Isaac had to plead (deep and persistent intercession) with the LORD.

 Isaac had to plead with the LORD.

After Sarah’s death, Abraham married Keturah [Genesis 25:1]. Through her, he had six more sons. Then there was Isaac (born to Sarah) and Ishmael (born to Hagar). Therefore, Abraham fathered eight sons. However, only Isaac was the child of the covenant promise. This is why Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. Isaac became the legal heir of Abraham’s possessions, his wealth, flocks, and authority, so that, the covenant blessing would continue through Isaac [Genesis 17:19–21]. Therefore, Isaac received, the covenant promises of God, the blessing of the land of Canaan, and the lineage through which the Messiah would come.

And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east (Genesis 25:5-6).

Nonetheless, Abraham still cared for His other sons, he gave them gifts and sent them eastward [Genesis 25:6], so that they could establish their own families and tribes away from Isaac, to avoid conflict over the inheritance or the promised land. Ishmael had great blessings, but not the covenant [Genesis 17:20–21]. The sons of Keturah became fathers of nations, but not the covenant line. Isaac alone was the son of promise, miraculously born to Sarah by God’s power. Through whom, Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus Christ, the promised Seed [Galatians 3:16], came.

 

Abraham’s death and burial

Abraham lived 175 years, long, blessed, and fulfilled life [Genesis 25:7–8]. His life was marked by: God’s calling, promises, covenant, and faithfulness.  When Abraham died, Isaac and Ishmael together buried him [Genesis 25:9]. At Abraham’s death, Isaac and Ishmael united to honor their father. God directly blessed Isaac because he was the chosen heir through whom the promises would continue. The work of God never ends with one person, it is generational.

And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi (Genesis 25:11).

Abraham’s life ended, but God’s plan did not. God simply moved forward to the next generation. God’s purposes extend beyond our lifespan, one generation receives God’s blessing, and the next carries it forward. Faith is meant to be inherited, lived out, and passed on.

 

The conception of Jacob and Esau

Even though Isaac was the son of promise, and God had already declared that Abraham’s covenant blessings would continue through him, the promise was not fulfilled easily or instantly. Isaac had to plead (deep, persistent intercession) with the LORD. Therefore, God’s promises may require prayer, patience, perseverance, and faith in waiting. Isaac did not assume the promise would happen with ease and automatically. He prayed earnestly, continually, and passionately. The answer came after 20 years of waiting.

Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived (Genesis 25:21).

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah [Genesis 25:20], and he was 60 years old when the twins (Esau and Jacob) were born [Genesis 25:26]. For two decades, Rebekah remained barren, Isaac kept praying, as their faith was stretched and tested as they lived with uncertainty, disappointment, and unanswered questions. Yet they refused not give up. Just as Abraham and Sarah waited decades for Isaac, now Isaac and Rebekah also had to walk the same path of for God to develop their faith. God was shaping them, teaching them: trust, dependence, patience, and surrender. God often delays the fulfillment of His promises to grow His people spiritually. The promise is certain, but the timing belongs to God.

 

The birth of Jacob and Esau was as a result of God's promise. But, Isaac had to birth the promise through prayers. This shows a two pronged mystery of Scripture. On one hand, God’s sovereignty (the promise), on the other hand, the human responsibility (prayer). God had already promised descendants, yet He waited for Isaac to pray through faith before fulfilling it. In this way, God draws His people into partnership with His purposes.

 

When Rebekah became pregnant, the babies inside her struggled together. The Hebrew word used here suggests a violent, intense conflict that is not normal. Rebekah feared something was terribly wrong, so she sought God for understanding. God revealed that, she carried two children representing two nations. The younger one would be stronger than the older one, and their destinies would not be equal. This reversed the normal custom of the ancient world, where the firstborn always received the inheritance and authority. Though Esau was the firstborn, yet Jacob, the younger, would be the one God chose to carry the covenant promise.

But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord (Genesis 25:22).

These children would grow into two distinct people, Israel (from Jacob) and Edom (from Esau). Therefore, the conflict between these two nations began even before birth and would continue through history. God made this decision before either of the children did anything, showing that the choice came entirely from God’s sovereign purpose. Apostle Paul uses this story to explain God’s sovereign right to choose how His purposes unfold. God chose Jacob before he was born, not based on works, behavior, or merit, or human performance [Romans 9:11]. This does not mean God was unjust; it means God is free to choose how His redemptive plan moves forward. This informs us that God is sovereign, He chooses whom He will for His purposes. Through grace, He acts out of mercy, not human achievement. Jacob was flawed, imperfect, and deceptive, God still chose him because of His grace, not Jacob’s goodness.

 

Esau sells his birthright to Jacob

Jacob’s actions reflect the meaning of his name. Jacob (heel-catcher or supplanter), a person who trips someone up to gain advantage. In the ancient world, this described someone who was crafty, opportunistic, or willing to outmaneuver others for personal gain. When Jacob offered Esau a meal in exchange for the birthright, he behaved exactly like this, taking advantage of his brother’s moment of weakness for his own benefit. Esau treated something sacred and spiritually significant as worthless [Genesis 25:34]. The birthright was not just material inheritance; it represented leadership of the family, the covenant blessing, and the spiritual legacy passed from Abraham to Isaac and then to the next generation. But Esau cared more about immediate physical satisfaction, his hunger, than about long-term spiritual inheritance.

And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34).

On one hand, Jacob pursued the spiritual blessing, but did so through flawed, manipulative behavior. On the other hand, Esau had access to the spiritual blessing, but he dismissed it as unimportant compared to temporary physical appetite. Esau’s choice reflects a heart that values earthly needs over spiritual gifts. This illustrates how easily people can undervalue what God gives when their appetites dominate their decisions.

George G. Ruheni, PhD.