Focus Chapters:
- Genesis 36:1-19
- I Chronicles 1:35-37
- Genesis 36:20-30
- I Chronicles 1:38-42
- Genesis 36:31-43
- I Chronicles 1:43-54
- I Chronicles 2:1-2
Standout Verse(s):
THE ACTION
Genesis 36:6-7 NLT
Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle—all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob. There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired.
THE REACTION
Genesis 36:8 NLT
So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.
Observation (s):
- Esau independently and proactively made the decision to settle away from his brother, Jacob. The premise given was due to the lack of enough land to supply all their combined resources. From the days of Noah when God told man to scatter and populate the earth, this is the first instance described in the Bible in which man (with numerous resources) immediately recognizes the dangers of not scattering and doesn’t wait for its impacts to strike for him to take action.
Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle—all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob.There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired.
Application:
God knows best! It took man hundreds of years to be proactive about a topic that God raised and issued directives about from Day 1. Coming up to the point of Esau, we saw many instances where man ignored that directive and ended up with unanticipated and un-welcomed trouble.
The lyrics from one of my favourite songs goes like this:
“There are things about tomorrow
That I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.”
It’s amazing to know that God holds tomorrow! Wouldn’t it be equally amazing if we let God hold our hands and direct and protect us from all the dangers He sees in our tomorrows? Can you imagine how much pain, anguish and missteps He would save us from if we just let Him hold our hands? Can you imagine how many joys and blessings He would guide us to?
