Esau's Interlude (Genesis 36:1-37:1)
After Jacob’s story we get another genealogical interlude. This has been the pattern of Genesis so far, and is just structure. And, again, as with the interlude before Jacob’s story, we get information about the people’s around our central characters. Here we see the decedents of Esau who intermarried with the Canaanites and who would take over and possess much of the promised land for the next few centuries while God’s people will languish in slavery.
More than just a stylistic, structural aspect of Genesis, this information has been preserved for good reasons. The Edomites will play important roles in Israel’s story going forward. It is interesting to see how God works in all aspects of history, not just in a chosen few. And, it is a good reminder that God’s plans are not our own.
Often, we wait on God not knowing where He is acting, not knowing what He has prepared for us. And here we see that His plans may involve unpleasant things for us while those who are against us seem to prosper. It is stories like these and many others in Scripture that should encourage us to not give up on hope, or trust, when it comes to God’s plans.
More than just a stylistic, structural aspect of Genesis, this information has been preserved for good reasons. The Edomites will play important roles in Israel’s story going forward. It is interesting to see how God works in all aspects of history, not just in a chosen few. And, it is a good reminder that God’s plans are not our own.
Often, we wait on God not knowing where He is acting, not knowing what He has prepared for us. And here we see that His plans may involve unpleasant things for us while those who are against us seem to prosper. It is stories like these and many others in Scripture that should encourage us to not give up on hope, or trust, when it comes to God’s plans.
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