If you were to randomly pick this chapter, “the pagan phonebook”, for study I doubt you would receive much nourishment from it. Not that there isn’t much nourishment to be gained, but it is like handing a whole crab to a child who has never learned how to penetrate the shell. There is succulent meat for the feasting, how do we extract it?
I think genealogies like this are a great argument for closely studying a book of the Bible and for expositional preaching. Expositional preaching should teach you how to read your Bible. If you come to this text in isolation you come to it without the combination to unlock its treasures. If you come to it having noticed the themes that are developing throughout the book however, its meaning begins to slowly unfold.
Thus far we have seen that it was Jacob who received the blessing not Esau. Yet Esau is blessed with wives, children, and great possessions. Edom seemingly becomes a mighty nation much more easily than Israel, driving out the original inhabitants of their land, the Horites (Genesis 36:20-30), well before Israel drives out the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 2:12). They progress as a nation much more quickly, having kings before Israel does (Genesis 36:31-43).
The pagans often progress more quickly than the saints. This is nothing new. In Cain’s genealogy (Genesis 4:17-26) great cultural progress is made in herding, musical instruments, and metal working. It is the descendents of Cain who are first mentioned as building a city. What cultural advancements and contributions come from the line of Seth? None from a secular vantage point are mentioned. But it is with Seth’s birth that people begin to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:2). It is in Seth’s line that the rhythm of death is thrown off (Genesis 5:24). It is in Seth’s line that a man finds favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8).
Esau seemingly has none of the pain that Jacob had to endure, yet all of the gain. But notice what is lacking. There is not a hint of the spiritual blessing.
Esau may be blessed in the lesser sense, but he is cursed in the greatest sense.
We need not envy this passing world that we are just passing through.
No Other Boast 