ISAAC ,ESAU and JACOB

• Isaac married Rebekah; they had twin sons named Esau and Jacob

• Esau was born first, so he was entitled to his family’s birthright

- the birthright was the older son’s right to a larger inheritance and a special blessing from his father

* Whoever received the birthright in Isaac’s family would become the patriarch of God’s chosen people

• Jacob wanted the birthright which belonged to his brother

• One day Esau was hungry; he asked Jacob for some food

• Jacob told him that he would give Esau a meal in exchange for his birthright; Esau agreed

• When Isaac was old and near death, Jacob and Rebekah tricked Isaac into thinking that Jacob was Esau

• Isaac gave the blessing to Jacob

• It is through Jacob’s family that God’s promise of a savior is carried out

• Jacob’s favored wife is Rachel

• In Genesis 32, Jacob is traveling and struggles with a messenger of God

• Because Jacob is not defeated, he is given a new name – Israel. This name means “he who wrestles with God”

• This new name is a sign of his new mission

• God’s chosen people would become known as Israelites.

• Jacob and Rachel had 12 sons

• From these 12 sons came the Twelve Tribes of Israel

The number 12 is symbolically significant in the Bible

- 12 symbolizes God’s power and authority

- It also symbolizes “perfect government” and completeness of a group or nation

- The number 12 is found 187 times in the Bible – 12 Patriarchs, 12 sons, 12 Tribes, 12 Apostles…