Introduction

Greetings everyone! I have revisited Chapter 25 of Genesis, and I've found that its theme is "Two Kingdoms, Two Pursuits." Why discuss this theme? It stems from what Jehovah said to Rebekah:

"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23)

Esau and Jacob Represent Two Kingdoms

These two kingdoms represent two entirely different pursuits: Esau and Jacob, one representing the worldly, the other the Kingdom of God; one representing the carnal, the other the spiritual. We find it very strange. Wasn't Rebekah very Mingding? Why was Esau, born of her, part of that kingdom? Rebekah and Isaac were very godly people, so why did they have two children, one worldly and one spiritual?

If we backtrack, we find that Abraham was born into a family that wasn't very spiritual, lacking any spiritual background. Suddenly, Abraham emerges and becomes a covenant partner with God. Abraham later had Ishmael, Isaac, and many other sons, but only Isaac made a covenant with God. We don't know what the other sons pursued; they simply lived. Later, Ishmael died, and Abraham died. The world continued, leading us to today.

Someone dies today, someone dies tomorrow. I occasionally attend a funeral or two each year, seeing old friends for the last time and bidding them farewell. Many say, "May you have a good journey!" A good journey to where? I think the world is like this. Some people, upon seeing death, think: I must pursue the spiritual. Others think: That's just how it is! Everyone's like that anyway. These two kingdoms, two pursuits, don't seem to care about your background. Rebekah was born into a not-so-spiritual family; her brother Laban was an idol worshiper. But one's birth and environment don't necessarily determine one's spirituality.

This makes me think that it's a bit despairing, as if it's innate. Esau pursued the worldly, catering to the flesh, relying on his own hands and sword for survival. Hasn't that become a paradigm of today's curse? If you ask me what kind of person is cursed, it's someone like Esau. In fact, worldly people live under a curse, which is why there are so many tragedies in this world.

Why did Jacob choose the spiritual kingdom? We can't explain it! It just is, as if it's innate. Sometimes, we look at ourselves: Are we naturally spiritual or naturally carnal? Sometimes, as a pastor serving, I have to adopt a bit of Mingding Destiny logic, or else I'd be very discouraged. Don't think that if we, as pastors, do something right, there will be Mingding later; or if we do something wrong, there won't be Mingding later. Don't think that if we do something right, they won't discern good from evil; or if we do something wrong, they will discern good from evil. Don't get this wrong. If someone asks me why I chose this, I don't know! I can only say I don't know.

It's like when some monkeys see one of their own die, Sun Wukong cries, and the other monkeys think it's normal. Sun Wukong, seeing the death of a monkey, seeks the way to eternal life, learns martial arts from Bodhi, makes havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and ultimately embarks on the path of seeking eternal life, paying a considerable price. How many monkeys would choose this? How many people would choose this? Sometimes, I think a person's choice is not as good as a monkey's.

Every time we think of fatalism, of Mingding Destiny, we even feel a bit despairing. But there's no need to despair. If you don't choose after learning, then listening is the same as not listening. Some people believed in the Lord with me, but all their pursuits are still the same as before. Maybe they were born like Esau; Abraham was their grandfather, Isaac was their father, Rebekah was their mother, but they are an Esau. I lament: Why are people like this?

Esau and Jacob were twin brothers, born one after the other. They had the same grandfather, the same mother, the same father. I don't know if they were identical or fraternal twins, but they didn't look quite the same. Later, we also found that even identical twins have different temperaments. Sometimes, I feel both despair and hope. We must learn to choose. You say: I can't choose! If you can't choose, that's your fate!

Let me briefly retell this story today: Rebekah couldn't conceive, so Isaac prayed to God, and Rebekah conceived twins. They married at 40, and she conceived at 59. After conceiving, the two children often boxed in her womb, fighting back and forth. You give me a punch, I give you a punch. This troubled Rebekah; was her womb becoming a boxing ring? Sometimes, we think brothers should live in harmony, but that's not the case; they started fighting in the womb. Did Rebekah fail in her prenatal education? No! Because God made them that way.

Sometimes, we must accept the fact: If God makes people this way, can you change it? You can't change it, so you must accept it. So, don't say nonsense anymore; a mother can't determine her child's destiny. Why? Two kingdoms, two value systems, two pursuits. They fought in the womb, and Rebekah prayed to God:

"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23)

Actually, we never saw Esau serve Jacob; instead, we saw Jacob give gifts to his brother. This is a very miraculous thing.

Same Birth, Same Environment, Yet Two Different Pursuits

Same birth, same environment, yet two different pursuits. This is not determined by you, nor by his mother, his father, or his grandfather. When Esau and Jacob were born, Abraham had many other sons. In other words, Esau and Jacob had many uncles. We must not blame the environment. Esau and Jacob sat on their grandfather's lap, one on the left and one on the right. Abraham hugged one on the left and one on the right, telling stories to his two grandsons. Esau and Jacob sat on their mother Rebekah's lap, Rebekah told Rebekah's stories, Isaac told Isaac's stories, and Abraham told Abraham's stories.

Have you noticed? Grandparents especially like to tell stories. Fathers and mothers especially like to tell their own glorious history, which is like giving them a history lesson. Rebekah told the most exciting stories: How did Mom give birth to you? Do you know? Back in Paddan Aram, my brother was named Laban, who is your uncle. Maybe you'll see your uncle in the future. When I lived with your uncle, I longed to marry your father. From afar, I heard about your father's covenant with God. Your father dedicated himself to God:

"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies." (Genesis 22:17)

Think about it, Esau dozed off while listening to the story, thinking: Can that stuff be eaten? But Jacob's ears perked up, and his eyes lit up when he heard the story. The other one was dozing off. We know that in school, while the teacher is lecturing, some doze off, and some listen with great interest, completely different. As a result, Rebekah was telling: How I married your father. As Rebekah was telling, she observed the two children: One's head drooped down, only thinking about food. As Rebekah was telling the story, Esau jumped off her lap and went to the refrigerator to get something. If you lived in America today, you'd go to the refrigerator and get fries, chicken legs, and a super-sized Coke, and then eat with a "smack, smack" sound.

Jacob was there: Mom, tell another one, tell me again what happened back then? Mom was originally in that place, and your grandmother wanted Mom to stay a few more days, but Mom didn't want to delay for even a day! I had a strong pursuit and dream inside, which was to marry your father as soon as possible. Because your father had a covenant with God, and I wanted to be part of that covenant. What about Esau? He ate the story with the chicken leg, and after eating, he pooped the story and the chicken leg out together, knowing nothing. Esau's chicken bones piled up in the basin like a small mountain. Rebekah thought: Alas! What God told me back then was right. Two nations are in my womb, one stronger than the other, one relatively strong, and one relatively weak, and then the older will serve the younger.

The older will serve the younger, which is why we never knew Esau was the older and Jacob was the younger. Why? The older one was born a few minutes earlier. Facing the same story, people have different reactions. Don't think that because I am Abraham's grandson, I have Mingding; that's not the case. You may be Rebekah's son, or you may be Isaac's son, or you may be Abraham's grandson, and you hear Abraham's stories, Isaac's stories, and Rebekah's stories, but you only have chicken legs in your mind.

This is quite interesting to say. When our church was established in the early days, there was a position called group leader, but later these group leaders collapsed one by one. Sometimes I have thoughts like "Did I teach wrong? Did I do something wrong?" I told them these stories over and over again, but in the end, they left. They were very spiritual when they served at that time. One of the sisters shared a "small chicken leg" theory with me. She said: Teacher, eating chicken legs is better than eating cornbread, right! I said: That's right, your logic is very clear! Eating chicken legs is definitely better than eating cornbread. But eating chicken legs costs a lot of money, and eating cornbread is cheap. You have to have money to eat chicken legs. At that time, she was a group leader. She told me these things, and I said: This is your "small chicken leg" theory.

