GENESIS CHAPTER 25: THE IMPORTANCE OF GENEALOGY

Introduction : The naming of peoples and nations through the family tree of Abraham and the selling of a birthright for a serving of bean stew. 

 1. Then again Abraham too a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 3. And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan, And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, , and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. 7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. (175 years). 8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people, 9. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10. The field that Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth; there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
12. Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son whom Hagar the Egyptian, of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations; the first born of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14. And Misham, and Dumah and Massa, 15. Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: 16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, and hundred and thirty and seven years: (137years) And he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people, 18. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brethren.Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: 13. And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations; the first born of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14. And Misham, and Dumah and Massa, 15. Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: 16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17. And these are

the years of the life of Ishmael, and hundred and thirty and seven years: (137years) And he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people, 18. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brethren. 

19. And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son; Abraham begat Isaac: 20. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21. And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22. And the children struggled together within her; and she said,"If it be so, why am I thus?" And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23. And the Lord said unto her." Two nations are in thy womb, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the older shall serve the younger.

24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold there were twins in her womb. 25. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and thy called his name Esau. 26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was three score years old when she bare them.(60 years old). 27. And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob. 31. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright" 32. And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" 33. And

Jacob said, "Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils (beans); and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Esau was only thinking in the present, he was famished and to him he did not see the value of his birthright. God's plan unfolded that day when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. How important is knowing where your parents came from, who you are and where do you fit in the family tree. What type of people do you descend from? Esau was not interested in any of those things at that time, his stomach was ruling his head. When we let our minds make decisions on things that will mandate our life and our quality of living based on how we feel at that moment, our lives would be one of inconsistency and havoc.  Having respect for where we come from as a family and as a person, planning to uphold the traditions and values of the family we come from , if they are good, is important. If the values and traditions are against God's statues, then change yourself to become whom God intended you to be. Our birthright through Jesus is eternal life with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the new earth and the new heavens for eternity. Don't sell it for a bowl of stew or anything to please the flesh in a moment of weakness.