Jacob 1
JACOB
INTRODUCTION
THREE MEN WERE IN THE WAITING ROOM OF THE HOSPITAL
WAITING FOR THEIR BABIES TO BE BORN.
AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME,
A NURSE CAME IN AND ANNOUNCED TO ONE OF THE MEN,
YOUR WIFE HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO TWINS.
’THAT’S AMAZING HE SAID - I PLAY FOR
THE MINNESOTA TWINS’ !
ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER ANOTHER NURSE CAME IN
AND ANNOUNCED TO THE SECOND FATHER
THAT HIS WIFE HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO TRIPLETS.
’WOW’ - HE SAID, ’I WORK FOR THE 3M COMPANY’ !
AND ABOUT THEN THE THIRD MAN FELL OFF HIS CHAIR
AND FAINTED FLAT ON THE FLOOR
THEY RUSHED OVER AND REVIVED HIM WITH SMELLING SALTS.
AND THEN THEY ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD FAINTED.
HE SAID ’ I WORK FOR THE 7-UP COMPANY !
GENESIS 25:19-34 (NIV)
JACOB AND ESAU
19 THIS IS THE ACCOUNT OF ABRAHAM’S SON ISAAC.
ABRAHAM BECAME THE FATHER OF ISAAC,
20 AND ISAAC WAS FORTY YEARS OLD
WHEN HE MARRIED REBEKAH DAUGHTER OF BETHUEL
THE ARAMEAN FROM PADDAN ARAM
AND SISTER OF LABAN THE ARAMEAN.
21 ISAAC PRAYED TO THE LORD ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE,
BECAUSE SHE WAS BARREN.
THE LORD ANSWERED HIS PRAYER,
AND HIS WIFE REBEKAH BECAME PREGNANT.
22 THE BABIES JOSTLED EACH OTHER WITHIN HER,
AND SHE SAID, “WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?”
SO SHE WENT TO INQUIRE OF THE LORD.
23 THE LORD SAID TO HER,
“TWO NATIONS ARE IN YOUR WOMB,
AND TWO PEOPLES FROM WITHIN YOU WILL BE SEPARATED;
ONE PEOPLE WILL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER,
AND THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”
24 WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR HER TO GIVE BIRTH,
THERE WERE TWIN BOYS IN HER WOMB.
25 THE FIRST TO COME OUT WAS RED,
AND HIS WHOLE BODY WAS LIKE A HAIRY GARMENT;
SO THEY NAMED HIM ESAU.
26 AFTER THIS, HIS BROTHER CAME OUT,
WITH HIS HAND GRASPING ESAU’S HEEL;
SO HE WAS NAMED JACOB.
ISAAC WAS SIXTY YEARS OLD WHEN REBEKAH GAVE BIRTH TO THEM.
27 THE BOYS GREW UP,
AND ESAU BECAME A SKILLFUL HUNTER,
A MAN OF THE OPEN COUNTRY,
WHILE JACOB WAS A QUIET MAN,
STAYING AMONG THE TENTS.
28 ISAAC, WHO HAD A TASTE FOR WILD GAME, LOVED ESAU,
BUT REBEKAH LOVED JACOB.
29 ONCE WHEN JACOB WAS COOKING SOME STEW,
ESAU CAME IN FROM THE OPEN COUNTRY, FAMISHED.
30 HE SAID TO JACOB,
“QUICK, LET ME HAVE SOME OF THAT RED STEW! I’M FAMISHED!”
(THAT IS WHY HE WAS ALSO CALLED EDOM.)
31 JACOB REPLIED, “FIRST SELL ME YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.”
32 “LOOK, I AM ABOUT TO DIE,” ESAU SAID.
“WHAT GOOD IS THE BIRTHRIGHT TO ME?”
33 BUT JACOB SAID, “SWEAR TO ME FIRST.”
SO HE SWORE AN OATH TO HIM,
SELLING HIS BIRTHRIGHT TO JACOB.
34 THEN JACOB GAVE ESAU SOME BREAD AND SOME LENTIL STEW.
HE ATE AND DRANK, AND THEN GOT UP AND LEFT.
SO ESAU DESPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT.
WE LIVE MANY LIVES AS WE JOURNEY THROUGH
OUR TIME HERE ON EARTH.
FOR ME;
THERE WAS THE GROWING UP LIFE.
(REMEMBER JR. HIGH SCHOOL)
(REMEMBER HOW LONG IT WAS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS'?)
THEN THERE WAS THE COLLEGE LIFE.
(THAT'S WHEN I MET PAT)
(AND THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN...
THE MARRIAGE LIFE (IT'S BEEN 43 YEARS NOW)
THEN THE ARMY LIFE HAPPENED
AND THEN THERE WAS THE LIFE THAT WE LIVED
IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
AND THEN THE LIFE WE LIVED IN
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
AFTER THAT WE BEGAN A DIFFERENT LIFE IN COLDWATER, MICHIGAN
IT ALL CHANGED AGAIN WHEN WE MOVED TO
BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.
AND NOW WE ARE LIVING
THE ALBION, MICHIGAN LIFE
PROBABLY THE NEXT LIFE WILL BE
THE RETIREMENT LIFE.
OR MAYBE WE MIGHT JUST MOVE RIGHT INTO
OUR LIFE IN HEAVEN.
TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN A FOUR WEEK JOURNEY
LOOKING AT JACOB'S LIFE.
WE BEGIN WITH JACOB IN HIS GROWING UP YEARS.
JACOB AND HIS BROTHER ESAU
NEVER DID REALLY GET ALONG VERY WELL.
THEY WERE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER
EVEN WHILE THEY WERE STILL IN THE WOMB.
IN FACT WHEN ESAU WAS BEIGN BORN, JACOB STILL HAD A HOLD OF HIS FOOT
__________________________________________________________
TALK ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE EVEN BROTHERS.
BUT THEN AGAIN, I GUESS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
ARE NATURAL BORN ENEMIES.
THEY CONTINUALLY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER
FOR THEIR PARENTS ATTENTION.
OH AND SPEAKING OF PARENTS,
ISAAC AND REBEKAH'S PARENTING SKILLS
WEREN'T ALL THAT GREAT EITHER.
YOU SEE, ISAAC LIKED ESAU BEST,
AND REBEKAH LIKED JACOB BEST.
IT'S NOT REAL SMART TO HAVE A FAVORITE CHILD.
IF YOU DO, YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH IT
BETTER THAN ISAAC AND REBECCAH DID.
__________________________________________________________
LIKE I SAID EARLIER,
BEFORE THE TWO BROTHERS WERE EVEN BORN,
THEY WERE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.
THERE WAS SO MUCH JOSTLING GOING ON INSIDE REBEKAH THAT SHE WENT TO THE LORD AND ASKED HIM...
"WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF ME”.
GOD TOLD HER THAT
THERE WERE TWO NATIONS INSIDE HER.
AND THEY WOULD BE SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER.
AND THE OLDER WOULD SERVE THE YOUNGER.
THESE BOYS WERE ENEMIES EVEN BEFORE THEY WERE BORN.
THEN THE DAY CAME WHEN THEY WERE BORN.
ESAU CAME OUT FIRST AND HE WAS COVERED
WITH A THICK COAT OF RED HAIR.
SO THEY NAMED HIM ESAU. (ESAU MEANS HAIRY)
AND AS I SAID EARLIER,
JACOB STILL HAD A HOLD OF ESAU'S FOOT.
THEY HAD BEEN IN CONSTANT CONFLICT
FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS
AND JACOB WAS STILL GRASPING ESAU'S FOOT.
AND BECAUSE JACOB WAS GRASPING ESAU'S HEEL,
THEY NAMED HIM JACOB.
(JACOB MEANS HE GRASPS THE HEEL)
(AND IT ALSO MEANS DECIEVER)
WELL, THE BOYS GREW UP AND THEY WERE AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY.
ESAU LOVED TO HUNT
AND BE OUT IN THE OPEN COUNTRY,
JACOB PREFERED TO STAY AT HOME
AND DO THINGS LIKE COOKING FOOD.
JACOB WAS DIFFERENT FROM ESAU.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT THAN ME
AND I'M DIFFERENT THAN YOU.
THE POINT IS, WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.
WE'RE ALL GOOD AT DIFFERENT THINGS
AND JUST BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOOD AT ONE THING, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T SERVE GOD
IN SOME OTHER WAY.
WE EACH HAVE TO LOOK FOR OUR OWN AREA OF SERVICE
AND THEN DO THAT WITH ALL OUR HEART.