What would be the reaction to serving with this "small chicken leg" theory? Her pursuit is still clearly present in my mind today. When their group gathered together, they asked: What do you want to pray for? Pray for my work. What do you want to pray for? Pray for my boyfriend. What do you want to pray for? Pray for my future. All of these, not exaggerated at all. At that time, the church had already transformed into a praying church, and she attended every prayer meeting. But the prayer in her heart was: I hope God can give them a good job and a good income. This value system, there are two different pursuits! One is the pursuit of this life, and the other is the pursuit of eternal life.

Did she see people die? She saw it with her own eyes. Actually, seeing it was in vain. Several people in her family are among us. I think, what is this person pursuing? Actually, it doesn't matter what you are told. Even if you read the original text of the Bible, you may read it wrongly. When you read the Bible, you say: This sentence is very good, there is a blessing, I want it. What Mingding, to die for God, to live for God, that won't work. Although in that situation, I also served with all my heart, but I couldn't determine people's choices.

Later, one by one left. If they left, they left. I can't keep an Esau in the church. Everyone, pay attention, don't build a church of Esaus. A group of Esaus, all you can see are small chicken legs. Isn't that courting death? Have you noticed that people's pursuits are not easily influenced, it's something engraved in people's bones. At that time, I understood, I understood one thing, I can't determine your choice.

A mother called our church and told me about her son, saying some things. I comforted her with a passage I'm sharing today: You can't determine your son's choice, you can only determine your own choice. The same grandfather, the same mother, the same father, twins born with Mingding Destiny are actually two kingdoms, two pursuits. You say that according to my traditional theory: The child's problem is the mother, but that's not absolute.

Actually, a mother can't determine her child's fate, but a mother must learn to be a mother, even if you do it, you can't determine your child's fate. You can only do what you should do, you can't determine anything for your child, that's just what kind of person has what kind of fate. Did Esau hear the stories? Yes, he heard everything, but in the end, he was still a small chicken leg. Actually, not even a chicken leg.

He wasn't starving and asked Jacob for a chicken leg, or a beef leg, or a lamb leg, he wanted a bowl of red bean soup, cheap as can be! And he sold his birthright. What kind of brain is that? This is a very common phenomenon I've seen: Can that stuff be eaten? Taking eating as the most important thing, as if born to be a rice bucket. This is very interesting. God created Adam and Eve, flawless, full of glory, like God, and then ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and became that wretched state.

You say: Weren't they born of God? How did they become like this? Even Adam and Eve, born of God, were like this, let alone those born of Abraham and Isaac, that's your fate. Today, I'm telling you this, you need to know what you are pursuing? Why do you choose that way? Why do you think chicken legs are stronger than cornbread, you can't even explain it. Why? Because the logical system engraved in your bones is the logical system of two kingdoms. If you pursue worldly things, pursue the things of this life, it seems absolutely reasonable, but for Jacob, it's also absolutely reasonable to look at it with spiritual logic.

You say: Does Jacob understand it clearly? Jacob doesn't understand it very clearly either. Actually, in that era, as for your descendants taking possession of the cities of their enemies, Rebekah couldn't explain it clearly either. Esau would ask: Mom, what is taking possession of the cities of their enemies? Rebekah said: I don't know. Is that called victory? I don't know. Because it can't be explained clearly. It's not clear what descendants are either, because Jesus hadn't come at that time.

Today, looking back, 4000 years ago, 3000 years ago, 2000 years ago, and today, we see that victory is called salvation. So, while we can still choose, let's choose well. I haven't hesitated to tell you what is beneficial to you, but telling you is telling you, whether you can listen or not, I can only say good luck.

Esau Despises the Spiritual Birthright, Jacob Values the Spiritual Birthright

This story is quite interesting. It briefly touches upon a small episode. What does it say? Esau was out hunting. Why? Of course, roasted meat is tastier than bread or cornbread. That's absolute. Never mind his "chicken leg" theory; we must acknowledge that roasted meat is delicious. If you come to my place, I will definitely take you to eat Singapore's most famous Bak Kut Teh. You ask me: Is it delicious? I tell you: Absolutely delicious.

Can delicious food make you forget your spiritual birthright? No! So, despising the spiritual birthright and valuing the spiritual birthright have nothing to do with whether something tastes good or not. Good taste is not truth! So, Esau eats a chicken leg today, a lamb leg tomorrow, sometimes he hunts a deer, sometimes a roe deer, sometimes something else. The point is, it's delicious.

