Decisions Become Destinies
Gen. 25:19-34
Bible Talk outline
A. Two people become one: The decision of marriage(vv. 19-20)
B. Two prayers lifted: the decision to ask God
1. Isaac’s pleading prayer (v. 21)
2. Rebekah’s troubled prayer (v. 22)
C. Two nation’s predicted: God’s decision to reveal the future
1. A divinely predicted rivalry (v. 23a)
2. A divinely predicted superiority (v. 23b)
D. Two names chosen: the decision to acknowledge conflict (vv. 24-26)
1. Esau, which sounds like “hair” (v. 25)
2. Jacob, sounds like “heel,” meaning “deceiver” (v. 26)
E. Two personalities: the decision to be authentic
1. Esau the outdoorsman (v. 27a)
2. Jacob the homebody (v. 27b)
F. Two favorites: the decision to love ungenerously
1. Esau, Isaac’s favorite son (v. 28a)
2. Jacob, Rebekah’s favorite son (v. 28b)
G. Two desires: the decision to face temptations
1. Esau’s momentary, physical desire (vv. 29-30)
2. Jacob’s long-term, ambitious desire (v. 31)
H. Two futures: the decision to choose the spiritual life
1. Esau’s self-oriented, unspiritual future (v. 28a)
2. Jacob’s strong-willed, but eventually spiritual, future (v. 28b)
Dr. Jim R. Coleman
