fifteen years verse eight. Then
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Speaker 1: Abraham gave up the ghost and died in a good
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Speaker 1: old age, an old man and full of years, and
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Speaker 1: was gathered to his people verse nine. And his sons
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Speaker 1: Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave at Mechphela,
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Speaker 1: in the field of Ephram, the son of Zohar the Hittite,
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Speaker 1: which is before Mamray verse ten, the field which Abraham
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Speaker 1: purchased of the sons of Heath. There was Abraham buried,
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Speaker 1: and Sarah his wife. Abraham lived after the marriage of
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Speaker 1: Isaac thirty five years, and all that is recorded concerning
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Speaker 1: him during the time lies here. In the very few verses.
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Speaker 1: We hear no more of God's extraordinary appearances to him
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Speaker 1: or trials of him. For all the days, even of
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Speaker 1: the best and greatest saints, are not eminent. Days. Some
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Speaker 1: slide on silently, and neither come nor go with observation.
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Speaker 1: Such were these last days of Abraham. We have here
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Speaker 1: Numeral Wafy, an account of his children by Katura, another wife,
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Speaker 1: whom he married after the death of Sarah. He had
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Speaker 1: buried Sarah and married Isaac, the two dear companions of
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Speaker 1: his life, and was now solitary. He wanted a nurse,
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Speaker 1: his family wanted a governess, and it was not good
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Speaker 1: for him to be thus alone. He therefore marries Katura,
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Speaker 1: probably the chief of his maid servants born in his
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Speaker 1: house or bought with money. Marriage is not forbidden to
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Speaker 1: the old age. By her he had six sons in
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Speaker 1: whom the promise made to Abraham concerning the great increase
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Speaker 1: of his posterity was in part fulfilled, which it is
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Speaker 1: likely he had an eye to this marriage. The strength
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Speaker 1: he received by the promise still remained in him, to
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Speaker 1: show how much the virtue of the promise exceeds the
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Speaker 1: power of nature. Numeral two. The disposition which Abraham made
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Speaker 1: of his estate Verses five and six. After the birth
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Speaker 1: of these sons, he set his house in order with
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Speaker 1: prudence and justice. Number one. He made Isaac his heir,
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Speaker 1: as he was bound to do in justice to Sarah,
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Speaker 1: his first and principal wife, and to Rebecca, who married
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Speaker 1: Isaac upon the assurance of it. Chapter twenty four, Verse
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Speaker 1: thirty six. In this all which he settled upon Isaac
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Speaker 1: are perhaps included the promise of the land of Canaan
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Speaker 1: and the entail of the covenant. Or God having already
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Speaker 1: made him the heir of the promise, Abraham therefore made
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Speaker 1: him heir of his estate. Our affection and gifts should
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Speaker 1: attend God's Number two. He gave portions to the rest
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Speaker 1: of his children, both to Ishmael, though at first he
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Speaker 1: was sent empty away, and to his sons by Katura.
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Speaker 1: It was justice to provide for them parents that do
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Speaker 1: not imitate him in this are worse than infidels. It
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Speaker 1: was prudence to settle them in places distant from Isaac,
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Speaker 1: that they might not pretend to defy the inheritance with him,
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Speaker 1: nor be in any way a care or expense to him. Observed,
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Speaker 1: he did this while he yet lived, lest it should
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Speaker 1: not be done or not so well done afterwards. Note
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Speaker 1: in many cases it is wisdom for men to make
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Speaker 1: their own hands their executors, and what they find to do,
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Speaker 1: to do it while they live as far as they can.
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Speaker 1: These sons of the Concubines were sent into the country
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Speaker 1: that lay east from Canaan, and their posterity were called
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Speaker 1: the children of the East, famous for their numbers Judges,
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Speaker 1: Chapter six, Verses five, and thirty three. Their great increase
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Speaker 1: was the fruit of the promise made to Abraham that
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Speaker 1: God would multiply his seed. God, in dispensing his blessings,
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Speaker 1: does as Abraham did common blessings He gives to the
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Speaker 1: children of this world as to the sons of the bondwoman,
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Speaker 1: but covenant blessings he reserves for the heirs of promise.
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Speaker 1: All that he has is theirs, for they are Isaacs,
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Speaker 1: from whom the rest shall be forever separated. Numeral three.
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Speaker 1: The Age and Death of Abraham, Verse seven and eight.