One day, Esau went hunting, perhaps without success all day. But not catching anything doesn't mean he wasn't tired. He was so tired his throat was parched because he didn't bring enough water, or maybe he forgot to bring water. He chased after prey all the way, but couldn't catch up. Two legs can't outrun four legs! As a result, Esau was exhausted. When he returned, his throat was parched, and his stomach was rumbling. At that moment, he wanted nothing but water, some soup, because he was both thirsty and hungry!

Actually, there were jars back then, and in the jars were ladles. He could have used a ladle to drink some water, and that would have been that. But when he saw Jacob cooking red bean soup, he was completely drawn into it. Watching Jacob holding the red bean soup, his eyes couldn't move away. Maybe it wasn't the first time Jacob was holding red bean soup, because many times before, when Esau came back, he would open the fridge and gulp down a Coke. But this time? Jacob, holding that bowl of red bean soup, thought he finally had a chance. Esau's mind was full of red bean soup. He said:

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me, I pray, with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom (meaning Red). But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34)

What was Esau thinking? He didn't know that despising the spiritual birthright was a curse! If Esau hadn't made this fatal mistake, who knows how he could have won this game! Many teams, with the right timing, location, and people, only need to avoid attacking, avoid being so eager to win, and avoid making mistakes to secure the championship. But one mistake leads to complete defeat. Esau, as the firstborn, naturally had it; he didn't need to do anything to have it. But in a moment of confusion, he sold his birthright, and even swore to it.

That oath, in the spiritual realm, is no small matter. It's like signing a contract. Immediately, in the spiritual realm, Jacob gained the birthright, and Esau lost it. Just one sentence determined his future, determined the future of his descendants. This is very powerful. Why didn't he know? Because he usually didn't like to learn! So, brothers and sisters, never swear to people. Never casually say, "If I do this or that, may lightning strike me." I tell you, if it really strikes you dead, you'll have a lot to answer for. Even if it doesn't kill you, you'll still have a lot to answer for. Sometimes, when I minister to cancer patients, they have many bad habits. How bad are these habits? Only those close to them know. They've liked to make oaths since they were young.

Let me give you an example. When we were taking college entrance exams in Northeast China, I asked a classmate, "Which university are you applying to?" He said, "I want to apply to Hainan University." I thought, if there were a university in Antarctica, you would go to Antarctica. What university can you attend in Antarctica? Why escape so far from the Northeast? He wanted to escape as far as possible! Why? Because he was utterly disappointed with his family, which was full of hatred. The child grew up in hatred. Later, he found out there was no university on Hainan Island, so he went a little further north and got into a university on Hainan Island. I wondered why? The things people carry inside are deadly.

This person couldn't possibly live well because his memories were full of hatred. Later, he swore in his heart, "I will do this and that," even making poisonous oaths. After making the poisonous oaths, he forgot them himself. He was just a silly child, but the spiritual realm recorded it. Later, I tell you, the things this person encountered were the result of his own choices. When that person met me, I ministered to him, but I couldn't resolve the poisonous oath he had made. I did what I could, but if I couldn't, I thought, "Let it be."

But everyone, don't believe in praying and praying anymore. Can prayer solve these problems? Prayer can't solve it. Esau's grandfather prayed for him, but it didn't work. Isaac said, "Come, I will pray for you," but it didn't work either. Once a person makes an oath, many things inside cannot be reversed. But a carnal person doesn't know the power of the spiritual realm, so he despises the birthright. Today, in a moment of anxiety, anger, or emotional outburst, he forgets everything, his mouth speaks recklessly, his mind thinks wildly, and he casually makes a poisonous oath. This is a bit difficult to resolve! But when the Lord Jesus came into this world, what did he say?

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

So, if you are wrong, you must change. Repentance, and the blood of Jesus will cover your transgressions. But whether you will choose to do those things again is unknown. That depends on your destiny. I think Esau's purpose was to trick Jacob out of that bowl of red bean soup. Why? Because there was no lawyer's letter, no contract signed, just casual talk.