FOR JIM PAPUTSA: POUNDING HAMMERS AND WHIRRING SAWS
ARE JIM'S TOOLS OF THE TRADE.
WHEN WINTER WEATHER COMES HIS WORK COMES TO A STANDSTILL,
BECAUSE HE'S A CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, BUILDER.
SO HE GOES DOWN TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO FOR GOD THERE.
JIM FIRST WENT TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
WITH ONE OF HIS WORKERS, VICTOR RODRIGUEZ.
THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY LIVES
IN A REMOTE, MOUNTAINOUS, COFFEE-GROWING AREA
WHERE NARROW, TREACHEROUS ROADS
CONNECT VILLAGES THAT ARE FAR FROM EACH OTHER.
JIM STAYED FOR A MONTH THERE,
REPAIRING HOMES AND IMPROVING WATER SUPPLIES
AND DOING SANITATION WORK. "
JIM SAID, ALL I COULD OFFER WAS MY WORK.
I HAD MY BIBLE WITH ME, BUT I COULDN'T SPEAK MUCH SPANISH.
AND SO VICTOR DID A LOT OF TRANSLATING."
WHEN JIM HAD RETURNEDBACK HOME,
HE BEGAN STUDYING UP ON HIS SPANISH.
THEN HE RETURNED THE NEXT WINTER,
WHILE THERE HE NOTICED SOMETHING HE'D MISSED BEFORE.
"THERE WERE A LOT OF BAREFOOT KIDS--
THEY WERE TOO POOR TO AFFORD EVEN RUBBER SHOES."
SO BEFORE HIS THIRD TRIP,
JIM ASKED HIS CHURCH TO DONATE SHOES FOR THE KIDS.
"JIM EXPECTED TO GET MAYBE FIFTY PAIRS OF SHOES
HE GOT 250 PAIRS!
THEY COVERED HIS ENTIRE LIVING ROOM FLOOR."
WHEN HE GOT TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
THEY FILLED MANY LARGE COFFEE BEAN BASKETS
SLUNG ON A MULE'S BACK
"AS HE MADE HIS WAY UP THOSE STEEP PATHS, HE GAVE AWAY SHOES TO THE KIDS WHO NEEDED THEM.
AND WITH EVERY PAIR OF SHOES THAT HE GAVE AWAY,
HE ALSO GAVE AWAY TRACTS OR BIBLES."
AND THEN HE WAITED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
JIM DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT VERY LONG.
ONE AFTERNOON, A BOY RAN UP TO HIM SHOUTING,
"CHRISTIAN! CHRISTIAN! COME HERE!"
"HE TOOK ME TO HIS HOUSE," JIM SAID,
"THERE THE WHOLE FAMILY HAD GATHERED ON THE PATIO
WHERE THEY DRY THEIR COFFEE BEANS.
THEY WANTED ME TO READ THE BIBLE TO THEM!"
WITH HIS ENGLISH/SPANISH BIBLE,
JIM READ KEY PASSAGES, PHONETICALLY.
FOR MANY DAYS,
NEW FRIENDS WOULD WAVE FOR HIM
TO COME UP ON TO THEIR PORCHES AND READ THE BIBLE.
THOSE SHOES HAVE OPENED DOORS, TO PEOPLES HEARTS
AND JIM CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK AGAIN THIS WINTER.
JIM SAYS...
"THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING,
AND YET THE SIMPLEST THINGS BRING THEM SUCH JOY.
HOPEFULLY, THAT JOY WILL BE MULTIPLIED
AS THEY DISCOVER WHAT GOD CAN GIVE THEM."
ROY HATTERSLEY, IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE U.K. GUARDIAN.
AND HE'S AN OUTSPOKEN ATHEIST,
MR. HATTERSLEY, SAID IN ONE OF HIS ARTICLES
"IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE
WITHOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN,"
HE WROTE THIS ARTICLE AFTER WATCHING THE SALVATION ARMY
LEAD SEVERAL OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE RELIEF EFFORT
AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA.
MR HATTERSLEY CONTINUED, SAYING THAT
HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NO "TEAMS FROM
THE RATIONALIST SOCIETIES,
THE FREE THINKERS' CLUBS,
OR ANY ATHEISTS' ASSOCIATIONS—
THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT SCOFF AT
RELIGION'S INTELLECTUAL ABSURDITY."
MR. HATTERSLEY SAID,
IT IS AN UNAVOIDABLE CONCLUSION THAT
CHRISTIANS "ARE THE PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO TAKE THE RISKS AND MAKE THE SACRIFICES INVOLVED IN HELPING OTHERS."
MR. HATTERSLEY ALSO NOTED THAT
THIS PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR
GOES BEYOND DISASTER RELIEF:
HE SAID "CIVILIZED" PEOPLE MEANING NON-CHRISTIANS
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
DRUG ADDICTION AND MALE PROSTITUTION
ARE SINS AGAINST GOD'S WORD.
BUT THOSE WHO DO BELIEVE THIS,
ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN
MOST WILLING TO CHANGE THE FETID BANDAGES,
REPLACE THE SODDEN SLEEPING BAGS,
AND—PROBABLY MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL—
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO
ARGUE, WITHOUT A TRACE OF IMPATIENCE,
THAT THE TIME HAS COME
FOR SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL TREATMENT.
"THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONCLUSION," SAYS MR. HATTERSLEY, "
IS THAT FAITH COMES WITH A PACKET OF MORAL IMPERATIVES THAT, WHILE THEY DO NOT CONDITION
THE ATTITUDE OF ALL BELIEVERS,
THEY INFLUENCE ENOUGH OF THEM,
TO MAKE [CHRISTIANS] MORALLY SUPERIOR
TO ATHEISTS LIKE ME."
_____________________________________________
WELL, WHAT JACOB COULD DO WAS COOK.
AND HE COULD MAKE THIS RED STEW
THAT WAS TO DIE FOR.
THE DAY CAME WHEN ESAU
ARRIVED HOME FROM HUNTING.
APPARENTLY HIS HUNTING TRIP
DIDN'T GO VERY WELL BECAUSE HE WAS FAMISHED.
SO HE ASKED JACOB FOR SOME OF THAT RED STEW.
JACOB BARTERED WITH HIS BROTHER.
I'LL GIVE YOU SOME STEW FOR YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.
ESAU DIDN'T REALLY VALUE HIS BIRTHRIGHT,
HE DIDN'T REALLY CARE IF HE HAD IT OR NOT.
SO HE AGREED TO GIVE IT TO JACOB FOR A BOWL OF STEW.
THIS IS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DIG INTO, TODAY.
YOU SEE, VERSE 34 SAYS:
1. ESAU DISPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT.
HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAN HE WAS IN SPIRITUAL THINGS.
HE MADE A STUPID DECISION.
HAVE YOU EVER MADE A STUPID DECISION?
SOMETIMES KIDS ARE SMARTER THAN WE ADULTS ARE.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE PHRASE,
“OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES?”
CERTAINLY YOU HAVE.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CHILD TO REVEAL REAL BASIC WISDOM.
FOR EXAMPLE: ·
PATRICK, AGE 10, SAID,
“NEVER TRUST A DOG TO WATCH YOUR FOOD.” ·
MICHAEL, 14, SAID,
“WHEN YOUR DAD IS MAD AND ASKS YOU,
"DO I LOOK STUPID?" DON’T ANSWER HIM.” ·
MICHAEL, ALSO SAID,
“NEVER TELL YOUR MOM HER DIET’S NOT WORKING.” ·
RANDY, 9 YEARS OF AGE SAID,
“STAY AWAY FROM PRUNES.”
I WONDER HOW HE DISCOVERED THAT ONE.
KYOYO, AGE 9, SAID,
“NEVER HOLD A DUST BUSTER AND A CAT AT THE SAME TIME.” ·
NAOMI, 15 SAID,
“IF YOU WANT A KITTEN, START OUT BY ASKING FOR A HORSE.”
LAUREN, AGE 9 SAID,
“FELT MARKERS ARE NOT GOOD TO USE AS LIPSTICK.”
JOEL, 10 YEARS OLD, SAID,
“DON’T PICK ON YOUR SISTER WHEN SHE’S HOLDING
A BASEBALL BAT.”
AND
EILEEN, AGE 8 SAID,
“NEVER TRY TO BAPTIZE A CAT.”
STUPID DECISIONS!
_______________________________________________________
ESAU PAID FOR HIS STEW WITH HIS BIRTHRIGHT
AND WHEN HE PAID FOR HIS STEW WITH HIS BIRTHRIGHT,
HE CHANGED THE DESTINY OF ALL HIS DESCENDANTS.
