followHIM Podcast Summary
Genesis 24-33 Part 2 • Bro. Mike Harris • Mar. 2-8 • Come, Follow Me
Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway | Guest: Mike Harris
Release Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode continues an in-depth exploration of Genesis 24–33, focusing on the fraught and dramatic narrative of Jacob and Esau. Brother Mike Harris joins hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway, delving into challenging passages and unpacking the deep scriptural, symbolic, and practical implications for Latter-day Saints. The episode centers on the themes of divine favoritism, birthright, covenant blessings, family conflict, reconciliation, and ultimately, the healing and redemptive capacity of Christlike love.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Difficult Scriptures: "Jacob Have I Loved, Esau Have I Hated"

• The episode opens with the tension in scriptures that describe God as loving Jacob and hating Esau (Malachi 1, Romans 9:13) [02:30].
  • Mike Harris explains, "If you read the text at face value, that's what it seems to suggest... It seems like the Lord really means it because he repeated it in the New Testament." [02:30]
• The group examines the Hebrew and Greek roots, noting that "hated" is an accurate translation, but proposes a deeper examination of context and symbolism.

2. Rebecca's Struggle with Her Pregnant Twins (Genesis 25)

• When Rebecca is pregnant, her twins "struggled together within her" (Genesis 25:22), which the Hebrew word “rasats” implies as violent conflict, not just playful movement.
  • "The text is explicitly trying to paint a picture that the babies, they want to kill each other. If you're listening to this in Hebrew, you're, whoa." – Mike Harris [03:53]
• The Lord tells Rebecca, "Two nations are in thy womb... and the elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23) [07:05].

3. Contrasts Between Esau and Jacob

• Esau and Jacob are contrasted in appearance, temperament, and behaviors.
  • Esau: Red, hairy, "cunning hunter," passionate, impulsive, outdoorsman.
  • Jacob: "Plain man, dwelling in tents," civilized, even-tempered, homebody.
• Symbolism: Esau’s red hair connected to his temper; Jacob’s “smoothness” to his civility [12:04].
• The motif of favoritism is shown in parental love (Isaac favors Esau, Rebecca favors Jacob) [13:11].

4. The Birthright and Its Spiritual Significance

• In the ancient world, birthright usually meant a double portion and leadership, but in scripture, it represents the full measure of the Abrahamic covenant (spiritual blessings and responsibilities) [09:59, 18:06].
• Mike Harris clarifies: “The birthright included all the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant... The Lord doesn’t want to just give us a double portion. He wants to give us everything he has.” [20:11]

5. Exchange of the Birthright: Esau Sells to Jacob

• Esau, driven by appetite, sells his birthright for stew. The Hebrew word for “feed me” is coarse, emphasizing Esau’s bestiality and disregard for holy things [14:37].
  • “He’s taking the food and just shoving it in his mouth... like he’s this animal. He’s totally spitting on the birthright blessing.” – Mike Harris [16:31]
• Discussion on how many, spiritually, “sell their birthright” for temporary pleasure and avoid covenant responsibilities.

6. Inclusivity of the Birthright

• Biblical and modern prophets teach that covenant blessings are available to all who embrace covenant living, not just literal firstborns (Exodus 4, President Nelson 2024) [23:38].
  • “The firstborn birthright blessing can refer to everyone who’s wanted to make covenant, male and female.” – Harris [23:40]
• Parallels drawn to Lehi’s blessing of Laman, Lemuel, and Jacob in 2 Nephi; spiritual firstborn status is about covenant keeping, not birth order [25:24].

7. Symbol and Hyperbole: Why "God Hates Esau"

• Esau becomes a type representing those outside the covenant—the "godless and jealous individual who rejects the covenant." God’s “hate” is hyperbole, dramatizing the spiritual tragedy of covenant loss [29:08].
  • "If there's anything that God of heaven hates, it's when people spit upon their covenants." – Mike Harris [29:49]

8. Jacob’s Exile and Return: Reconciliation with Esau

• After deceiving Isaac, Jacob flees and prospers in Haran, but the Lord commands him to return to the “covenant land,” even at great risk [34:58].
  • “You need to be willing to die if needs be. But you’ve got to be in the covenant.” – Harris [36:09]
• Jacob sends an extremely deferential, almost supplicatory, message and a large “present” (mincha—also a word for temple offerings) to Esau [38:40, 44:58]. Jacob's strategy is to demonstrate humility and seek reconciliation, possibly even offering to share or return the covenant blessings.

