Bible Study Day 9
Genesis 25:27-28:5
A birthright was a special honor given to the firstborn son. It included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family’s leader. By trading his birthright to Jacob for food, Esau showed complete disregard for the spiritual blessings that would have come his way if he had kept it.
Esau acted on impulse. We can avoid making Esau’s mistake by comparing the short-term satisfaction with its long-term consequences before we act.
Esau exaggerated his hunger. “I am about to die,” he said. The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent. Getting through that short, pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation.
A relationship with God will not only give an ultimate purpose to your life; it will also be a daily guideline for living. Meet Him in the pages of the Bible.
Isaac was afraid that the men in Gerar would kill him to get his beautiful wife, Rebekah. Where did Isaac learned that? He may have known about the actions of his father, Abraham. Parents help shape the world’s future by the way they shape their children’s values. The first step toward helping children live rightly is for the parents to live rightly.
God kept his promise to Isaac. The neighboring Philistines grew jealous and they plugged his wells and tried to get rid of him. Jealousy is a dividing force strong enough to tear apart the mightiest of nations or the closest of friends. When you find yourself becoming jealous of others, try thanking God for their good fortune.
To stop or plug up someone’s well was an act of war. Isaac had every right to fight back when the Philistines ruined his wells, and yet he chose to keep the peace. In the end, the Philistines respected him for his patience.
Rather than start a huge conflict, Isaac compromised for the sake of peace. Would you be willing to forsake an important position or valuable possession to keep peace? Ask God for wisdom to know when to withdraw and when to stand and fight.
We should be receptive to those who want to make peace with us. When God’s influence in our lives attracts people (even enemies), we must take the opportunity to reach out to them with God’s love.
Esau married pagan women and this upset his parents. Most parents can be a storehouse of good advice. You may not agree with everything your parents say, but at least talk with them and listen carefully.
Although God had told Rebekah that Jacob would become the family leader, Rebekah took matters into her own hands by devising a plan to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau. No matter how good we think our goals are, we should not attempt to achieve them by doing what is wrong. Ask the question - would God approve of the methods you are using to accomplish your goals?
Jacob didn’t seem concerned about the deceitfulness of his mother’s plan; instead, he was afraid of getting in trouble while carrying it out. Let your fear of getting caught be a warning to do right. Correcting yourself in the middle of doing wrong may bring hurt and disappointment, but it will also bring freedom from sin’s control.
Jacob’s 4 stages of life with the Lord:
- Jacob’s name means “he grasps the heel” (figuratively “he deceives”). He grabbed Esau’s heel at birth and he also grabbed Esau’s birthright and blessing. God first appeared to him. Not only did God confirm to Jacob His blessing but He awaked in Jacob a personal knowledge of Himself.
- Jacob experienced being manipulated and deceived by Laban. Jacob, after deciding to leave, waited six years for God’s permission.
- Jacob as a grabber. By the Jordan river, he grabbed on to God and wouldn’t let go. His relationship to God became essential to his life and his name was changed to Israel, “he struggles with God.”
- Jacob’s was to be grabbed. In responding to Joseph’s invitation to come to Egypt, Jacob was clearly unwilling to make a move without God’s approval.
Although Jacob got the blessing he wanted, deceiving his father cost him dearly. These are some of the consequences:
- he never saw his mother again
- his brother wanted to kill him
- he was deceived by his uncle, Laban
- his family became torn by strife
- Esau became the founder of an enemy nation
- he was exiled from his family for years.
Esau was so angry at Jacob that he failed to see his own wrong in giving away the birthright in the first place. Jealous anger binds us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we don’t have.
When Esau lost the valuable family blessing, his future changed. Reacting in anger, he decided to kill Jacob. When you lose something of great value, or if others conspire against you and succeed, anger is the first and most natural reaction. But you can control your feelings by:
- recognizing your reaction for what it is
- praying for strength
- asking God for help to see the opportunities that even your bad situation may provide.
Reference: Project 365 for Year 2012
