Genesis 28:6-9

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,” and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

It’s difficult to determine from this passage whether or not Esau was trying to spite his father or please him by marrying Mahalath. When he realized that marrying Canaanite women was not pleasing to his father, he probably tried to impress him by finding a descendent of Abraham to marry as well. That fact is that this was not acceptable either. Not only was he taking too many wives, both Esau’s children and Ishmael’s children were going to become enemies of God’s chosen people.

If Esau really was trying to impress his father, he demonstrated something that I have experienced in my life. When I tried to impress God by doing good deeds, I failed miserably. We can’t impress God without having faith in Him first. God has made it so that only those with faith will please him.

If Esau was to have a good relationship with his father, mother and especially his God, he would have to start accepting God’s word. God had clearly told them that Jacob was now to be the boss. If he really wanted to impress his father, he should have accepted God’s blessing for both himself and his brother and called on the name of God.

No matter what we want or think we need, it is only God’s will that will matter in our lives. The sooner we learn that, the happier we will be.