Dear Friends
When we examine into the life of Esau, elder son of Isaac, we notice that he lost everything.
| 1. God's Choice | |
| 2. Know God | |
| 3. Blessings through God |
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob in exchange for bread and red stew of lentils. Esau ate, drank, arose and went his way. He despised his birth right.(Gen 25:29-34). We also see in Gen 26:34-35, 27:46 and 28:8-9 that he lost all the blessings he were to receive from his father. He saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. Gen 27:39-40 states that Isaac answered his son saying that Esau had to live by his sword and he had to serve his brother. He would become restless and break Jacob’s yoke from his neck. Finally we see from Gen 25:23; 27:1-30; 28:1-9 and Romans 9:10-16 that Esau even forfeited the grace of God.
Therefore it is apparent that Esau lost all the rights and privileges of the first-born, the blessings from god, love and affection of his parents, yield and fruit of the earth and finally the grace of God. Esau is a man who lost everything and everybody.
What are the reasons for his plight? Why Esau’s life became so miserable? Why did he forego all things? An objective analysis shows the following reasons.
I. Esau was not God’s choice
Genesis 25-23 states that God told Rebecca that two nations are in her womb and that two manner of people shall be separated from her bowels; one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
If we read Rom 9:10-16, “And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac: For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her” The elder shall serve the younger” (Rom 9-12)
As it is written, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”(Rom 9:13)
Therefore what shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness in God? We cannot say so. V.I5 “For he saith to Moses. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”. V.16 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy”
From the above words we understand that, God hated Esau. He did not find himself worthy of God’s mercy. He didn’t get his mercy. Obviously because he was not God’s Choice, he was not in the will of the Lord. If we analyse the reasons perhaps the following factors might be some. God knows all things. He is a God who can perceive the past, present and the future. God knew the kind of life Esau was going to live in this world, even before he was born. God knew that Esau’s life is not according to his will and it is not pleasing to God, therefore we can infer that God did not favour him.
When we examine into the reasons why Esau was not in God’s favour and in his plan, we come across a series of reasons.
(A) Esau was a rough and belligerent character:
Gen 25:27 says that “And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents”. Esau lived in forests and was hunting animals. We do not find traits such as compassion, kindness and mercy in him. He delights in killing animals mercilessly. We also read in Gen 27:41 that “ And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob”.
Friends! Please notice that the heart of Esau was harsh and his life tough. That’s why he was not in God’s choice; consequently he forfeited all the blessings of God, His compassion and mercy too. If so what is your state of life? If your heart is tough and stern, you shall not receive God’s blessings. Your boisterous and crude behaviour would be a hurdle to receive God’s blessings. Therefore come to God with repentance. He will replace your hardened heart with a soft fleshy heart. If you want God’s blessings to be received you must change your life style. V4. or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Rom 2:4-5 Vs”. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”.
Ephesians, 4:17-18 says “This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye hereforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind:. V.18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”.
If we read Gen4:3-8 we come to know that God rejected the offering of Cain. Whereof Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.
Lord said unto Cain “Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted? If thou doest not well sin lieth at the door and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him”.
But Cain did not listen to God’s word, he hardened his heart and killed Abel. God cursed Cain. God said his earth shall not yield fruit unto her strength and Cain shall become a fugitive and vagabond.
Therefore friends let us learn that hardened heart and stern nature brings not blessings, but curse.
(B) Esau takes everything very lightly. He never takes anything seriously.
Esau took his life to be very easy and callous (unkind & cruel). He took the values of life; his first-born rights, family life, and parents to be very light. If we read Gen 25:29-34 we find, one day Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field and he was weary. He asked Jacob to feed him with the same red stew. Jacob demanded to sell him his birthright as of that day. Esau said “Look I am about to die, what is this birth right to me”? Indifference and gross carelessness are chief characteristics of Esau. He swore to Jacob and sold his birthright. Thus Esau took first-born birthright and life very lightly.
Inheritance of the family riches are the birth right of the first-born. To be the master of the house, blessings of his father and many such rights were forfeited.Gen.27: 27
An indifferent attitude is so much evident in Esau’s life. Gen 25:34 says Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate, drank, arose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Heb 12:16 says “ Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright”.