9. Jacob’s Wrestle—Transformation and Temple Symbolism

• Jacob’s night-time wrestling is interpreted as a sacred, temple-like encounter culminating in the new name “Israel” [47:55–49:08].
  • “When you can go slow, there are little beautiful things to be found. If you can speak the Hebrew, you can even see more.” – John Bytheway [32:39]
• Symbolic language parallels rituals of sacred embrace, name, blessing, and seeing God (Peniel = “the face of God”) [49:08]. It’s an experiential preparation for reconciliation.

10. Esau and Jacob: The Miraculous Embrace

• “Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times” (symbolizing complete humility) as he approached Esau [52:10].
• Esau unexpectedly "ran to meet him, and embraced him and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept" (Genesis 33:4) [55:05]:
  • “Esau is the one running…that was not expected, Mr. Redheaded Hothead.” – Mike Harris [55:08]
• The offer of gifts/animals is interpreted as much an offering of the covenant itself as a gesture of reparations.

11. Open-Ended Restoration and Faith in Healing

• The story ends with ambiguity: Did Esau truly accept the covenant? It’s left as an invitation for modern readers not to give up on family prodigals and to see potential for reconciliation [59:13, 68:50].
  • “You don’t give up on them. Those Esau’s can become like Heavenly Father, not just receive the covenant, but they are going to be exalted.” – Harris [58:31]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Spiritual Significance:
  • “God’s desire is to help you become all that he is. That’s what this birthright is about.” – Mike Harris [20:11]
• On Divine Favoritism:
  • “We all sometimes go through this despair. But then there’s this one firstborn in scripture that never once went for the cup of soup… Jesus Christ.” – Harris [31:43]
• On Reconciliation:
  • “If this family’s going to be healed, it’s going to involve the Lord. I have got to go to the Lord and say, I don’t know how to heal this family, so help me.” – Bytheway [51:33]
• Parallel with Modern Experience:
  • President Nelson’s story of seeking reconciliation with a family after failed heart surgeries decades earlier, paralleling Jacob’s humility: “[He] literally knelt in front of Jimmy, now 88 years old, and had a heart to heart talk with him…” [59:13–63:12]
• On Watching and Learning Forgiveness:
  • “I have to wonder if Joseph of Egypt learned how to forgive and reconcile from this moment.” – Bytheway [67:28]

Important Timestamps

• The “God hates Esau” problem: [02:30–07:01]
• Rebecca’s struggle and the symbolism of twins: [03:53–09:25]
• Esau and Jacob’s character contrast: [09:25–14:13]
• Birthright, covenant significance: [18:06–21:37]
• Esau sells the birthright: [14:37–18:06]
• Inclusivity of birthright, modern applications: [23:38–28:14]
• Esau as a type, hyperbole in biblical language: [28:24–29:51]
• Jacob’s letter, return home, and fear of Esau: [34:58–39:01]
• Jacob’s wrestling/temple symbolism: [47:55–49:08]
• Miraculous reconciliation: [52:10–58:31]
• President Nelson’s reconciliation story: [59:13–63:12]
• Learning reconciliation for future generations (Joseph of Egypt): [67:28–67:48]

Flow and Tone

The episode is a blend of scholarly analysis, personal reflection, and pastoral encouragement, often using humor, relatable family stories, and references to modern prophets. There’s candor about the messiness of scriptural families and hope in God’s capacity to heal, forgive, and exalt.

Conclusion

This deep dive into Genesis 24–33 uncovers ancient tensions that resonate with modern lives: sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, missteps, spiritual inheritance, and—above all—God’s enduring love and capacity to heal broken families. Through careful language study, typology, and connection to modern teachings, the episode invites listeners to slow down in their scripture study, see themselves in these messy stories, and trust in the healing and reconciling power of the covenant and of Jesus Christ.