FOR JUST A BOWL OF STEW,
ESAU LOST HIS RIGHT TO BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER
OF THE FAMILY.
ESAU TURNED HIS BACK ON GOD.
HE TURNED HIS BACK ON HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE
AS THE SPIRITUAL HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
AND LATER IN MALACHI 1:4, GOD SAID THIS ABOUT ESAU'S DESCENDANTS,
“[THE CHILDREN OF ESAU] MAY BUILD, BUT I WILL DEMOLISH. THEY WILL BE CALLED THE WICKED LAND,
A PEOPLE ALWAYS UNDER THE WRATH OF THE LORD.”
GOD’S FAVOR HAD DEPARTED FROM ESAU
AND ALONG WITH ESAU,
IT HAD DEPARTED FROM HIS DESCENDANTS TOO.
ESAU ISN'T THE ONLY MAN
WHO PAID TOO MUCH FOR HIS STEW.
ALL OF US HAVE THIS TENDENCY.
WE MAKE STUPID DECISIONS
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO GRATIFY OUR FLESHLY DESIRES
AND IGNORE THE SPIRITUAL RAMIFICATIONS
OF WHAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO DO.
_______________________________________________________
SOME MEN PAY FOR THEIR CAREER WITH THEIR FAMILY.
THEY LET THEIR CAREER TAKE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
AND THERE'S NO ENERGY OR TIME LEFT
FOR THEM TO DEVELOP AN INTIMATE MARRIAGE
OR TO TRAIN UP THEIR CHILDREN
IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD.
DAD;
THE FACTORY CAN ALWAYS GET ANOTHER ELECTRICIAN.
THE BUSINESS CAN ALWAYS GET ANOTHER ACCOUNTANT.
AND THE CHURCH CAN ALWAYS GET ANOTHER PASTOR,
BUT YOUR FAMILY ONLY HAS ONE DAD,
AND YOU NEED TO BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF YOUR FAMILY
SOME MEN PAY FOR A MOMENT OF SINFUL PLEASURE
AT THE COST OF THEIR MARRIAGE.
ADULTERY ALWAYS COSTS MORE THAN A MARRIAGE.
SOMETIMES THE PAYMENT FOR A MOMENT OF PLEASURE COSTS TWO MARRIAGES.
AND IT COSTS THE CHILDREN TOO.
THE COST ALSO INCLUDES
THE MAN AND THE WOMAN’S
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
PEOPLE PAY TOO MUCH FOR STEW.
YOU CAN CALL IT
A TENDENCY SIN,
OR A BAD CHOICE
OR A MISTAKE, IF YOU WANT.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT
THE COST ISN'T WORTH IT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THE KIND OF FATHER
THAT THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF OUR FAMILY
NEEDS TO BE.
THEN WE MUST NOT TO PAY TOO MUCH FOR STEW.
STEVE GOODIER, SAID IN THE READER’S DIGEST, MAY, 1990.
THAT
BOTH THE HUMMINGBIRD AND THE VULTURE
FLY OVER OUR NATION’S DESERTS.
ALL THE VULTURE SEES, IS ROTTING MEAT,
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY LOOK FOR.
THEY THRIVE ON THAT DIET.
BUT HUMMINGBIRDS IGNORE THE SMELLY FLESH
OF DEAD ANIMALS.
INSTEAD, THEY LOOK FOR THE COLORFUL BLOSSOMS
OF THE DESERT PLANTS.
_____________________________________________________________
THE VULTURES LIVE ON WHAT WAS.
THEY LIVE ON THE PAST.
THEY FILL THEMSELVES WITH WHAT'S DEAD AND GONE.
BUT HUMMINGBIRDS LIVE ON WHAT IS.
THEY SEEK NEW LIFE.
AND THEY FILL THEMSELVES WITH FRESHNESS AND LIFE.
EACH BIRD FINDS WHAT IT IS LOOKING FOR.
AND SO DO WE.
______________________________________________________
SO, WHAT WAS A BIRTHRIGHT ANYWAY?
THERE'S NO RECORD OF WHAT THE BIRTHRIGHT INCLUDED AT THE TIME THAT JACOB AND ESAU LIVED.
