Genesis 28:6-9

Genesis 28:6-9

[6] When Esau  saw  that Isaac  had blessed  Jacob,  and sent him away  to Padanaram,  to take  him a wife  from thence; and that as he blessed  him he gave him a charge,  saying,  Thou shalt not take  a wife  of the daughters  of Canaan;  [7] And that Jacob  obeyed  his father  and his mother,  to Padanaram;  [8] And Esau  seeing  that the daughters  of Canaan  pleased  not  Isaac  his father;  [9] Esau  unto Ishmael,  and took  unto the wives  which he had Mahalath  the daughter  of Ishmael  Abraham's  son,  the sister  of Nebajoth,  to be his wife. 

What does Genesis 28:6-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Esau sought to obtain his parents" approval by marrying one of Abraham"s descendants.
However "he failed to consider that Ishmael had been separated from the house of Abraham and family of promise by the appointment of God; so that it only furnished another proof that he had no thought of the religious interests of the chosen family and was unfit to be the recipient of divine revelation." [1]
This great story teaches that when God"s people know His will they should not resort to deceptive, manipulative schemes to attain spiritual success but must pursue God"s will righteously. Every member of Isaac"s family behaved in a self-centered and unprincipled manner, yet God graciously overcame their sins. This reminds us that His mercy is the ultimate ground of salvation.