Genesis 36: Feeding the flesh

Many of you may come to the chapter 36 and wonder why is this chapter in the Bible. It is a whole bunch of names that you can’t pronounce and you are thinking, what can I possibly learn from this or how is this going to help me grow spiritually? I am also pretty certain, you have not heard too many sermons or writings on Genesis 36. But, if God has included it in scripture, there must be a reason and we must look at it closely. I am going to make an attempt to share few points and hopefully, they will help you as they have helped me look at this chapter differently. I will not be going verse by verse as I usually do due to long genealogy but will be sharing a selected verse and overall lesson from this chapter. Paul tells Timothy ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. As you read Ch 36, it does not come off as an inspiration but Esau has a lot to teach us.

Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. ² Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; ³ and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. ⁴ Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. ⁵ And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.⁶ Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. ⁷ For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. ⁸ So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

At the end of Chapter 26, we learn Esau took 2 wives and some may even suggest that names of Esau’s wife don’t match up but if you do some research, you will learn that there is no contradiction. If you do have a question about the names of the wives, please write to me personally and I will explain in detail. Here we see Esau despite missing out on the blessings from Isaac, is blessed in a worldly manner. As we read it says, both brothers could not stay together due to immense possession and land could not support both of them. Here we see the first difference between Esau & Jacob, who represent flesh & Spirit. Jacob moved into the promised land with his family and all possession meanwhile Esau, who was in promised land moved out because of those possessions. How do we look at blessings in our own lives? How many times when we see a good job, big house, success according to the world and equate that to a blessing from God? In reality, flesh prospers faster and more rapidly as we will see in this chapter. As we learned in chapter 33, Esau had far greater riches than Jacob but Jacob was the blessed one. Do you want to be rich or Blessed? Please don’t move out of the promised land because of your possession. Don’t chase the dream at the cost of your spiritual life and spiritual life of your kids.

⁴ Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel, ⁵ and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan.

Oholibamah was a temple Prostitute and Esau knew this will not sit well with his parents and changed her name to Judith. Here, we see the first characteristic of flesh. It is Hypocritical, as it changes the name to make sin sound acceptable even sometimes religious. Let me illustrate this point, In our time it is no longer sin of drunkenness but now we call it sickness ( Alcoholic), It is no longer sin of adultery but rather having an affair. Gossip can be passed on as a Prayer request. This is how we make Oholibamah’s in our lives sound righteous, but no matter what name you give, in God’s eyes it is still sin. Secondly, flesh is productive and fertile.  As you read this chapter, you will see the numerous group of people whose line goes back to Esau because flesh grows and rapidly. Have you noticed, how fast the weeds go in your garden compared to actual plants? Flesh is like that. In Galatians, Paull says,  “If a man sows to the flesh than of the flesh he shall reap corruption”.

⁶ Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. ⁷ Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. ⁸ So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.

Thirdly, Flesh is successful. As I mentioned earlier, Esau was wealthy and here is an issue that all of us have a problem with. How come the guy who is living sinful life prospering, while I as Christian am struggling? Why is the guy who is corrupt and cheats drives a Mercedes? Look at what Psalmist had to say in Psalm 73: But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.³ For I was envious of the boastful When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. I think we all have felt this way one time or another. But, On the other hand, I like to encourage you to read Psalm 37: Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

This is the account of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.¹⁰ These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.¹¹ The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.¹² Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.¹³ The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

Fourthly, Flesh is forceful & influential. Did you notice the name Eliphaz? If you have read the book of Job, you will recognize the name “Eliphaz the temanite”. He is the one who told Job, God must be mad at you. In the same way, the flesh will tell you, what good is it doing you by worshipping God, you are not blessed, you have more problem than before, more difficulties. Do you have tendency to be like Eliphaz? We should encourage and strengthen each other not cast doubt.

¹⁷ The sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.¹⁸ The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.¹⁹ These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs.²⁰ These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ²¹ Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.²² The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam.^[b] Timna was Lotan’s sister.²³ The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

The flesh is powerful. We know from the book of Deuteronomy, Horites were powerful man related to Anakim, the giants. The descendants of Esau were able to wipe them out because the flesh is strong and powerful. How many time we boast about our accomplishments like we achieved it in our own strength. ” I built this house”. ” I kicked the habit”. ” I started this Church,” some of us say as we glorify our flesh, for the flesh can overcome the giants. The problem is as you feed the flesh, it grows stronger and it becomes a giant. And in the end, it destroys us. You see all these chiefs in Esau’s family are gone. There is none around.

²⁴ The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs^[c] in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.²⁵ The children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah. ²⁶ The sons of Dishon^[d]: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran. ²⁷ The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan. ²⁸ The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. ²⁹ These were the Horite chiefs: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ³⁰ Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs, according to their divisions, in the land of Seir. ³¹ These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:

The flesh is Pompous. We descendants of Esau had Kings before Israel. We are ahead of the game. The flesh is proud and always boasting of what it accomplishes, and what it has done in its own power. There is no humbleness or any thought of giving Glory to God. The word of the God says, one sow and another water but increase comes from the Lord. But, flesh says, it is my hard work and I am reaping fruits of my toil. Do you see the problem?

³² Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah. ³³ When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king. ³⁴ When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. ³⁵ When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith. ³⁶ When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king. ³⁷ When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king. ³⁸ When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king. ³⁹ When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad^[e] succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.

The flesh is relentless. Do you see how there is one king after an another? One dies and another is ready to take its place. It is interesting that Edomites kings never became a dynasty. When each king dies another unrelated individual acceded to the throne, probably by force. Flesh is like this, If one aspect of flesh may die, there is another to take its place.

⁴⁰ These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, ⁴¹ Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Lastly, Flesh is sad. Edomites were proud of their city Petra. It was an impregnable city which could be protected by dozen men because of its location. Today, it is a ghost town. There is absolutely nothing there. Whatever is done through flesh will ultimately be as empty as Edom. Do you see some of this characteristic in your life? Do you have a tendency to feed the flesh in a certain area of your life? What are we to do? Paull tells us in Romans 8: ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Folks, Please live by the spirit. The same spirit that raised Jesus from dead dwells in us- not only to raise us up eternally but to raise us up presently, away from the flesh which so easily seduces and snags us. All you have to do is say no more flesh and spirit takes it from there, guiding our every decision, telling us what to do. This does not mean, we will not stumble or follow our fleshly desires but the spirit of God is more powerful than any temptation we may face. I pray that Holy Spirit may help us to make each choice moment by moment to draw from his strength to see us through. Amen