From Genesis to Today: Rediscovering Torah Values in the Modern World

Every year, religious Jews and Christians read the Bible from the beginning, starting with Genesis.  The Book of Genesis primarily concerns two themes: ethical monotheism and family. This week we read the story of the selling of the birthright by Esau to his younger brother, Jacob.  In case you don’t know, Esau and Jacob are the two children of Isaac and Rebekah. I believe that this has an incredibly significant message for not only all Jews, but all parents around the world, the  implications of which we are seeing play out in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and by extension the Palestinian people. 

As the Bible writes in Genesis 25:29: 

Once Jacob was boiling stew when Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.

Esau, says to Jacob, “pray, give me a gulp of the red stuff, that red stuff, for I am so weary!” Therefore, they called his name, Edom “red one” Jakob, who is the younger brother, says to his older brother, Esau, “sell me your birthright right here, and now.” Esau says, “here I am on my way to dying, so what good to me as a birthright?” Jacob repeat his offer.: Swear to me here, and now. Esau swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob gave Esau bread and boil lentils. He ate and drank, and a rose and went off. Thus, did Esau despise his birthright.”

This story's importance and its relevance today are manifold. Esau, also known as Edom, is the ancestor of the Edomites, who became mortal enemies of Israel. “Israel” is the name that is given to Jacob later in the Bible after he wrestles with God. In fact, Israel means to struggle. This is why Jews are known as Israelites.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and its enemies, like Hamas, and by extension, some countries such as Iran, who have vowed to destroy Israel, echoes this biblical enmity. The chant, “From the river (Jordan) to the sea (the Mediterranean)” is a genocidal battle cry by adversaries calling for the extinction of all Jews. It demonstrates the long-standing struggle Israel faces, originating from (familial) disputes that escalated into national conflicts.

One of the consequences of this war and how it is playing out is many secular Jews are now awakening to their Jewish identity, hopefully to be influenced by the teachings of the Torah, and the values inherent in an ethical monotheism.

What does that have to do with two biblical brothers, a bowl of soup, and a birthright?  Why is this story relevant to us today?  The answer is the Torah is teaching us how to raise children who value the right things.

Jacob and Esau’s father is Isaac. Isaac is most famous as the son of Abraham, the first Jew to make a covenant with God, who is called by God to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. As the story goes, Abraham demonstrates his faith by his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, for God. Many people who don’t believe in God or think religion, be it Judaism or Christianity, is antiquated or worse, barbaric, often point to this story to make their case. What father would ever sacrifice his son? 

However, Isaac is thirty-seven at the time, not a child as many people imagine him.  He understands and accepts his role in this test of faith, signifying his submission to God's covenant, as much as his father’s actions do.  

Isaac eventually marries Rebecca and they have their twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Isaac's task as a parent was to instill this covenant in his children, ensuring the continuity of a godly way of life.  Esau's decision to forsake his birthright reflects a failure in parenting, leading to a division between brothers and nations.

Most parents who raise their children, wish to see them continue on these religious beliefs/practices when they become adults, get married, and start their own family.  

In contemporary terms, the decline in religious observance and the rise of materialism and idolatry—whether in the form of money, power, or fame—mirror Esau's choice to sell his birthright for a bowl of soup. More bluntly, he gives up God’s way…because he’s hungry.  The story concludes with “and Esau despised his birthright,” signifying his rejection of his parents' belief in a singular, benevolent God—and their peaceful, blessed way of life.

The modern world’s shift away from religious precepts leads to moral and ethical decay, represented by the proliferation of false idols and a departure from the path of righteousness, choosing instead to worship celebrity and money, devote oneself to a political ideology, or some trendy, pseudo-religious notion like spirituality or hot rocks Yoga. Or they go the other way, and reject any belief system in the form of atheism, which ironically its adherents take on faith to the point of absolute certainty there is no God.  Go figure.

One intriguing aspect of the Old Testament is its inclusion of non-chronological stories that, at first glance, seem unrelated to adjacent narratives. Yet, every word of the Torah holds significance, imparting vital life lessons. Following the story of Esau and Jacob, we encounter an earlier episode in their lives involving Isaac and Rebekah during a famine. To put it bluntly, Isaac is hungry, mirroring the hunger experienced by his son Esau in the preceding story.

Isaac considers traveling to Egypt, as Abraham had during a previous famine. However, God intervenes, instructing Isaac in Genesis 26:2: “Do not go down to Egypt; continue to dwell in the land that I tell you of, and I will be with you, and will bless you.” Essentially, God advises Isaac, the first child of His covenant, to resist fleeing to spiritually inferior places like Egypt. Instead, he is encouraged to remain on the divinely chosen path for blessings. This contrasts with Esau's decision to trade his birthright for temporary satisfaction.

In contrast, Isaac obeys God, remains in the designated land, and thrives, becoming akin to a biblical billionaire with extensive herds and servants. The narrative then shifts to the Philistines' envy of Isaac. Avimelek, the Philistine king, feeling threatened by Isaac's prosperity, commands, “Go away from us, for you have become mightier than we” (Genesis 25:16). The Philistines, exaggerating the number of Jews and failing to learn from Isaac’s success, decide to expel him instead.

Avimelek's actions extend to sabotaging Isaac’s sources of wealth by filling in his wells. This act parallels the destruction of greenhouses and agricultural infrastructure left behind by Jews in Gaza in 2005. Both the Philistines' rejection of Isaac and Esau’s dismissal of his birthright reflect choices based on envy, hatred, and materialistic desires.

This narrative invites a reflection on the broader historical and contemporary dynamics involving various groups and their responses to opportunities for peace and prosperity. It underscores the consequences of choices driven by envy, hatred, or radical interpretations of religious ideologies, impacting not only specific communities but also the broader tapestry of human relationships.

As secular Jews and lapsed Christians face the reality that none of their faith in fame, fortune, or political ideologies will save them when enemies attack, they are beginning to realize that they need to be raising children who do understand and value their birthright, who put their beliefs in a higher power into religious observance an practice, and that as parents, the best method of teaching this to their children is to live it themselves.

Many of us, regardless of our level of religious observance, grapple with ethical dilemmas like honesty in business or teaching our children about kindness.  While some view religious observance as rigid, Judaism has a rich tradition of debate and reinterpretation, showing that our faith is not static but evolves with our understanding and circumstances 

As the world continues to grapple with complex conflicts and moral challenges, the biblical story of Esau and Jacob reminds us of the enduring relevance of biblical teachings in guiding our choices and shaping our future generations.