Dear friends, what is your attitude towards your life, which was earned by shedding of the precious blood of Jesus? Do you take your life lightly? If you are indifferent to God’s words, his ways, you shall be rejected. If you reject Jesus remember you and your family shall despise the blessings of God and you shall wither away. Therefore realize, repent and come unto Jesus. You shall receive manifold blessings.
I read a story sometime. Suddenly a hen had a desire to hatch. However this hen was lazy and had no patience to lay eggs. She didn’t want to undergo strain. She was searching for readily laid eggs.
Finally she found a bunch of eggs. She was surprised but decided to hatch them. Then a Mynah warned her that they were snake’s eggs and hatching them was dangerous. But the hen took the warning lightly. She indifferently rejected the warnings of the Mynah. After a few days snake’s offspring came out of those eggs. These small snakes sucked the blood of the hen under her wings. Consequently the hen died.
Friends, God wishes that our life must be ideal, our actions, words, looks and conduct must be according to the word of the Lord. Please do not take His words lightly like the hen. Do not reject his words and warnings. Do not be negligent.
God created Adam and Eve. They were ordained to live in Eden. He permitted them to eat the fruit of all trees except the fruit that gives the discerning knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve took God’s words easily. They ate the forbidden fruit despite God’s warning. They yielded to the guiles of the snake. Evil prevailed on them. Thereby they forfeited God’s blessings and invited the wrath and curse of God.
They were driven out of Eden. Their sorrow was multiplied. Friends let not anyone become another Adam and Eve and forfeit God’s blessings.
(C) Esau had no foresight
Esau was a man of such nature that he would be satisfied if he had food for that day. He was contended if he could live life for that day. He did not bother about his first-born rights. It was not important for him. He was overwhelmed by hunger and sold his birth right to Jacob in exchange for bread and red stew of lentils. For one square meal he forfeited all his future privileges of the first-born.
In contrast the life of Joseph is of foresight and forethought. If we read Gen 39:1-23 we come to know that Joseph refused to lie with Potiphar’s wife and rejected to sin against God, despite temptation. Joseph in his foresight aimed at future rewards than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. In Gen 39:3 Joseph says, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God”. There by Joseph was greatly blessed and elevated. He was made the Prime Minister of Egypt next only to the then Pharaoh.
Gen 41:39-46 the foresight of Joseph is the principal reason for his great preferment and elevation. He aimed at future reward and not at the passing pleasures.
If we read Daniel 1:1-21, we notice that, Daniel had decided not to defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies nor with the wine. He pleaded that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be permited not to defile themselves and eat only vegetables and water to drink. They aimed at the future reward and rejected the present delicacies. Dan 1:19.20 says “Then the king interviewed them and among then all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah Mishael and Azariah. Therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm”.
2. Esau’s family were idolators & did not know God
Another important reason for Esau to forgo his blessings is that his family did not know the true God. His children were idolators. Esau did not teach the true way of God to his children.
Friends, let us not reconcile to temporal things and passing pleasures. Instead let us aim at God’s future blessings, future reward and be focused on the gifts of God. Let us shun wickedness, worldliness and sin of the world. If you and your family are to be in the express will of the Lord one has to overcome the attractions of the world.
Hebrews 12:1-12 says ------let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith-------
If we read Gen 26:34-35 “when Esau was forty years old he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebecca.
Esau married heathen women. They did not worship the true God. They were idol worshippers Read 2 Chron 25:20 because people sought the gods of Edom, they were given into the hand of their enemies. Esau did not take adequate check measures. He did not teach his wife and children about the true God. He did not ensure that they serve only Yahweh the true God. That’s why the practices, the ways and culture of Esau’s children, were of the Edom and not of Jacob’s family. Therefore Esau and his family forfeited God’s blessings.
If we examine the life of Abraham and his family with that of Lot and his family we find that Abraham showed implicit faith and obedience to God. He loved God. He taught Isaac the fear of God. Therefore we find God’s revelations in Abraham’s life. We see pulpits built in Abraham’s family. God abundantly blessed Abraham and his family. He was greatly uplifted.
But we do not see the fear of the God in Lot, his wife and children. This family never built a pulpit for God. They were not praying and serving in the name of the lord.
