Genesis 25 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 25

WHEN:

• Abram was born in approximately 1996 B.C. and died in 1821 B.C. at 175 years old (Gen 25:7). According to Genesis 25:20, Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (1856 B.C.). Genesis 25:26 tells us Isaac was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born (1836 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Abraham – A man from Ur of the Chaldeans who moved to Canaan at God’s instruction. God promised to make his descendants a great nation and to give them the land of Canaan.

• Ishmael – Abraham’s son with Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant.

• Isaac – Abraham’s son with Sarah.

• Rebekah – Isaac’s wife, the daughter of Bethuel.

• Jacob and Esau – Twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebekah.  

WHERE:

• Isaac lived in Beer-lahai-roi. Ishmael’s family lived between Havilah and Shur.

OUTLINE:

• THE FINAL YEARS OF ABRAHAM (25:1-11):

  • Abraham married a woman named Keturah and she bore him 5 sons.

  • Abraham’s son, Isaac, inherited his household.

  • All of Abraham’s children with his concubines were sent away to live in the east country before his death.  

  • Abraham died at 175 years old and was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah.

  • After his father’s death, Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

• THE FAMILY OF ISHMAEL (25:12-18):

  • Ishmael, Abraham’s son with Hagar, fathered 12 sons who became 12 princes.

  • Ishmael was 137 years old when he died.

  • His descendants settled between Havilah and Shur.

• JACOB AND ESAU, THE CHILDREN OF ISAAC (25:19-28):

  • Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was barren, so Isaac prayed for her.

  • The Lord heard Isaac’s prayer and Rebekah conceived twins.

  • The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

  • The firstborn was named Esau and the second child, who came out grasping the heal of his brother, was named Jacob.

  • Isaac loved Esau but Rebekah loved Jacob.

• ESAU’S BIRTHRIGHT (25:29-34):

  • Once, when Jacob was preparing stew, Esau returned from hunting and was extremely hungry.  

  • He asked Jacob to give him some of the “red stew.”

  • Jacob told him he could have it in exchange for his birthright.

  • Believing himself on the brink of starvation, Esau agreed to sell his birthright, and Jacob gave him the food.  

APPLICATION:

• Esau’s decision to sell his birthright is not spoken of highly in the scriptures. Genesis 25:34 says, “Esau despised his birthright” and Hebrews 12:16 rebukes Esau for his poor decision.

• Esau was a fool because he traded a great blessing for something of little value.

• Do we do the same thing?

• When we “dispise” God’s offer of salvation because we don’t want to give up our petty earthly pleasures, we are making a terrible trade.

• Esau grew to regret his trade, and we will too if we trade an eternity with God for a few years of earthly fun.