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Speaker 1: He lived one hundred and seventy five years, just one
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Speaker 1: hundred years after he came to Canaan. So long he
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Speaker 1: was a sojourner in a strange country. Though he lived
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Speaker 1: long and lived well, though he did good, and could
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Speaker 1: ill be spared. Yet he died at last. Observe how
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Speaker 1: his death is here described. Number One, he gave up
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Speaker 1: the ghost. His life was not extorted from him, but
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Speaker 1: he cheerfully resigned it into the hands of the father
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Speaker 1: of spirits. He committed his spirit. Number two. He died
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Speaker 1: in a good old age, an old man, so God
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Speaker 1: had promised him. His death was his discharge from the
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Speaker 1: burdens of his age. An old man would not so
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Speaker 1: live always. It was also the crown of the glory
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Speaker 1: of his old age. Three. He was full of years,
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Speaker 1: or full of life, as it might be supplied, including
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Speaker 1: all the conveniences and comforts of life. He did not
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Speaker 1: live till the world was weary of him, but till
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Speaker 1: he was weary of the world world, he had had
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Speaker 1: enough of it and desired no more. Vixi quantum saetus
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Speaker 1: est i have lived long enough. A good man, though
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Speaker 1: he should not die old, dies full of days, satisfied
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Speaker 1: with living here and longing to live in a better place.
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Speaker 1: Four He was gathered to his people. His body was
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Speaker 1: gathered to the congregation of the dead, and his soul
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Speaker 1: to the congregation of the blessed. Note death gathers us
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Speaker 1: to our people, those that are our people while we live.
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Speaker 1: Whether the people of God or the children of this
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Speaker 1: world are the people to whom death will gather us.
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Speaker 1: Numeral four is burial, Verse nine ten. Here is nothing
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Speaker 1: recorded of the pomp or ceremony of his funeral. Only
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Speaker 1: we are told Number one who buried him, his sons,
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Speaker 1: Isaac and Ishmael. It was the life last office of
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Speaker 1: respect they had to pay to their good father. Some
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Speaker 1: distance there had formerly been between Isaac and Ishmael. But
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Speaker 1: it seems either that Abraham had himself brought them together
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Speaker 1: while he lived, or at least that his death reconciled them.
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Speaker 1: Number two, where they buried him in his own burying place,
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Speaker 1: which he had purchased and which he had buried Sarah. Note,
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Speaker 1: those that in life have been very dear to each
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Speaker 1: other may not only innocently but laudably desire to be
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Speaker 1: buried together, that in their deaths they may not be divided,
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Speaker 1: and in token of their hopes of rising together. Genealogy
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Speaker 1: of Ishmael b c. Eighteen twenty two, verse eleven. And
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Speaker 1: it came to pass after the death of Abraham that
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Speaker 1: God blessed his son Isaac, and Isaac dwelt by the
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Speaker 1: well leahy el Roy verse twelve. Now these are the
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Speaker 1: generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar, the Egyptian Sarah's
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Speaker 1: handmaid baroned Abraham verse thirteen. And these are the names
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Speaker 1: of the sons of Ishmael by their names according to
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Speaker 1: their generations. The first born of Ishmael Nibajoth and Kedar
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Speaker 1: and Abbiel and Mibsham verse fourteen, and Mishmah and Dumah
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Speaker 1: and Massa verse fifteen. Hadar and Tima Jetour, Naphish and
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Speaker 1: Kedamah verse sixteen. These are the sons of Ishmael. And
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Speaker 1: these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles,
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Speaker 1: twelve princes according to their nations Verse seventeen. And these
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Speaker 1: are the years of the life of Ishmael an one
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Speaker 1: hundred and thirty seven years. And he gave up the
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Speaker 1: ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people Verse eighteen.
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Speaker 1: And they dwelt from Habilah unto sure that is before Egypt,
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Speaker 1: as thou goest toward Assyria. And he died in the
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Speaker 1: presence of his brethren. Immediately after the account of Abraham's death,
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Speaker 1: Moses begins the story of Isaac Versey eleven and tells
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Speaker 1: us where he dwelt and how remarkably God blessed him.
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Speaker 1: Note the blessing of Abraham did not die with him,
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Speaker 1: but survived to all the children of the promise. But
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Speaker 1: he presently digresses from the story of Isaac to give
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Speaker 1: a short account of Ishmael, forasmuch as he also was
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Speaker 1: a son of Abraham, and God had made some promises
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Speaker 1: concerning him, which it was requisite we should you know
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Speaker 1: the accomplishment of observe here what is said number one
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Speaker 1: concerning his children, He had twelve sons, twelve princes. They
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Speaker 1: are called Verse sixteen, heads of families, which in process
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Speaker 1: of time became nations, distinct, tribes, numerous, and very considerable.