They became pillars of salt because they did not heed to God’s Words. Lot’s daughters were involved in incest with their father. They begot the enemies of God’s children the forefathers of the Moabites and Ammonites Moab and Benjamin. It is the absence of the fear of God that is responsible for their destruction.
Friends what is your status? Do you have the fear of God in you and your family? They did not build pulpit for God. Do you have pulpits built in your house for God? Are prayers being held in your house? Do you and your family experience the revelations of God? Please introspect your life. If you are to be blessed the way Abraham was blessed you are to emulate his implicit faith & obedience in God. Then you shall be blessed manifold.
3. Receive blessings not through our efforts but through God’s way only:
Gen 25:28 Isaac loved Esau. Therefore he wanted to bless him. But that was not in God’s plan. God clearly told Rebecca in (Gen 25:23) that two nations are in your womb, two people shall be separated from your body: one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger”.
We do not know whether Rebecca said this to Isaac or not But Isaac wanted to bless Esau his first-born. But because it was not in God’s plan Esau did not find game immediately. It was delayed. Meanwhile Rebecca thought of a evil plan to cheat Isaac. She sent Jacob in the guise of Esau. Isaac was deceived and he blessed Jacob. But we must not forget to note that God’s hand is behind this episode.
If we read Gen 25:29-30 carefully we see that on the day Esau went hunting he did not find the game. He returned home weary. He asked Jacob to please feed him with red stew. Jacob demanded his first-born birthrights. He swore and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then he found the game but because of the delay he forfeited all the blessings. We can clearly see God’s hand in not finding the game the previous occasion and the delay. God works on in his own way. In God’s plan and God’s will, all man’s efforts were futile. Esau was rejected and Jacob was blessed.
Similarly Rebecca in human way wanted Jacob to be blessed instead of Esau by cheating Isaac. When Esau went for hunting he called Jacob, put the choice clothes of Esau on him. She also put skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. She gave the savory food and the bread into the hands of Jacob. She cheated Isaac with her plans & scheming. In a human way Rebecca wanted Jacob to get Isaac’s blessings. As she desired Jacob got the blessings. But because of her act the family was broken. Esau wanted to kill younger brother Jacob when he came to know of his evil cheating.
Jacob had to run to his uncle Laban who was in Padan Aram. Her action caused breakage into pieces the lives and families of Esau, Jacob, Isaac and Rebecca. These families were separated for 20 years of bitter experience. When Jacob returned to Canaan after 20 years his mother Rebecca was dead. Let us learn that human ways and efforts to get God’s blessings will go through a perilous & bitter way.
Under the said circumstances how should Rebecca respond? Which way to choose? My answer to these questions is that God has clearly said that the elder has to serve the younger. Therefore it is evident that Jacob the younger was to be invariably blessed.
It was God’s will and plan. Therefore it is up to Him to bless Jacob. We have to believe in the word of God. That’s the God’s way. The earth and the sky might perish but not the word of God. Therefore we have to hope and wait for blessings to come in His way, but not through our efforts.
In Luke 7:1-10 we see the Centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. He pleaded through the elders of the Jews that Jesus might come and heal his servant. Then Jesus went with them. The centurion pleadeth that Jesus may say the word and his servant will be healed…………And those who were sent returning to the house, found the servant well, who had been sick. We therefore have to understand that If Jesus says the word, miracles take place, blessings are showered. In John 11:17-44 Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus and cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus come forth”. Lazarus who had died came out alive. The word of Jesus is sufficient for miracles to happen.
In Luke 7:11-17 we see the only son of a widow from Nain being carried out. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise” so he who was dead sat up and began to speak.
Dearly beloved friends, please note the great power vested in his word. Let us pray today.
Heavenly father, you may just say a word so that our lives may be blessed. Our withered lives, may take sprout. Our bitter experiences may be transformed in to sweet memorable experience. We pray that your word may solve our problems, let miracles take place in my personal life as well as in my family life. Bless our lives. Bless our works. Let prosperity, fruit and growth be our life’s experiences. If we pray thus, we can appropriate his blessings in God’s will & plan. Jacob wrestled with God for blessings. Gen 32:24-29 “ I will not let you go unless you bless me”. He blessed him there.
Friends let us not leave God. Let us spend time in prayer till he blesses. Let us wrestle with him in prayer.
May God bless you and your families!
Amen
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