Lying for lentils and how to inherit the blessings of God (Genesis 25–26)

After Sarah’s death Abraham had other children as well and we learn how his estate was divided up between his heirs. We also learn how Yiskhak (Isaac) deals with his status as a wealthy patriarch in a hostile land and how his two sons start fighting over Yiskhak’s estate before they are born and continue fighting over it when they are adults. The fight appears to end with Esau “despising” his birthright. But does this really end the dispute?

Food for thought from the recorded discussion

What are some of the parallels between Abraham and Yiskhak in what they told foreign rulers about their wives?

Who was Keturah? What does her name mean?

How long did Abraham live?

What happened when Rivkah (Rebecca) conceived her sons? What were they doing in Rivkah’s womb? What did God tell her? What does it mean that “one shall serve the other”? What does the name Esau mean? What does the name Ya’akov (Jacob) mean? How old was Abraham when Esau and Ya’akov were born? How old were Esau and Ya’akov when Abraham died?

What was Esau’s condition when he was returning from the hunt (Gen. 25:29)? What did Esau exchange with Ya’akov for the lentil soup? What does it mean when it says that “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34)?

How did Yiskhak end up in the land of the Philistines?

What was the purpose of the famine?

What did Yiskhak did with the wells his father Abraham had built in the area? How many wells did Yiskhak build or rebuild? Why did Yiskhak leave rather than fight for the wells? Why did the Philistines hate Yiskhak so much? What do the names of the wells mean?

How old was Yiskhak when Esau got married? How old was Esau when he got married?

How did the “face of the earth” change at the flood? How will the “face of the earth” change at the end (Rev.20:11-12; Rev. 21:1)?

Reader: Jeff.