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Speaker 1: They peopled a very large continent that lay between Egypt
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Speaker 1: and Assyria called Arabia. The names of his twelve sons
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Speaker 1: are recorded, Midian and Kadar are often read in scripture,
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Speaker 1: and some very good expositors have taken notice of the
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Speaker 1: signification of those three names, which are put together verse fourteen,
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Speaker 1: as containing good advice to us. All mishmah, Duma, and
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Speaker 1: Massa that is here, keep silence and bear. We have
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Speaker 1: them together in the same order. James, Chapter one nineteen.
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Speaker 1: Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
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Speaker 1: The posterity of Ishmael had not only tents in the fields,
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Speaker 1: wherein they grew rich in times of peace, but they
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Speaker 1: had towns and castles verse sixteen, wherein they fortified themselves
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Speaker 1: in time of war. Now the number and strength of
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Speaker 1: this family where the fruit of the promise made to
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Speaker 1: Hagar concerning Ishmael chapter sixteen, verse ten, and to Abraham
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Speaker 1: chapter seventeen, verse twenty and chapter twenty one, verse thirteen.
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Speaker 1: Note many that are strangers to the covenants of promise,
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Speaker 1: are yet blessed with outward prosperity. For the sake of
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Speaker 1: their godly ancestors, wealth and riches shall be in their house.
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Speaker 1: Number two. Concerning himself, here is an account of his aids.
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Speaker 1: He lived one hundred thirty seven years, verse seventeen, which
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Speaker 1: is recorded to show the efficacy of Abraham's prayer for him.
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Speaker 1: Chapter seventeen, verse eighteen, oh that Ishmael might live before thee.
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Speaker 1: Here is also an account of his death. He too
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Speaker 1: is gathered to his people, but it is not said
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Speaker 1: that he was full of days. Though he lived to
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Speaker 1: so great an age, he was not so weary of
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Speaker 1: the world, nor so willing to leave it, as his
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Speaker 1: good father was. Those words he fell in the presence
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Speaker 1: of all his brethren, whether they mean as we take
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Speaker 1: them he died, or as others his lot fell, are
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Speaker 1: designed to show the fulfilling of that word to Hagar.
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Speaker 1: Chapter sixteen, verse twelve. He shall dwell in the presence
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Speaker 1: of all his brethren, that is, he shall flourish and
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Speaker 1: be eminent among them, and shall hold his own to
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Speaker 1: the last. Or he died with his friends about him,
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Speaker 1: which is comfortable. Birth of Esau and Jacob b c.
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Speaker 1: Eighteen thirty seven, verse nineteen. And these are the generations
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Speaker 1: of Isaac, Abraham's son Abraham Begat Isaac verse twenty. And
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Speaker 1: Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca to wife,
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Speaker 1: the daughter of Bethuel, the Syrian of Padanoram, the sister
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Speaker 1: too Laban the Syrian verse twenty one. And Isaac entreated
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Speaker 1: the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and
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Speaker 1: the Lord was entreated of him and Rebecca, his wife
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Speaker 1: conceived verse twenty two. And the children struggled together within her,
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Speaker 1: and she said, if it be so, why am i thus?
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Speaker 1: And she went to inquire of the lord verse twenty five,
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Speaker 1: and the lords had unto her. Two nations are in
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Speaker 1: thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated
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Speaker 1: from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger
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Speaker 1: than the other people, and the elder shall serve the
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Speaker 1: younger verse twenty four. And when her days to be
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Speaker 1: delivered were fulfilled, behold there were twins in her womb
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Speaker 1: verse twenty five. And the first came out red all
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Speaker 1: over like a hairy garment, and they called his name
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Speaker 1: Esau verse twenty six. And after that came his brother out,
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Speaker 1: and his hand took cold on Esau's heel, And his
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Speaker 1: name was called Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old
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Speaker 1: when she bare them verse twenty seven. And the boys grew.
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Speaker 1: And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field,
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Speaker 1: and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents twenty eight.
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Speaker 1: And Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison,
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Speaker 1: but Rebecca loved Jacob. We have here an account of
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Speaker 1: the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of
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Speaker 1: Isaac and Rebeccah. Their entrance into the world was, which
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Speaker 1: is not usual, one of the most considerable parts of
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Speaker 1: their story. Nor is much related concerning Isaac. But what
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Speaker 1: had reference to his father while he lived and to
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Speaker 1: his sons afterwards. For Isaac seems not to have been
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Speaker 1: a man of action, nor much tried, but to have
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Speaker 1: spent his days in quietness and silence. Now concerning Jacob
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Speaker 1: and Esau, we are told numeral one that they were
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Speaker 1: prayed for their parents after they have been long childless,
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Speaker 1: obtained them by prayer Verse twenty and twenty one. Isaac
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Speaker 1: was forty years old when he was married, though he
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Speaker 1: was in only son and the person from whom the
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Speaker 1: promise seed was to come. Yet he made no haste
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Speaker 1: to marry. He was sixty years old when his sons
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Speaker 1: were born, verse twenty six, so that after he was
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Speaker 1: married he had no child for twenty years. Note though
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Speaker 1: the accomplishment of God's promises are always sure, yet it
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Speaker 1: is often slow and seems to be crossed and contradicted
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Speaker 1: by providence, that the faith of believers might be tried,
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Speaker 1: their patients exercised, and mercies long waited for may be
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Speaker 1: the more welcome when they come. While this mercy was delayed,
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Speaker 1: Isaac did not approach to his handmaid's bed, as Abraham
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Speaker 1: had done and Jacob afterwards, for he loved Rebecca. Chapter
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Speaker 1: twenty four, verse sixty seven. But number one he prayed.
