THE DAILY BEACON~ By JH FORESTER “Our Promised Inheritance” Genesis 25: 27-28 “ And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Jacob and Esau were twin brothers and sons of Isaac and Rebekak. We break in on the account when the boys were growing up. Both were raised by their father Isaac and their mother Rebekah to know about the promised “seed” that would bless all families of the earth. (Gen. 3:15) Both knew that their grandfather Abraham had been told that the “seed” would come through his line of descent, through Isaac, and that the blessing of God had been on their father Isaac. (Gen. 21:12; 22:15-18; 25:11; 26:24) This was an inheritance of tremendous significance. Isaac was also a materially wealthy man. This wealth the boys would also inherit, the firstborn receiving a double portion. But which boy would qualify to receive the inheritance, particularly the promise of the “seed” through the family line? Esau, the firstborn, stood in the favored position from a human point of view.—Gen. 25:25, 26. How do these words found in our featured scripture shed light on the attitude of the boys? They reveal what was in the heart of each. Esau was a man of hunting prowess .He was a “wild man” He spent his time out in the field learning the art of the hunter. Jacob, on the other hand, was concerned with the family household. The Hebrew word here rendered “plain” means “sound,” “innocent,” “complete.” Jacob, though not making a show of his strength or ability as Esau likely did, was nonetheless no weakling, for God later spoke of him as having “power with God:.” (Hos. 12:3) The fact is that Jacob prized the covenant promise to Abraham above everything else and devoted all he had to learning about the promise from his father. He devoted himself to taking care of the interests of this family that God had designated as heirs. He wanted to stay close to those whom God was blessing, although he did look on Esau as the one ahead of him, since Esau was the firstborn. Later the two boys gave stronger evidence of their attitudes. We read: “Once Jacob was boiling up some stew, when Esau came along from the field and he was tired. So Esau said to Jacob: ‘Quick, please, give me a swallow of the red—the red there, for I am tired!’ . . . To this Jacob said: ‘Sell me, first of all, your right as firstborn!’ And Esau continued: “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.1 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.2 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. .”—Gen. 25:29-34. Some say that Jacob here took advantage of his brother, that he was being selfish and greedily coveted something that did not belong to him. They say that he wanted the birthright because he wanted a double portion of his father’s wealth .But, instead of questioning Jacob, I tend to question Esau instead. Did Esau really appreciate the wonderful things for which his birthright stood? He was not actually near death, as he said. This is shown by his getting up after eating and going his way. The Bible says, “he was faint.” Why was Esau motivated to do what he did? The account tells us: Esau despised the birthright.” The apostle Paul corroborated this statement when he said “Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”—Gen. 25:34; Heb. 12:16.Blearly, Esau had no appreciation for what that birthright stood for. Jacob, on the other had full appreciation for it. Further proving that Jacob’s action was not for selfish gain is the fact that he left home, not taking charge of the household property. And there is no evidence that he ever claimed his double portion. What was of surpassing value to him was the inheritance to come. He wanted God’s covenant to stay with the family. His appreciation of God and His promise overshadowed every other consideration. In contrast with the lack of appreciation that Esau had shown, the great regard that Jacob had for the inheritance of God was again made evident by something that took place when Jacob returned home twenty years later to visit his father. Read the account at Genesis. 32:22-31.Here is revealed the great difference in the attitudes of Jacob and Esau as to the inheritance. Whereas Esau would not suffer even a little hunger for the birthright, Jacob wrestled all night with an angel of God who had materialized as a man. This Jacob did in order to get a word of blessing from God through the angel. Doubtless Jacob knew that the angel appeared for a purpose, and he was aware that in past appearances of angels they had brought a blessing or a command in confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. (Gen. 28:10-15; 31:11-13) He therefore was so desirous of God’s continuing with him, just as God had been with his father and grandfather, that he exerted himself in vigorous, exhausting wrestling with the angel, holding onto him. Jacob thereby demonstrated his great heart desire for God’s favor. The outcome for Jacob and for Esau provides us with a very strong incentive to be faithful, to hold onto the hope of the reward. Jacob was blessed with being the progenitor of a great nation. But more importantly, it was the nation that Jehovah used in his working out of salvation for the human race. The “seed,” the Messiah, came through Jacob’s line of descent. Viewing the lives of Jacob and Esau, each one of us can ask, ‘What am I doing with my life? How much do I appreciate the promised inheritance of life in God’s new order? Am I willing to put myself to inconvenience in behalf of the inheritance? Do I want to hold onto it with all my might?’ Just as Jacob did, we can make the inheritance sure. His mind and heart were on the promises from his youth. He evidently spent his time learning all he could about God’s dealings with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. He was a man who prayed to God. He worked hard and endured many trials but, throughout, maintained mildness of spirit and strong faith. Do you appreciate spiritual things like Jacob did? Do you read the Bible itself regularly? There is much fine information there that you would not otherwise get. Are you patient and unselfish, as was Jacob? Are you willing to serve wholeheartedly, waiting on God to bless you? Jacob did not chafe because, at the age of seventy-seven years, he was counseled by his father to leave home, taking nothing of the inheritance with him. In attitude he was the direct opposite of the prodigal son of Jesus’ illustration, who wanted to leave home and also wanted his inheritance, to spend it on his own desires. Jacob was ninety-seven years old when he started back home, not because of desire to claim an earthly inheritance, but at God’s command.—Gen. 31:3. It is a question of holding onto the inheritance, vigorously and exhaustingly doing what our hands find to do, just as Jacob wrestled all night with the angel. (Eccl. 9:10) And everything Jacob did he did well, with all his might. Also, he put the other person’s interests ahead of his own. Look how hard Jacob worked in the interests of Laban his relative and employer.—Gen. 31:38-40. Christians today have a work to do that needs wholehearted attention. That work consists in taking care of the Kingdom interests. The gospel is to be declared. Faithfulness is required. With that intentness on the inheritance nothing will stumble us. Nothing will turn us aside. We will be assured of the grand inheritance! If you are visiting the Sacramento area, feel free to worship with us. World Evangelical Mission- 7276 French Road, Sacramento, CA 95828. Our services are 11 am Sunday, (communion at 1045am) and 630pm on Wednesday- prayer and Bible study . Visit our website at WEMChurch.org. May God bless you on this journey!
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:33:08 +0000