First there was Cain and Able Genesis Chapter 4.

But the story we are concentrating on is Jacob and Esau who were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis Chapter 25.

For many years after they were married, Isaac and Rebekah had no children. Issac knew that God was to bless his family and make a great nation from them. Isaac asked God to give them a child.

God blessed them with twins Jacob and Esau. The custom at the time was the oldest son inherited all the family rights and privileges. But God told Rebekah, before the babies were born, that the younger one was to become the head of the family and inherit the rights and privileges.

Twin boys were born, and Esau was the first to arrive, then Jacob. The baby Jacob was holding tightly on to his bother Esau heel.

The boys grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoors person, Jacob was a quite man preferring life indoors among the tents. Isaac loved Esau because of what he did, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

One day Esau arrived home when Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau was quite hungry and asked Jacob for some stew. Jacob was a scoundrel, and asked Esau to trade his birthright for the stew.

Unfortunately Esau was at the time only thinking about the Now. Esau response was “I’m starving! what good is a birthright? if I am dead. A man who held so much blessing around his life, sold the blessing for short term gain.

The Facts are that God does use scoundrels to begin His community of Faith. God used Jacob who was a scoundrel, which probably would shock many. Jacob came out of the womb grabbing the heel of Esau. A sign that he would trip him up and overtake him, Jacob had even come out of the birth canal, when he started the kind of behavior that would characterize his life. The grabbing of the heel before birth, represented that he was prepared to use any means to get ahead in life.

God had His reasons for including such an unsavory thing in the Savior family tree. To show us, we don’t disqualify our selves from getting on in the Christian life by saying that we are not good enough.God doesn’t just pick out the best and the most promising people the make up The Body of Christ,{His Eternal Family}, he also allows scoundrels.

This should be great encouragement to us all, because John 3 verse 16 says, “So that EVERYONE who believes in Christ Jesus will not perish but have eternal life”.

Lessons to learn from the Story of Two Siblings are:

First: Esau was thinking about ‘The Now’ not worrying about His Future that had great blessing.

“So Don’t Sell Yourself Short” we all have great futures.

Second: Jacob was a scoundrel, Sin does not disqualify us from the Kingdom of God. John 3 verse 18, ‘Anyone who believes in Him {Jesus} is not condemned’.

“Jesus is waiting for all to come to Him and repent {saying you are truly sorry} for wrong doings and ask Him for help, and He will.”

This is another great story from the Bible that should give us all great hope.

God Bless.