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Speaker 1: He entreated the Lord for his wife. Though God had
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Speaker 1: promised to multiply his family, he prayed for its increase,
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Speaker 1: for God's promises must not supersede, but encourage our prayers
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Speaker 1: and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though
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Speaker 1: he had prayed for this mercy very often and had
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Speaker 1: continued his supplication many years, and it was not granted,
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Speaker 1: yet he did not leave off praying for it, for
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Speaker 1: men ought always to pray and not to faint. Luke
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Speaker 1: chapter eighteen, verse one, to pray without ceasing, and knock
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Speaker 1: till the door be opened. He prayed for his wife.
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Speaker 1: Some read it with his wife. Note husbands and wives
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Speaker 1: should pray together, which is intimated by the apostle's caution
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Speaker 1: that their prayers be not hindered. First Peter chapter three,
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Speaker 1: verse seven. The Jews habitred addition that Isaac at length
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Speaker 1: took his wife with him to Mount Moriah, where God
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Speaker 1: had promised that he would multiply Abraham's seed chapter twenty two,
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Speaker 1: verse seventeen, and there, in his prayer with her and
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Speaker 1: for her, pleaded the promise made in that very place
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Speaker 1: number two. God heard his prayer and was entreated of him.
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Speaker 1: Note children are the gift of God. Those that continue
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Speaker 1: instant in prayer, as Isaac did, shall find at last
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Speaker 1: that they did not seek in vain Isaiah forty five,
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Speaker 1: verse nineteen, numeral two. That they were prophesied of before
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Speaker 1: they were born, and great mysteries were wrapped up in
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Speaker 1: the prophecies which went before of them Verse twenty two
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Speaker 1: and twenty three. Long had Isaac prayed for a son,
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Speaker 1: and now his wife is with child off of two
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Speaker 1: to recompense him for his long waiting. Thus, God often
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Speaker 1: outdoes our prayers and gives more than we are able
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Speaker 1: to ask or think. Now, Rebecca, being with child of
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Speaker 1: those two sons, observe here one how she was perplexed
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Speaker 1: in her mind concerning her present case. The children struggled
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Speaker 1: together within her. The commotion she felt was altogether extraordinary
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Speaker 1: and made her very uneasy. Whether she was apprehensive that
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Speaker 1: the birth would be her death, or whether she was
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Speaker 1: weary of the intestine tumult, or whether she suspected it
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Speaker 1: to be an ill omen it seems she was ready
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Speaker 1: to wish that either she had not been with child,
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Speaker 1: or that she might die immediately and not bring forth
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Speaker 1: such a struggling brood. If it be so, or since
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Speaker 1: it is so, why am I thus before the war?
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Speaker 1: If children was her trouble, now the struggle of the
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Speaker 1: children is no less So note subscript one. The comforts
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Speaker 1: we are most desirous of are sometimes found to bring
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Speaker 1: along with them more occasion of trouble and uneasiness that
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Speaker 1: we thought of. Vanity being written upon all things under
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Speaker 1: the sun. God thus teaches us to read it. Subscript two.
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Speaker 1: We are too apt to be discontented with our comforts
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Speaker 1: because of the uneasiness that attends them. We know not
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Speaker 1: when we are pleased. We know neither how to want
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Speaker 1: nor how to abound. This struggle between Jacob and Esau
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Speaker 1: in the womb represents the struggle that is maintained between
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Speaker 1: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Sub
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Speaker 1: point one. In the world, the seed of the woman
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Speaker 1: and the seed of the serpent have been contending ever
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Speaker 1: since the enmity was put between them chapter three, verse fifteen.
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Speaker 1: And this had occasioned a constant uneasiness among men. Christ
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Speaker 1: himself came to send fire on earth, and this division
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Speaker 1: Luke twelve, Verses forty nine and fifty one. Now let
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Speaker 1: not this be offense to us. A holy war is
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Speaker 1: better than the peace of the devil's palace. Sub point two.
