Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word. This week's question:

To Genesis 25 we go to find a spry Abraham, who, after Sarah's death, marrying Keturah and having 6 more children. After living to the ripe old age of 175 he is gathered up to his people.

Isaac, the promised son, was 40 when he married Rebekah. She is barren for 20 years and the prayers to God are answered when twins are conceived. But they struggle within her,so much so, that she inquires of God about it:

Genesis 25:23 "And the Lord says to her, 'Two nations are in your womb; And two Peoples shall be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than The other; And the older shall serve the younger."

When it was time to give birth, the first was red and hairy all over like a garment. The second came forth with his hand holding on the first's heel. She named the first Esau and the second Jacob. Now Esau was loved by Isaac as he was a skilled hunter and a man of the field, while Rebekah loved Jacob as he was a peaceful man and lived in tents.

One day, Esau comes in from the field, famished and Jacob had fixed a flavorful lentil stew.

Esau asks for some and Jacob says he may if he sells his birthright to him, AND he does! For a bowl on lentil stew, he sells his right as firstborn, the blessing of Isaac, to his brother!

Genesis 25:34 "thus Esau despised his birthright."

So we have the answer to our question, Esau,who thought he would not be held accountable to such a promise, his words really meant nothing and his father would still bless him on that day. But Rebekah and Jacob made sure the promise was upheld and God reminds us of it to this day:

Hebrews 12:15-17 "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God: That no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, For he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears."

It does not stop with just him, even his descendants have a house of trouble:

Obadiah 18 "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. They will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau."

So, let us think about the words we speak, the promises we make. It is easy to say things. But too often the desire to uphold them, with honor, is not considered that important. Jesus says:

Matthew 5:37 "But let your statements be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; and anything beyond these is of evil."