These verses serve two important purposes. They act as a hinge between the brief birth narrative of Jacob and Esau and what follows. The Lord told Rebekah that the twins would fight against each other, and she felt the truth of that as they grappled in the womb. Then, Jacob took advantage of his brother for rejecting the blessings that should have been his as the firstborn. These verses remind us of how different the twins were, which only added to their struggles.

These verses also reveal favoritism in the family, which would fuel their conflict later. In two brief sentences, we are reminded that this was a broken family. Despite their brokenness, God used them as He uses broken people like us today.

• How has God used your brokenness for His glory in the past?
• How might He use the brokenness you are experiencing today?