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Speaker 1: In the hearts of believers, no sooner is Christ formed
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Speaker 1: in the soul than immediately there begins a conflict between
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Speaker 1: the flesh and spirit. Galatians Chapter five, verse seventeen. The
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Speaker 1: stream is not turned without a mighty struggle, which yet
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Speaker 1: ought not to discourage us. It is better to have
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Speaker 1: a conflict with sin, than tamely to submit to it.
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Speaker 1: Number two, What course she took for her relief? She
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Speaker 1: went to inquire of the Lord. Some think Melchzedic was
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Speaker 1: now consulted as an oracle, or perhaps some urim or
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Speaker 1: teraphim were now used to inquire of God by as
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Speaker 1: afterwards in the breastplate of judgment. Note the word and prayer,
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Speaker 1: by both which we now inquire of the Lord. Give
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Speaker 1: great relief to those that are, upon any account perplexed.
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Speaker 1: It is a great relief to the mind to spread
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Speaker 1: our case before the Lord and ask counsel at his mouth,
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Speaker 1: go into the sanctuary. Psalms, chapter seventy three, Verse seventeen,
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Speaker 1: Number three the information given her upon her inquiry, which
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Speaker 1: expounded the mystery two nations are in thy womb Verse
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Speaker 1: twenty three. She was now pregnant not only with two children,
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Speaker 1: but with two nations, which should not only in their
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Speaker 1: manners and dispositions greatly differ from each other, but in
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Speaker 1: their interests clash and contend with each other. And the
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Speaker 1: issue of the contest should be that the elder should
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Speaker 1: serve the younger, which was fulfilled in the subjection of
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Speaker 1: the edomites for many ages to the house of David
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Speaker 1: till they revolted. Second Chronicles, Chapter twenty one, Verse eight.
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Speaker 1: Observe here subscript one. God is a free agent in
26:43
Speaker 1: dispensing his grace. It is his prerogative to make a
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Speaker 1: difference between those who have not as yet themselves done
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Speaker 1: either good or evil. This the apostle infers. Hence Romans
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Speaker 1: chapter nine, verse twelve gripped two in the struggle between
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Speaker 1: grace and corruption in the soul, grace the younger shall
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Speaker 1: certainly get the upper hand. At last, numeral three that
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Speaker 1: when they were born there was a great difference between them,
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Speaker 1: which served to confirm what had been foretold. Verse twenty
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Speaker 1: three was presage of the accomplishment of it, and served
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Speaker 1: greatly to illustrate the type number one. There was a
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Speaker 1: great difference of their bodies Verse twenty five. Esaw when
27:34
Speaker 1: he was born, was rough and hairy, as if he
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Speaker 1: had been already a grown man. Whence he had his
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Speaker 1: name Esau made reared already. This was an indication of
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Speaker 1: a very strong constitution, and gave cause to expect that
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Speaker 1: he would be a very robust, daring, active man. But
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Speaker 1: Jacob was smooth and tender as other children. Note subscript one.
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Speaker 1: The difference of men's capacities, and consequently of their condition
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Speaker 1: in the world, arises very much from the difference of
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Speaker 1: their natural constitution. Some are plainly designed by nature for
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Speaker 1: activity and honor, others as manifestly marked for obscurity. This
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Speaker 1: instance of the divine sovereignty in the Kingdom of Providence
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Speaker 1: may perhaps help to reconcile us to the doctrine of
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Speaker 1: the divine sovereignty in the Kingdom of Grace. Subscript two.
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Speaker 1: It is God's usual way to choose the weak things
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Speaker 1: of the world and to pass by the mighty First Corinthians,
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Speaker 1: Chapter one, verse twenty six, and twenty seven, number two,
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Speaker 1: there was a manifest contest in their births. Esaw the stronger,
28:57
Speaker 1: came fourth first, but Jacob's and took hold at Esau's
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Speaker 1: heel verse twenty six. This signified subscript one Jacob's pursuit
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Speaker 1: of the birthright and blessing from the first he reached forth,
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Speaker 1: catch hold of it, and, if possible to prevent his
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Speaker 1: brother subscript II, his prevailing for it at last, that
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Speaker 1: in process of time he should undermine his brother and
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Speaker 1: gain his point. This passage is referred to Hosia Chapter twelve,
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Speaker 1: verse eight, and hence he had his name Jacob a
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Speaker 1: supplanter number three. They were very unlike in the temper
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Speaker 1: of their minds and the way of living they chose
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Speaker 1: verse twenty seven. They soon appeared to be of very
29:50
Speaker 1: different dispositions. Subscript one. Esau was a man of this world.
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Speaker 1: He was a man addicted to his sports, for he
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Speaker 1: was a hunter, and a man who knew how to
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Speaker 1: live by his wits. For he was a cunning hunter.