BUT IT PROBABLY INCLUDED THINGS LIKE:
1. THE BIRTHRIGHT SON
WOULD BECOME THE SPIRITUAL HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
THERE WAS A SENSE IN WHICH
HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE FAMILY.
HE WAS GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL WELFARE
OF THE FAMILY,
THIS INCLUDED THE FAMILY'S WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.
ALL THE WORKERS AND THE SERVANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
SOMETIMES THIS WOULD INCLUDE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
SO THE BIRTHRIGHT SON
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORSHIP
AND THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE FAMILY
AND EVERYONE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT.
2. THE BIRTHRIGHT SON BECAME THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY OR TRIBE.
HE BECAME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ESTATE,
FOR THE PROPERTY
AND BUSINESS HOLDINGS OF THE FAMILY
HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS WELFARE AND PROTECTION. (GENESIS 27:29).
3. THE BIRTHRIGHT SON PROBABLY INHERITED A LARGER PORTION OF THE FATHER'S WEALTH,
POSSIBLY TWICE AS MUCH AS EACH OF THE OTHER SONS.
THIS WAS TRUE LATER ON, UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW
(DEUT. 21:17; 1 CHRON. 5:1-2).
IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TRUE AT THIS TIME,
BUT IT PROBABLY WAS.
NOTICE THAT
THE BIRTHRIGHT INCLUDED BOTH PRIVILEGE
AND RESPONSIBILITY,
IT INCLUDED BOTH RIGHTS AND DUTIES.
ALSO NOTICE THAT FOR JACOB,
MATERIAL WEALTH WAS NOT WHAT HE WAS AFTER.
AT LEAST IT WASN'T HIS PRIMARY INTEREST.
HE WAS INTERESTED IN BEING THE SPIRITUAL
AND PHYSICAL HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
HE WANTED TO CARRY ON THE LINE OF THE FAMILY
THAT WOULD SOME DAY
GIVE BIRTH TO THE COMING SAVIOR:
HE WANTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE FAMILY'S WELFARE,
ITS PROVISION AND ITS SECURITY.
— PREACHER'S OUTLINE AND SERMON BIBLE - COMMENTARY
HASTY DECISIONS OFTEN LEAD TO REGRETS.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE ONE LEGGED CANARY
THAT WAS BOUGHT AT A GARAGE SALE RIGHT AT DUSK JUST AS THEY WERE CLOSING UP.
THEY DIDN'T NOTICE THE MISSING LEG UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
SOLOMON ONCE WROTE,
“THE WISE MAN SEES THE DANGER AHEAD AND AVOIDS IT, BUT THE NAÏVE GO AHEAD AND FALL INTO THE PIT.”
(PROV. 22:3,4)
WISE PEOPLE MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS
SO THEY'RE NOT TEMPTED TO MAKE IMPULSIVE DECISIONS THAT THEY'LL REGRET LATER.
ESAU DIDN'T VALUE THE RICHES HE POSSESSED
IN HIS BIRTHRIGHT
SO HE CHOSE TO GIVE IN TO HIS APPETITE.
THE LORD GIVES EVERYONE THE ABILITY
TO RESIST EVERY TEMPTATION.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (KJV)
THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU
BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN:
BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL,
WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE
THAT YE ARE ABLE;
BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION
ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE,
THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.
GOD GIVES EACH PERSON A WAY TO ESCAPE
BOTH THE BIG AND THE SMALL TEMPTATIONS
IF WE'LL ONLY CHOOSE HIS WAYS
INSTEAD OF OUR FLESHLY DESIRES.
O MY FRIEND,
SATAN IS A ROARING LION,
HE'S IS OUT THERE JUST LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GET YOU TO SELL YOUR SOUL FOR A BOWL OF SOUP.
HE WILL MAKE THE SOUP LOOK SO GOOD.
HE'LL TELL YOU THAT YOU DESERVE THE BOWL OF SOUP.
HE'LL TRY TO GET YOU TO FOCUS ON THE BOWL OF SOUP
HE WANTS TO GET YOU TO MAKE A HASTY DECISION
AND NOT THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF YOUR PURCHASE.
BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.
THERE ARE ALWAYS CONSECUENCES FOR OUR DECISIONS.
GOOD CONSEQUENCES FOR GOOD DECISIONS
AND BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR BAD DECISIONS.
SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO.
BECAUSE, BELIEVE ME,
YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO.
LET'S PRAY.