WHAT FAITH BRINGS (PART 9)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

Hebrews 11:20

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s message, we saw that faith will bring someone to pass the tests imposed by God. Specifically, we looked at two Old Testament examples of this, first examining the story of Job before going back in time to Genesis and the account of how Abraham remained obedient to God’s command to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering right up to the point where he was going to put his son to the knife. At that moment, you’ll remember an angel of the Lord intervened and a ram was given as a substitutionary sacrifice.

A surviving Isaac would grow up and marry a woman named Rebekah with which he had twin sons named Esau and Jacob. You may remember that Isaac was born first but as Jacob emerged, he was grasping the heel of his brother (Genesis 25:24-26). The two boys would grow up and adopt different preferences in regard to what they liked to do. Esau became a skilled hunter while the scriptures tell us that Jacob “content to stay at home among the tents” (Genesis 25:27). Esau’s prowess at bringing home wild game garnered his father’s favor who delighted in eating such food. On the other hand, Rebekah favored Jacob and this would result in major complications within this family (Genesis 25:28) but not one that God had not predicted would happen (Genesis 25:23).

Those complications started when Esau had returned “from the open country” and was very hungry. Jacob had cooked some red stew and when Esau asked for some, Jacob placed a condition on the meal, demanding that Esau sell him his birthright first. Esau swore an oath that he would give up his birthright and in turn, Jacob gave him some stew and bread.

The relinquishing of the birthright was downright foolishness on Esau’s part. For as the older brother, he was entitled to be the first heir in line once Isaac passed away and would receive a double portion of whatever inheritance was passed down. Without consideration for giving up such a position of prominence, he instead made a bowl of stew a greater desire.

Later, the scriptures tell us that Isaac became very old and had lost his eyesight. Concerned that he would die soon, he asked Esau to go and hunt some wild game so he could eat it. In return, he would place his blessing on him. Despite selling his birthright, Esau still had a chance to get the blessing of his father.

Unfortunately for Esau, Rebekah heard what her husband wanted to do so she arranged a ruse, telling Jacob to bring her two goats so she could prepare a meal that Isaac enjoyed. And because Esau was very hairy, Rebekah put goatskins on Jacob’s hands and neck so when Isaac touched him, he would think it was Esau. Jacob took the food to his father and the deception worked just as Rebekah had hoped. Jacob lied to Isaac by telling him he was Esau (Genesis 27:5-27a) and Isaac blessed him with these words:

“Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness—an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” Genesis 27:27-29

The primary blessing had been granted and the younger son had received it. His future was set.

What happened to Esau?

Well, as we read in our passage today, he was also blessed by his father Isaac in regard to his future, despite the fact that he and all his descendants would always be subordinate to Jacob and his. Here were the words of Isaac to his older son:

“Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.” Genesis 27:39-40

Esau would go on to be the progenitor of his own nation, the Edomites.

Jacob would go onto have 12 sons and after God changed his name to Israel, those 12 sons would represent the 12 tribes of Israel.

Through faith, both Jacob and Esau could have confidence in a blessed future. Despite how one gained more than the other, each benefited from their inheritance to where they were set for life.

We also gain a blessed future through our faith and belief in Jesus as Savior, a blessed future sealed by the gift of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of being co-heirs with Jesus for the very kingdom of God, His Father and ours. Through our faith in Jesus, we have a certain guarantee that the best life ever is yet to come, a life where we are made new, and set free from sin and the afflictions of this worldly existence.

Indeed, the very words of Jeremiah 29:11 come alive for all Christians:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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