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Speaker 1: Recreation was his business. He studied the art of it
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Speaker 1: and spent all his time in it. He never loved
30:14
Speaker 1: the book, nor cared for being within doors. But he
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Speaker 1: was a man of the field, like Nimrod in Ishmael,
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Speaker 1: all for the game and never well but when he
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Speaker 1: was upon the stretch in pursuit of it. In short,
30:28
Speaker 1: he set up for a gentleman and a soldier. Subscript too,
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Speaker 1: Jacob was a man of the other world. He was
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Speaker 1: not cut out for a statesman, nor did he affect
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Speaker 1: to look great. But he was a plain man, dwelling
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Speaker 1: in tents, an honest man that always meant well and
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Speaker 1: dealt fairly, that preferred the true delights of solitude and retirement,
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Speaker 1: to all the pretended pleasure of busy, noisy sports, he
30:59
Speaker 1: dwelt intents sub point one. As a shepherd, he was
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Speaker 1: attached to that safe and silent employment of keeping sheep,
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Speaker 1: to which also he bred up his children Chapter forty six,
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Speaker 1: verse thirty four, or sub point two. As a student,
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Speaker 1: he frequented the tents of Melkezedic or Hebre, as some
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Speaker 1: understood it to be taught by them divine things. And
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Speaker 1: this was that son of Isaac, on whom the covenant
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Speaker 1: was entailed Number four. Their interest in the affections of
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Speaker 1: their parents was likewise different. They had but these two children,
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Speaker 1: and it seems one was the father's darling, and the
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Speaker 1: other the mother's Verse twenty eight. Subscript one. Isaac, though
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Speaker 1: he was not a stirring man himself, for when he
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Speaker 1: went into the fields, he went to meditate and pray,
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Speaker 1: not to hunt, yet loved to have his son active.
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Speaker 1: Esau knew how to please him, and showed a great
32:07
Speaker 1: respect for him by treating him often with venison, which
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Speaker 1: gained him the affections of the good old man, and
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Speaker 1: one upon him more than one would have thought. Subscript
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Speaker 1: two Rebecca was mindful of the oracle of God, which
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Speaker 1: had given the preference to Jacob, and therefore she preferred
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Speaker 1: him in her love. And if it be lawful for
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Speaker 1: parents to make a difference between their children upon any account,
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Speaker 1: doubtless Rebecca was in the right that loved him whom
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Speaker 1: God loved. Esau sells his birthright b. C. Eighteen o five,
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Speaker 1: Verse twenty nine. And Jacob sawd pottage, and Esau came
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Speaker 1: from the field, and he was faint verse thirty. And
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Speaker 1: Esau said to Jacob, feed me, I pray thee with
33:00
Speaker 1: that same red pottage, for I am faint. Therefore was
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Speaker 1: his name called Edom verse thirty one. And Jacob said,
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Speaker 1: sell me this day thy birthright verse thirty two. And
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Speaker 1: Esau said, behold, I am at the point to die,
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Speaker 1: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Verse
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Speaker 1: thirty three. And Jacob said, swear to me this day,
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Speaker 1: and he swear unto him, and he sold his birthright
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Speaker 1: unto Jacob verse thirty four. Then Jacob gave Esau bread
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Speaker 1: and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink,
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Speaker 1: and rose up and went his way. Thus Esau despised
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Speaker 1: his birthright we have here a bargain made between Jacob
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Speaker 1: and Esau about the birthright, which was Esau's by providence,
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Speaker 1: but Jacob's by promise. It was a spiritual privilege, including
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Speaker 1: the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power, as
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Speaker 1: well as the double portion. Chapter forty nine, verse three.
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Speaker 1: It seemed to be such a birthright, as had then
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Speaker 1: the blessing annexed to it and the entail of the
34:19
Speaker 1: promise now see Numeral one. Jacob's pious desire of the birthright,
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Speaker 1: which yet he sought to obtain by indirect courses not
34:31
Speaker 1: agreeable to his character as a plain man. It was
34:34
Speaker 1: not out of pride or ambition that he coveted that birthright,
34:39
Speaker 1: but with an eye to spiritual blessings, which he had
34:42
Speaker 1: got well acquainted with in his tents, while Esau had
34:46
Speaker 1: lost the scent of them in the field. For this
34:51
Speaker 1: he is to be commended that he coveted earnestly the
34:54
Speaker 1: best gifts. Yet in this he cannot be justified that
34:59
Speaker 1: he took advantage of his brother's necessity to make him
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Speaker 1: a very hard bargain Verse thirty one. Sell me this
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Speaker 1: day thy birthright. Probably there had formerly been some communication
35:13
Speaker 1: between them about this matter, and then it was not
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Speaker 1: so great a surprise upon Esau as here it seems
35:20
Speaker 1: to be, and may be Esau had sometimes spoken slightly
35:26
Speaker 1: of the birthright and of its impertinences, which encourage Jacob
35:31
Speaker 1: to make this proposal to him, And if so, Jacob
35:36
Speaker 1: is in some measure excusable in what he did to
35:40
Speaker 1: gain his point. Note plain, men that have their conversation
35:45
Speaker 1: in simplicity and godly sincerity, and without worldly wisdom, are
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Speaker 1: often found wisest of all for their souls and eternity.
