Who was Esau in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, Esau and Jacob, twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, were foretold to lead separate nations. Esau, the elder, sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, and later, Jacob deceitfully received their father's blessing intended for Esau. Despite Esau's desire for his father's blessing, it was granted to Jacob, resulting in Esau's resentment. Esau planned revenge but ultimately forgave Jacob upon their reunion after years of separation. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, settled in a territory distinct from the Israelites.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Abraham's son Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin boys. Their firstborn was Esau, and his younger twin brother was Jacob. Esau was given his name because of his red, hairy appearance at birth (Genesis 25:25).
• During her pregnancy, God told Rebekah, "two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). When they were born Jacob held onto his brother's heel, and his name foretold his deceptive nature (Genesis 25:26). Esau was the victim of his brother's deception at least twice in his life.
• As they grew up, Esau became an excellent hunter while Jacob stayed near home. Isaac loved Esau, and Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:27–28).
• One day Esau came home exhausted and wanted to eat some of Jacob's red stew. Jacob agreed on the condition that Esau would give him his birthright. Blinded by hunger, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. He was foolishly swayed by his fleshly desires and "despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:29–34).
• When Isaac was an old man and losing his eyesight, he asked Esau to hunt and prepare a meal for him. It was his desire to give Esau his blessing. However, Rebekah heard this and quickly advised Jacob to trick his father into blessing him instead. With his mother's help, Jacob dressed like his brother, wearing goat hair on his arms so they felt like his brother's. She prepared her husband a delicious meal, and Jacob served it to Isaac. Although Isaac questioned that it was really Esau, he was assured it was his oldest son, and Isaac unknowingly gave Esau’s blessing to Jacob (Genesis 27).
• When Esau arrived and prepared a meal for his father, he realized what had happened. Esau exclaimed, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing" (Genesis 27:36).
• Esau still wanted a blessing from his father, but Isaac knew there was little he could give him. Esau would have to serve his brother and would not inherit the land of his father. Isaac said, "Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck" (Genesis 27:39–40).
• Esau planned to kill Jacob after his father died, but Rebekah found out and told Jacob to flee (Genesis 27:41–45). Jacob fled to Laban, where he married Leah and Rachel. About twenty years later, Jacob's relationship with Laban became troublesome and God told him to return to his homeland (Genesis 31:1–3), where Jacob knew he would have to face Esau. When Jacob did so, he sent a lavish gift to Esau, hoping to allay any vengeance. Esau forgave Jacob and embraced him (Genesis 32—33).
• The brothers settled in different territories; Esau settled in the area of Seir, south of the Dead Sea.
• Esau's descendants became the Edomites, which means “red” just like Esau. The Edomites chose to worship pagan gods and did not get along with the Israelites. Although they would be freed from servitude to Jacob's descendants, they were destroyed for their disobedience to God (2 Kings 8:20; Obadiah 1:18).
• In the Book of Malachi, Esau is mentioned in the context of God's love for Jacob and His rejection of Esau. Malachi 1:2–3 reads: “‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have you loved us?’ ‘Is not Esau Jacob's brother?’ declares the Lord. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.’” In this passage, God’s love of Jacob and hate of Esau has to do with choosing one man and his descendants by which to enact His divine plan. God chose Abraham over all others. God chose Isaac but rejected Ishmael. That does not mean salvation was not available to them, but God did not choose them to be in the lineage through which the Messiah would be born.
• Esau’s descendants brought God’s curse upon themselves by refusing to help the Israelites (Numbers 20:14–21; Genesis 27:29). Even so, God instructed the Israelites, "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7). Yet He also pronounced judgment against them (Jeremiah 49; Ezekiel 25; 35; Joel 4; Obadiah 1).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Romans 9:13 quotes from Malachi 1:2–3. This passage reveals that God chose Jacob to receive the covenant promises and Esau to serve his brother. God made this choice before they were born based on His own will and purpose. Esau fulfilled this prophecy by the way he lived and the outcome of his life.
• Hebrews 12:16 describes Esau, “who sold his birthright for a single meal,” as unholy and warns people not to be like him.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Esau's story in the Bible offers a profound lesson on the consequences of prioritizing immediate gratification over eternal blessings. Despite being the elder son, Esau impulsively traded his birthright for a fleeting moment of satisfaction, symbolized by a bowl of stew. This impulsive decision reflects a deeper spiritual condition—Esau's disregard for the sacredness and significance of his inheritance His actions serve as a cautionary tale against worldly pursuits that distract us from the enduring treasures that God has for us. The apostle Paul comments on God's choosing of Jacob and rejection of Esau (Romans 9:13). Yes, God is sovereign but Esau also chose to reject the blessing God had for him. Hebrews 12:16 further admonishes against godlessness, citing Esau as an example, urging us to cherish our spiritual inheritance and avoid the pitfalls of Esau's shortsightedness. Believers are called to live with an eternal perspective. Esau's life serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual values over temporary pleasures, ensuring that we do not forfeit the eternal blessings God has in store for us.

UNDERSTAND

• Esau was the twin brother of Jacob and was named Esau due to his red and hairy appearance.
• Esau traded his birthright for a temporary alleviation of hunger.
• Esau became upset when Jacob deceitfully took his blessing that he had already forfeited. Despite the deceit, this fulfilled God’s prophecy given when the twins were in the womb.

REFLECT

• In what areas of my life do I prioritize temporary satisfaction over lasting spiritual blessings?
• As a believer, how can I cultivate a deeper appreciation for the significance of my spiritual inheritance and God's promises?
• What steps can I take to ensure that I live with an eternal perspective, rather than being swayed by momentary desires?

ENGAGE

• What difficulties arise from wrestling with God's choice of Jacob over Esau and considering how Esau's actions interact with God's sovereignty?
• Do you think Esau's impulsive decision to trade his birthright reflects a deeper spiritual issue? Why or why not?
• How can we apply the lessons from Esau's story in our lives today, particularly in a culture that often values instant gratification?