19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 

This is establishing the fact that Abraham is the grandfather of Esau and Jacob. We will see the importance of this shortly.

20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 

21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 

22 The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is so, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh.

23 Yahweh said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb.
Two peoples will be separated from your body.
The one people will be stronger than the other people.
The elder will serve the younger.”

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 

25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 

26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field.

He sees his own power and strength providing his needs. Being "A man of the field " he desires what he can see.

Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 

Jacob lived in tents like Abraham and Isaac. This showed that they were not tied to this world. 

28 Now Isaac loved Esau because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob. 

29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 

30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”

32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”

He despises what he couldn't see (the blessing) and trades it for what he could see. This is happening to a great many today. We do not treasure what we can't see. But we treasure what we can see. 

33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”

This is opening the door for Jacob, the deceiver, to become Esau's master. And like Esau, when we lose interest in our spiritual birthright (intercession,  prayer for others. when we lose the passion for winning the lost, when we lose the urgency to tell other of our savior Jesus Christ, like Esau we open the door for those like Jacob the swindler, who proclaim to be us, to come in and lead us. 

He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 

Esau has little concern about spiritual blessings.

34 Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

God had made a promise to Esau's grandfather, Abraham. God told Abraham that the nations would be blessed through him and his descendants. Abraham cherished this promise but it meant nothing to Esau because he couldn't see it. This applies to us today. As descendants of Abraham (the church) we are to be a blessing to all nations. God fulfills His promise thru your life. Do you highly esteem your birthright or does it mean nothing to you like it meant nothing to Esau? Are you carrying out God's purpose in your life? Not your purpose for your life, God's purpose.