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Speaker 1: Those are wise, indeed, that are wise for another world.
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Speaker 1: Jacob's wisdom appeared in two things. One he chose the
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Speaker 1: fittest time, took the opportunity when it offered itself, and
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Speaker 1: did not let it slip. Two, having made the bargain,
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Speaker 1: he made it sure and got it confirmed by Esau's oath,
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Speaker 1: swear to me this day Verse thirty three. He took
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Speaker 1: Esau when he was in the mind, and would not
36:26
Speaker 1: leave him a power of revocation. In a case of
36:29
Speaker 1: this nature, it is good to be sure Numeral two.
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Speaker 1: Esau's profane contempt of the birthright and the foolish sale
36:39
Speaker 1: he made of it. He is called profane Esau for
36:43
Speaker 1: it Hebrews Chapter twelve, verse sixteen, because for one morsel
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Speaker 1: of meat he sold his birthright as dear ammorsel as
36:54
Speaker 1: ever was eaten since the forbidden fruit, and he lived
36:59
Speaker 1: to regret it when it was too late. Never was
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Speaker 1: there such a foolish bargain as this was Esau now made.
37:07
Speaker 1: And yet he valued himself upon his policy, and had
37:11
Speaker 1: the reputation of a cunning man, and perhaps had often
37:15
Speaker 1: banded his brother Jacob as a weak and simple man.
37:19
Speaker 1: Note there are those that are penny wise and pound foolish,
37:24
Speaker 1: cunning hunters that can outwit others and draw them into
37:28
Speaker 1: their snares. And yet there are themselves imposed upon by
37:33
Speaker 1: Satan's wiles and led captive by him at his will. Again,
37:39
Speaker 1: God often chooses the foolish things of the world by
37:43
Speaker 1: them to confound the wise. Plain Jacob makes a fool
37:47
Speaker 1: of cunning Esau a birve the instances of Esau's folly.
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Speaker 1: One his appetite was very strong Verses twenty nine and thirty.
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Speaker 1: Poor Jacob had got some red and pottage for his dinner,
38:02
Speaker 1: and was sitting down to it. Contentedly enough without venison.
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Speaker 1: When Esau came from hunting hungry and weary, and perhaps
38:10
Speaker 1: had caught nothing. And now Jacob's pottage pleased his eye
38:16
Speaker 1: better than ever his game had done. Give me, says he,
38:20
Speaker 1: some of that read that red as it is in
38:24
Speaker 1: the original, it suited his own color verse twenty five.
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Speaker 1: And in reproach to him for this he was ever
38:33
Speaker 1: afterwards called edom read Nay, it should seem he was
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Speaker 1: so faint that he could not feed himself, nor had
38:43
Speaker 1: he a servant at hand to help him, but entreats
38:46
Speaker 1: his brother to feed him. Note subscript ie. Those that
38:51
Speaker 1: addict themselves to sport weary themselves for very vanity Habakuk,
38:58
Speaker 1: Chapter two, verse thirteen. They might do the most needful
39:02
Speaker 1: business and gain the greatest advantages, with half the pains
39:07
Speaker 1: they take and half the perils they run into in
39:11
Speaker 1: pursuit of their foolish pleasures. Subscript two. Those that work
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Speaker 1: with quietness are more constantly and comfortably provided for than
39:23
Speaker 1: those that hunt with noise. Bread is not always to
39:27
Speaker 1: be wise, but those that trust in the Lord and
39:31
Speaker 1: do good, verily they shall be fed fed with daily bread,
39:36
Speaker 1: not as Esau sometimes feasting and sometimes fainting. Thubscript three.