If you ask your lawyer to find me to sign a document, I definitely won't sign it. Because he believes that what's said is done, and he won't sign any documents. Because he values his father's inheritance. Later, Jacob didn't get a single penny of his father's inheritance; his brother swallowed it all. Logically, Jacob had obtained the birthright, so the inheritance should have belonged to Jacob. Who can you reason with about this?

Does Esau not know about the concept of blessing? He knows. Who among us doesn't want blessings? Everyone wants blessings. What is a blessing? No one can say for sure. Because worldly people have one interpretation of blessing, and heavenly people have another. So, I say, outside of Mingding Destiny, there is no blessing! Don't be surprised. The birthright is a spiritual right, which actually represents the right to covenant with God. In Esau's heart, that thing can't be eaten! Because he still has to hunt for wild game himself. I have to run my legs off to catch prey. What spiritual birthright? Is that thing useful? The value system inside is sometimes unclear; it's innate.

Why does Jacob desperately want this? I don't know. Why does he want this? Growing up, he heard the stories of his grandfather Abraham, his father Isaac, and his mother. Because his grandfather died when he was fifteen, and after hearing their stories, he was fascinated. He wanted to become like his mother and father, people who covenant with God, whose descendants would possess the gates of their enemies.

Can he really explain it? Even today, we know that Jesus Christ has triumphed for us, and we know how wonderful it is to be an overcoming Christian. To possess the gates of the enemy, to press the devil and the enemy to the ground and rub them. The devil and the enemy can become our servants and work for us. Is this real or fake? Can it really be understood and explained clearly? It seems not necessarily, but Jacob wants this.

Did Jacob want this because his mother taught him, or his father or grandfather? It may be related to teaching, or it may not be. Rebekah traveled far to marry Isaac. Who taught her? Maybe her nanny Deborah taught her. But who taught nanny Deborah? No one taught her; she was born that way. So, some people are born valuing this, and some are born valuing that.

Some people tell me, "You can tell how a person will be at three years old." You know, when some babies are a hundred days old, they are placed on the bed to crawl, and many things are placed for the child to grab. Some children grab pots and pans, and some grab other things. After they grab it, you see them grow up, and sure enough, that's how it is. That's destiny. When you talk about destiny, it's a bit hopeless, but there is one thing that can prevent despair: Jacob didn't have the birthright, but he wanted it, and God created an opportunity for him. You don't have the conditions, but you can get it. You have the conditions, but you can lose it. So, never despair.

We brothers and sisters know that blessing is one thing, but valuing spiritual things is another. Don't talk about children's problems being the mother's problem anymore; it's not like that. It's actually him, what person, what destiny. If you can manage, manage; if you can't, forget it. You say, "What are you saying?" It's painful to watch. It's painful to watch, but you have to endure it. If you ask me why Jacob chose this, I can't explain it. But one thing can be explained clearly: worldly people are just extras in this world. Heavenly people value the spiritual birthright, value the birthright, value the right to covenant with God, and they are not just extras.

There are many funny short videos and movies. When we watch movies, the male and female leads ride on horseback. The male lead rides in front, with a girl sitting behind, a handsome guy with a beautiful girl. Then, on the horse, click, click, click, their arms holding the reins and swinging them. But in reality, during filming, it's not like that. In reality, the male and female leads stand on a trolley, with someone pushing the trolley from behind, and another person pushing the camera. The person pushing the camera pushes forward desperately along the track, and the male and female leads gesture frantically as if they are riding a horse.

When everyone watches the movie, they think, "Wow, they look so cool riding horses." In reality, they are standing on a trolley, which is called "stand on the trolley" in English. Later, it became even more difficult for the actors because the director suddenly said, "Let's not do it this way anymore." How would they do it? There was no trolley anymore; they just stood on the ground. The camera didn't need to be pushed anymore, and they didn't have to worry about the camera shaking or anything. Then, they just gestured as if they were riding a horse, but behind them, a large group of people each carried a tree.

