Genesis 25: Jacob and Esau and the Birthright
After Sarah dies, Abraham takes another wife, Keturah. By her he has six more sons who he sends away because Issac will become his sole heir. Then Abraham at 175 years old dies and is buried alongside Sarah. Ishmael has twelve sons before he dies. Issac has twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was red hairy man and a hunter, while Jacob was a quiet stay at home guy. In one incident in their lives, Esau came in hungry from hunting and begged Jacob to trade a bowl of beans for his birthright – which he did.
What happened to the twelve tribes of Ishmael? Mostly they faded from history. The Haddads are a tribe in Arabia who have become mostly Christian. Ironic.
Esau seemed to care only for the things of the world and so it was easy for him to throw away his promised blessings that God made through Abraham. Perhaps Jacob was sly in his maneuvering to get the blessings of Abraham and Issac but he was more spiritually inclined than Esau. Giving the promised seed line through Esau would be like giving responsibility to a beggar.
Though I did not nor could not obtain my birthright through subterfuge, I pray that I will not squandered it for a bowl of beans.