39:43
Speaker 1: The gratifying of the sensual appetite is that which ruins
39:48
Speaker 1: thousands of precious souls. Surely, if Esau is hungry and faint,
39:53
Speaker 1: he might have got a meal's meat cheaper than at
39:57
Speaker 1: the expense of his birthright. But he was unaccountably fond
40:02
Speaker 1: of the color of this pottage, and could not deny
40:05
Speaker 1: himself the satisfaction of the mess of it, whatever it
40:09
Speaker 1: cost him. Never better can come of it when men's
40:13
Speaker 1: hearts walk after their eyes Job Chapter thirty one, verse seven,
40:19
Speaker 1: and when they serve their own bellies. Therefore, look not
40:23
Speaker 1: thou upon the wine, or as Esau upon the pottage
40:27
Speaker 1: when it is read, when it gives that color in
40:30
Speaker 1: the cup in the dish, which is most inviting Proverbs
40:35
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three, verse thirty one. If we use ourselves
40:40
Speaker 1: to deny ourselves, we break the forces of most temptations.
40:45
Speaker 1: Number two. His reasoning was very weak Verse thirty two. Behold,
40:51
Speaker 1: I am at the point to die, and if I were,
40:55
Speaker 1: would nothing serve me to keep him alive? But this pottage,
40:59
Speaker 1: if the famine were now in the land. Chapter twenty six,
41:03
Speaker 1: verse one. As doctor Lightfoot conjectures, we cannot suppose Isaac
41:09
Speaker 1: so poor or Rebecca so bad a housekeeper, but that
41:13
Speaker 1: he might have been supplied with food convenient other ways,
41:18
Speaker 1: and might have saved his birthright. But his appetite was
41:22
Speaker 1: the mastery of him. He is in a longing condition.
41:26
Speaker 1: Nothing will please him but this, read this red pottage.
41:30
Speaker 1: And to palliate his desire, he pretends he is at
41:34
Speaker 1: the point to die. If it had been so, was
41:38
Speaker 1: it not better for him to die in honor than
41:41
Speaker 1: to live in disgrace, to die under a blessing than
41:45
Speaker 1: to live under a curse. The birthright was typical of
41:48
Speaker 1: spiritual privileges, those of the Church of the first Born.
41:53
Speaker 1: Esau was now tried how he would value them, and
41:57
Speaker 1: he shows himself sensible only of present grievances. May he
42:03
Speaker 1: but get relief against them? He cares not for his birthright.
42:07
Speaker 1: Better principled was Naboth, who would lose his life rather
42:12
Speaker 1: than sell his vineyard, because his part of the earthly
42:15
Speaker 1: Canaan signified his part in the heavenly first Kings. Chapter
42:22
Speaker 1: twenty one, verse three, abscript one. If we look on
42:27
Speaker 1: Esau's birthright as only a temporal advantage. What he said
42:32
Speaker 1: had something of truth in it, namely that our worldly enjoyments,
42:37
Speaker 1: even those we are most fond of, will stand us
42:41
Speaker 1: in no stead in a dying hour Psalms, Chapter forty nine,
42:47
Speaker 1: Verses six through eight. They will not put by the
42:50
Speaker 1: stroke of death, nor ease the pangs, nor remove the sting.
42:55
Speaker 1: Yet Esau, who set up for a gentleman, should have
42:59
Speaker 1: had a great and more noble spirit than to sell
43:03
Speaker 1: even such an honor so cheaply tub Script two. But
43:09
Speaker 1: being of spiritual nature, his unvaluing it was the greatest
43:14
Speaker 1: profaness imaginable. Note it is egregious folly to part with
43:19
Speaker 1: our interest in God and Christ in Heaven for riches, honors,
43:24
Speaker 1: and pleasures of this world, as a bad bargain as
43:28
Speaker 1: his that sold a birthright or a dash of bra
43:31
Speaker 1: Tubscript three. Three. Repentance was hidden from his eyes Verse
43:37
Speaker 1: thirty four. He did eat and drink, pleased his palate,
43:42
Speaker 1: satisfied his cravings, congratulated himself on the good meal's meat
43:47
Speaker 1: he had had, and then carelessly rose up and went
43:51
Speaker 1: his way, without any serious reflections upon the bad bargain
43:56
Speaker 1: he had made, or any show of regret. Thus, Esau
44:00
Speaker 1: despised his birthright. He had used no means at all
44:03
Speaker 1: to get the bargain revoked, made no appeal to his
44:06
Speaker 1: father about it, nor proposed to his brother to compound
44:10
Speaker 1: the matter. But the bargain which his necessity had made,
44:14
Speaker 1: Supposing it were so, his profaneness confirmed expos facto. After
44:21
Speaker 1: the deed, and by his subsequent neglect and contempt, he did,
44:26
Speaker 1: as it were, acknowledge a fine, and by justifying himself
44:31
Speaker 1: and what he had done, he put the bargain past.
44:34
Speaker 1: Recall note people are ruined not so much by doing
44:39
Speaker 1: what is amiss, but by doing it and not repenting
44:43
Speaker 1: of it, doing it and standing to it. End of
44:48
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five