 It was a broken man who cried out, “Bless me, too, my father!” Possibly for the first time, Esau realized that he truly had lost his position as firstborn. He was supposed to take his father’s mantle. But he had already sold his birthright to Jacob and now his father’s blessing was impotent to restore it. Instead his father affirmed Jacob as the first and Esau as the last.
From a human perspective, Esau was right: Jacob stole his blessing and took his birthright. (And Jacob was surely wrong in tricking his father and exacting his brother’s birthright through usury, instead of making way for God to keep His promise.) But we are clearly told that this is only half of the truth. Jacob took the birthright -- he wanted badly enough to do anything to get it. But Esau despised it -- and wouldn’t give up anything to keep it. Esau did not respect God’s blessing on his life and was willing to trade what was eternal for what was temporary. And who among us can say we have never done the same? No one. Our decisions reveal the true loyalty of our hearts and betray us – just as they did Esau. He was ungrateful for his unprecedented godly heritage and instead walked by the dictates of his own heart. Genesis 26:34-35 tells us Esau married pagan women who grieved the heart and mind of his parents. They didn’t love God and so were unfit to raise up godly offspring to build a people for God. How could a chosen people, dedicated to God, come from these unions? But God kept His promises to Esau. His herds grew. His family expanded. And God plotted out a kingdom for his descendents, called Edom which fell into gross immorality because Esau despised his birthright. God was Esau’s birthright. God is our treasure and deserves to be treated as such. I guess the only question now is: God, will rearrange me until You really are my treasure? “The fear of the Lord is His treasure.” -- Isaiah 33:6 “When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”” – Genesis 27:34
Those were the words that came to me, as I prayed for something I have requested of God for more than a decade. Other people have received it; but not me, just like Jacob received the blessing and not Esau. You know, Jacob and Rachel didn’t trick God. They deceived Isaac and cheated Esau but God was never fooled. In the book of Genesis, a father’s blessing was an honor as well as an expression of the father’s love but it was also clearly considered to be prophetic. Meaning, the words that the head of the family spoke over his children were to some extent informed by God Himself. And we just said, that even though Isaac didn’t know who he was blessing, God sure did. Maybe this blessing would have been Jacob’s even if he had been blessed second. Maybe, God had an even better blessing in mind but Jacob short-circuited it. I don’t know. But I do know that God was not worried. He had already promised Rachel the younger child would serve the older – this was guaranteed by God Himself. But that was not good enough for either mother or son. So, they got Isaac’s (and God’s) blessing the way they knew how. We often do this. We see others getting the blessing we want and so we go get it for ourselves. Even though God has already promised us everything good (study the Psalms, Psalm 34:10, 84:11), we think we can do it better or in a more timely fashion. Bluntly: We can’t. Jacob got the blessing – that he had already – and dishonored his God, deceived his father, and, justly, bought his brother’s hate. Maybe I will just wait for my blessing. “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26 You do not know what will happen tomorrow. James 4:14
If you are anything like me, you have prayed to know the future more times then you feel comfortable admitting. First I wanted to know about college, then career, then who to marry, if I should change jobs or move or…you get the idea. Knowing the future would make things so much easier…right? Because then I would know what God already knows. And if I knew what God’s plans were I could…do what? Help? Everyone knows God needs my help…right? Imagine real quick, you know three critical things about your future. What if it is something you don’t (think you) want? (It’s very scary to tell a single person that they will have six kids.) What if you don’t see how that could ever happen? How tempting would it be to manipulate people and circumstances to try and get that outcome? (10 cool points to anyone who can name a character in the Bible who did this…there are multiple of them.) Or maybe you want it so badly…why not just go get it now? (Example: I am going to marry so-and-so, why not go do it early?) I am convinced that God doesn’t let us in on the future (as Jesus and James both say) because we are meant to live one day at a time. We are not equipped to deal with a lifetime, a decade, or even an entire year right now (and when we attempt to, we…worry). This is the gift of ignorance. It sounds like a curse until you realize Jesus told us the truth: Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Or in other words: You can’t handle the future!) But do not worry about your life…for Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Trust Him.
|
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
October 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed