Genesis 25-27: Study Guide

Background

• Review of Genesis 22-24: Abraham showed the great extent of his obedience to God when he demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Then Sarah died, prompting Abraham to obtain a burial cave from the Hittites. Afterwards, Abraham sent a servant to his country of origin so that he could obtain a wife for Isaac from his relatives.
• Setting for Genesis 25: During this time Abraham is experiencing the later years of his life.

Study Preparations

• Timer: Assign a timer who will focus the group on spending 15 minutes in each chapter.
• Prayer: Open in prayer and invite God to provide understanding into Genesis 25-27.

Genesis 25

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 25.

Discussion

1. Focus: What seems to be the focus of this chapter?
2. Isaac's Blessing: How does Isaac's experience of blessings compare with the rest of Abraham's sons?
3. Prophecy for Rebekah: What do you think about God's choice to reveal the destinies of Esau and Jacob to Rebekah rather than Isaac?
1. How does Rebekah compare with Sarah in their experiences of childlessness?
2. What do you think about the idea of "the older serving the younger" (verse 23)? What message do you think is being communicated behind this idea?
4. Birthright: Reflect on what transpired between Esau and Jacob regarding the birthright.
1. What is your opinion of Esau's character?
2. What is your opinion of Jacob's character?
3. What does this incident seem to suggest for how God's blessings are realized and experienced?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 25 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 26. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• Abraham as the father of many peoples
• Settlement of Isaac vs dispersion of Abraham's other sons
• Ishmael's blessing attained vs Isaac's blessing deferred (Ishmael fathers 12 sons vs Rebekah initially barren)
• Does a birthright hold value?

Genesis 26

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 26.

Discussion

1. Mood: How would you define the mood of this chapter?
1. Compare and contrast the experiences of Abraham vs Isaac among Abimelech and the Philistines.
2. How do the Philistines evolve in their interactions with Isaac?
2. Neighborly Relations: Recall God's declaration of the blessing that nations may receive in verse 4:
1. What was your reaction to the dialogue between Isaac and Abimelech when his blessing was sought out?
2. Based upon the book of Genesis, how would you characterize Israel's foreign relations?
3. Intermarriage: Consider the reaction towards the marriages between Esau and the Hittite women. Why do you think that the Book of Genesis draws so much attention to the issue of inmarriage vs intermarriage?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 26 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 27. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• Isaac's shaky neighborly relations (e.g. distrust, jealousy)
• Isaac inherits Abraham's deceptions (claiming Rebekah is his sister)
• Disputes over resources of the land (wells & water rights)
• God blesses Isaac even as a foreigner (among the Philistines)
• Nations are blessed through Abraham's seed (sought by Abimelech a second time)
• Grief caused by Esau's intermarriages

Genesis 27

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 27.

Discussion

1. Initial Reaction: What is your initial reaction to this story?
1. Recall Isaac's surprise to how quickly that a meal was able to be prepared for him. How do you feel about Jacob crediting his hunting success to God (verse 20)?
2. What is your reaction to Isaac's statement: "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau" (verse 22)?
3. What do you think about Isaac's blessing to Esau (verses 39-40)?
2. Family: How is the family unit depicted within the Book of Genesis?
1. Do you think that we are meant to draw principles from this story for family life? Or do you think that Jacob's family tensions are simply meant to serve the larger storyline?
2. What generational principles might we draw from Isaac's family (i.e. principles that impact or span across multiple generations)?
3. Message: What do you think is the message of Genesis 27?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 27 into the full picture of Genesis, and helps the group anticipate what may be coming in the next study. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• Family division
• Brotherly strife
• Parental favoritism
• Inequity of blessings ("You shall serve your brother")
• Esau's hope of liberation from Jacob's bondage ("You shall break his yoke")
• Correspondence of a father's blessings to a son's perceived characteristics (e.g. "smell of a field" blessing)
• Blessing is not a guarantee (e.g. Esau discarded his birthright, yet was surprised to lose the blessing along with it)

Closing

Looking Forward: In light of the numerous family tensions among Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob, what do you anticipate for the futures of Esau and Jacob?