Bible Pathways 01/09/2003
Read Genesis 25 -- 27
In Today's Reading:
Abraham's death; birth of Jacob and Esau; Esau sells his birthright; Isaac blesses Jacob with the Abrahamic Covenant.
Esau returned from the field, exhausted . . . and said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I'm exhausted. Jacob, knowing the character of his brother, replied: First sell me your birthright (Genesis 25:29-31). Esau had no interest in spiritual things so he agreed, saying: I'm about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?(25:32-34). Esau could not have been at the point of death by missing one meal.
Though much maligned by Esau and others, the fact is, Jacob purchased the birthright for what Esau thought it was worth. More importantly, God had told Rebekah that the older will serve the younger (25:23).
Esau and Jacob were twin brothers, but Esau was born first and fell legal heir to the family birthright which included, among other things, being heir to the covenant between God and Abraham. The birthright was a link in the line of descent through which the Messiah was to come (Numbers 24:17-19). In contrast with Esau, Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home (Genesis 25:27). The Hebrew word for quiet is the same word translated in other Scripture as perfect, upright, undefiled; so the word quiet refers to Jacob's character — a man of God. God records His highest praise and blessing for Jacob: The LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself (Psalms 135:4). It appears that Isaac's admiration for his worldly-minded son Esau caused him to ignore the prophecy that God had revealed to Rebekah before the twins' birth (Genesis 25:23), and he chose to disregard Esau's sale of his birthright to Jacob (25:34).
The moment Isaac realized that Rebekah had thwarted his evil scheme, he quickly and openly conferred the Abrahamic covenant upon Jacob, an obvious admission of how terribly wrong he had been (28:3-4). There is no hint that Isaac thought that Rebekah did wrong. The Hebrew word Yaacov (Jacob) is translated "supplanter." One of the definitions of supplant in Webster's Dictionary is "to take the place of and serve as a substitute for, especially by reason of superior excellence."
See that there isn't any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal (Hebrews 12:16).
Christ Revealed:
As the spiritual Seed (Genesis 26:4; Gal. 4:28). All true believers in Christ are the children of promise (John 1:12-13; I John 3:9; Gal. 4:28).
Prayer Needs:
Government Officials: Rep. Michael Capuano (MA) and Gov. Bill Graves (KS) · Country: Lesotho (2 million) within the east-central part of the Republic of South Africa · Major languages: Sesotho and English · Limited religious freedom · 43% Roman Catholic; 30% Protestant; 6% ancestor worship, divination, and spirit-possession cults · Prayer Suggestion: Seek the Lord in times of trouble; He will shelter you (Psalms 27:5).
Optional Reading: Matthew 9
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:3