The male and female leads gestured as if they were riding a horse, and the people carrying the trees had to run faster, rushing quickly. And they couldn't show their faces; they were just extras. I think these actors acted so seriously; it wasn't easy. Actually, it's very funny when you watch it on set. Imagine the scene; it's very interesting. Oh, I think those extras carrying a tree and running desperately were not as tired as the male and female leads riding horses. They carried a tree and ran, exhausted. A whip was cracked, and they ran with sweat all over their bodies, just playing an extra.

I tell you, Esau never served Jacob, but he became a tree, a foil, and he was exhausted. They filmed it once, twice, three times, just running as a backdrop. Many people in this world are just backdrops, setting off those spiritual people. Spiritual people are not worthy in this world, and those who are worthy in this world are just playing extras. Esau just became a foil, nothing more. Do you want to be that tree? Do you want to be that extra? You can't show your face, carrying a tree while other people are filming, and you're just an extra. Never be an extra again.

You see, Abraham married another wife and had many children, but later they all died. Ishmael also died, and the sons he had also died later.

And Keturah bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. (Genesis 25:2-4)

Now these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:12-17)

People live and die in this world, just playing an extra. It's like carrying a tree while filming a movie. People are riding horses, and you're carrying a tree. It's very boring. You're a background, a foil. People are the red flowers, and you're the green leaves. People are riding horses on the ground, and you're carrying a tree and running around on the ground. In the end, even the names of the people in the opening credits of the movie are missing; it's just a bunch of trees. It's quite pathetic.

Making a decision, despising the spiritual birthright. If a person despises the spiritual birthright, it's his own fault. Brothers and sisters, don't think you are very important in the church. I understand it clearly. Don't think too highly of yourself. You must pursue the spiritual birthright, and you will definitely receive nourishment in the church. If you don't value the spiritual birthright, it seems like this is not the place for you; you came to the wrong place. I think everyone should slowly ponder, are you playing an extra? Going to work, getting off work, going to work, getting off work, competing with people at work, fighting with people, struggling with people, exhausted. In the end, you're carrying a tree, leaving this world miserably. The tree may still be there, but the person is gone.

I want to make a summary: Two kingdoms, two pursuits. Both are reasonable, but there is one crucial thing: from what perspective are you looking? People of God reasonably pursue the spiritual birthright, becoming people who covenant with God, whose descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. They themselves will also become victorious people, despising all the suffering experienced in this world, which is only a momentary and light affliction, to achieve an eternal glory that is beyond comparison.

Today, let's look at how tired these people live. Although they are in the church, they are still busy with this and that. Of course, being busy is better than not being busy; at least they are doing something practical. But if what you're doing is like Esau's affair, then you're probably just playing an extra. So, two kingdoms, two pursuits. Both are reasonable, but it depends on whether your internal logic system is Esau's logic system or Jacob's logic system.

You ask me why? There is no why; it's just people's choice. Even today, I can't believe that I have become a person who serves God, and then step by step I get to know God, step by step I understand God's will. Finally, I tell you, the greater will serve the lesser, the worldly will serve the spiritual. The existence of all things, all environments, is for these spiritual people to become unworthy in this world, which is infinitely good. Sometimes when I hear these words, I am comforted. Why? God has made all these environments exist for the sake of His people, which is such grace!

Never be an extra again. The time in this world is not long. Know how to make choices. You may have heard me tell the stories of Esau and Jacob many times, the story of Abraham many times, but maybe this is the first time you've heard the story of people carrying trees and running, but it seems that's how it is. People in this world are just carrying trees and running and running. Jacob is the protagonist riding the horse. Everyone must become the protagonist!

May God bless everyone!

Genesis Chapter 25 Scripture

25:1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
25:2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
25:3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
25:4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.
25:6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines; and while he was still living he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward to the country of the east.
25:7 Now these were the days of the life of Abraham which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years.
25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died, and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
25:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite,
25:10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.
25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.
25:12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.
25:13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
25:15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
25:16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations.
25:17 These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
25:18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.
25:19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac.
25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
25:21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
25:22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
25:23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
25:24 So when her days were fulfilled to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb.
25:25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau.
25:26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
25:27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.
25:28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
25:29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me, I pray, with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
25:31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
25:32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
25:33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
25:34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.