Genesis 26 starts out with the
– deception of Isaac that nearly killed the lineage of the then king Abimelech (verses 1-11),
– discord over water rights between Isaac’s servants and the servants of Abimelech (verses 12-22),
– defense and declaration of God’s covenant with Isaac (verses 23-25),
– deal of peace between Isaac and Abimelech (verses 26-33)
and finally ends with the
– displeasing marriages of Esau, Isaac’s firstborn son (verses 34-35).
The Bible accounts that Esau was forty years old when he married not one but two Hittite wives – Judith the daughter of Beeri and Bashemath the daughter of Elon and these pagan women made the life of Isaac and his wife Rebekah, miserable. These daughters-in-law were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau marriages were displeasing.
Points to ponder:
Before we go about condemning Esau for his foolish marriages of worldly (not godly) wives, let us take a moment to introspect ourselves. Many a times, we would find ourselves getting married to the things of this world (be it power, position, prosperity, or pleasure). Our marriages to the worldly things brings displeasure to God and so we ought to divorce ourselves from the things of this ephemeral world and keep ourselves chaste (by the power of the Holy Spirit of God) and look forward to the wedding of the Lamb of God as the bride of Christ (Revelation 19).
What are the things of this world that you are married to that you ought to divorce so that you dont grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and displease God? (2 Samuel 11:27). Answer that question and act on it, today.
Genesis 26:34-35 (KJV)
34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
