Gen 25: Death of Abraham, birth of Esau and Jacob. Esau despising his birthright

Abraham took another wife, but upon his death, left everything to Isaac and was buried together with his wife. Isaac and Rebekah had twins, Esau and Jacob. Esau, the older, despised his birthright, and was willing to give it up for a meal.

• v1-4: Abraham, although more than a hundred years old, was lonely after the death of Sarah and the marriage of Isaac. Hence (in desperation?) he turned to marriage to solve the loneliness and emptiness in his life, and apparently still had enough libido to bear six (SIX!!!) children
• v5-6: He handled his estate with great prudence, in accordance to the tradition of his day. Isaac was the heir of the promise and hence Abraham made him heir of his estate. He did this while he was still alive, also giving portions to the rest of his children and then sending them away from Isaac, to ensure that disputes would not arise after.
• v9: Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham i.e. they were somehow reconciled.
• v11-18: Ishmael bore twelve sons, which in time populated Arabia (between Egypt and Assyria).
• v14: Mishma, Dumah, Massa. They mean hear, keep silence, and bear respectively. cf James 1:19 - Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angry
• v18: "And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers" - and this persists even until today
• v21: Jacob and Esau's births were prayed for. Rebekah remained barren for twenty whole years. Though the accomplishment of God's promise is always sure, it may not come as fast as we might like, so that our faith and patience might be exercised. Isaac did better than his father in this regard - he did not turn to a concubine, but he continued praying and petitioning God. Though God had promised to multiply his family, he continued praying while he did not see it come into being and did not give up. God's promises are not meant to supersede, but are to encourage us in our prayers. Those who continue in prayer, shall find that they do not seek in vain. (Isa 45:19)
  
• v22-23: Esau and Jacob were prophesied of before they were born. The commotion Rebekah felt inside her was extraordinary and made her feel uneasy, and hence she inquired of God. On thsi earth, there is the continual struggle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness; a struggle between man and the serpent; flesh and spirit.
• v23: The older would serve the younger. This was a concept unheard of in OT times, as in those days the oldest male child woluld inherit practically everything, leaving the scraps for the rest of his siblings. God dispensed His grace whichever way pleased Him, "not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."" (Rom 9:12)
• v24-26: Esau was born rough and hairy, Jacob was born soft and tender. Yet Jacob's hand took hold of Esau's heel, signifying his pursuit of the birthright and blessing.
  
• v27-28: Jacob was a mummy's boy, Esau was an active, strong man, in whom his father was proud of.
• v29-34: The brithright was Esau's by providence but Jacob's by promise. Jacob desired the birthright, and took advantage of his brother's weakness to get it. Esau must have spoken disparagingly about the birthright, which would have encouraged Jacob to make this proposal. "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son" (Heb 12:16) For a simple lentil meal, he sold his entire birthright. He, the mighty hunter, was taken advantage of by Jacob, a weak and simple man. Again, God often chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. The reason Esau gave for despising his birthright was downright ridiculous - "I am about to die" of hunger, after just a single day hunting. Hence his appetite had the mastery of him.
• The birthright was typical of spiritual privileges; hence we are all called the first born. Esau's undervaluing of his spiritual birthright was hence a great profanity; it signified his willingness to part with his interest in God and heavenly riches, all for the sake of temporal and instant gratification. Worse still, he showed no sign of repentance after satisfying his cravings. He used no means at all to get the bargain revoked nor made no appeal to his father about it.