Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Category: Through the Bible Page 7 of 46

Homeboy becomes homeless

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On May 23, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Rebekah finds out that Esau was planning to kill his younger brother, Jacob, whom she loved and whom she had deceive her husband, Isaac, she once again takes matters into her own hands and asks her son Jacob to obey her voice (just as she had asked him to obey her voice to deceive his father and his brother). This time, fearing for the loss of her favorite son, her homeboy, Jacob, she tells him to run away to her brother’s place and tarry there for a few days, until Esau’s fury subsides. She tells him that when Esau’s anger against Jacob abates and Esau has forgotten what Jacob had done, she would send for him and get him back from there (Genesis 27:42-45).

Points to ponder:
In this account we see that Jacob who sinned by deceiving his father and brother has to run away as a fugitive. He who had a home now has to become homeless because of his own transgression. The homeboy becomes homeless on account of his own sin.

On a different note, from this account, we see in the Holy Bible, that our sins made the darling/homeboy of heaven (Psalm 22:20), Jesus Christ, to have to leave his home and become homeless on earth, without even a proper place for his birth (Luke 2:1-20) or a place to lay his head (Luke 9:58). Jesus, the homeboy become homeless, not because of his sins, but because of our sins.

Sins can make you and me homeless from heaven. Believe in Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior, so that we can be adopted into God’s family and can call heaven, where God dwells, our home. Don’t be a homeless homeboy/girl!

Genesis 27:42-45 (KJV)
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
45 Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

Deception brings with it death

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On May 20, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

While Esau was deprived of his blessing from his father Isaac, for his younger brother Jacob had deceived him and taken the blessing, he starts to hate his brother, with so much hate that he sought to kill (slay) his brother after his father’s death. The deception of Jacob brought with it hate from his brother which in turn brought the threat of death. As you can see hate in the heart turns brother against brother.

Points to ponder:
Deception brings with it death. The deception to disobey God, by the ancient deceiver, the devil (Revelation 12:9), brings with it the threat of death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but the gift of God is eternal life to all who chose to obey God and keep his commandments to love God above all and love mankind as themselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

When love trumps hate, deception and death have no place. If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20).

Even when it is hard to love someone, we are asked to do so, just as God did, and not hate in our hearts. It comes down to loving God, loving man, lest we be deceived. Be ye not deceived.

Genesis 27:41 (KJV)
41 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.

The blessing of Esau (and of Jesus)

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On May 19, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the Biblical account of the story of Jacob and Esau, we often hear of how Jacob deceived Isaac and robbed Esau of his blessings, but seldom hear of the blessing of Esau itself. But wait a minute, was Esau blessed at all? Genesis 27:39-40 records the response the Isaac gives to Esau, upon his pleading for at least one blessing. This is what Isaac answered and said unto Esau “Behold, thy dwelling place shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.” Let’s dissect this blessing and learn the hidden truths in it.

Esau dwelling place would be the same as that of Jacob for even Jacob was blessed the same (fatness of the earth and dew of heaven from above – Genesis 27:28), but Esau and his descendant would have to fight to live (live by the sword) for they would be servants of Jacob (as was the oracle of God to Rebekah – Genesis 25:23). God knew that if this was all of Esau’s blessings, then Esau would have no hope but be subject to be under the yoke of his brother perpetually, so God in his infinite wisdom and mercy on Esau goes on to add, that in due course of time (it shalt come to pass), Esau would have the dominion and shall break his (brother’s) yoke from off his neck. What does that mean?

There are two ways to look at this blessing. First it was fulfilled historically during the time of King Joram, the king of Judah, when the Edomites (descendants of Esau) revolted against Joram (descendant of Jacob) and won, establishing their own dominion and kingdom (2 Kings 8:20; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10). But an even more deeper perspective to look at this blessing is that in the account where Jacob and Esau meet after many years, Jacob is distressed with fear, thinking that Esau would avenge himself (Genesis 32:6-7). He even refers to himself as the servant of Esau, implying the Esau had dominion (authority) over him at that time (Genesis 33:5), but when Esau comes to meet him, Esau runs toward him, not with a sword in his hand but instead with open arms of forgiveness, for Esau embraces him, falling on his neck (wherein the yoke of bitterness and unforgiveness had been for several years) and kissed (accepted) him with affection. This demonstrates that God in his Sovereign wisdom had given a way out for Esau from being subject perpetually to a state of bondage.

Points to ponder:
The blessing of Esau was that he would have an opportunity to not just reclaim some authority and win some land over from his brother’s descendants but that he would have the choice to forgive and win his brother’s heart. The blessing of Esau is applicable to each one of us event today, from the vantage point of forgiving those who have hurt us, and seeking the forgiveness of those whom we have caused to have bitterness and hatred. The blessing of Esau is akin to one that can break bondage and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has liberty and freedom from the bondage of the noose of death around their necks.

Jesus taught us, in the disciple’s prayer, that we ought to forgive those who sinned against us, just as he has forgiven us. In other words, Jesus has broken off the yoke of our slavery to sin from our necks (Jeremiah 30:8) by forgiving us and expect the same from us, by taking on his yoke (of forgiving) which is easy and gives rest for the soul (Matthew 11:29). This is the blessing of Jesus for all who believe (Ephesians 1:3)

Have you broken off the yoke off your neck?

Genesis 27:39-40 (KJV)
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Oh Esau, Oh Esau, what tears does thou cry?

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On May 18, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The famous song by Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven” was written by Clapton to express the pain he felt following the death of his four year old son, Conor, who fell from a window of the 53rd floor New York apartment of his mother’s friend on March 20, 1991. This song, along with the Gaither’s song featuring James Blackwood, “No Tears in Heaven”, resonates a very important Biblical truth that God would wipe away every tear in heaven and there shall be no more crying or mourning in heaven, for there shall be no more pain and all things will be made new (Revelation 21:4). Now hold that thought.

Upon the realization that Isaac had been tricked into blessing Jacob his younger son, instead of Esau his firstborn favorite son, Isaac trembled very exceedingly (Genesis 27:33), while Esau cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, asking his father to bless him also.

Esau sought the blessing of his father but did not demonstrate a godly life. He had despised his spiritually provided birthright for gratifying his sensual desires of his flesh (Genesis 25:29-34). He had chosen to marry not one but two pagan (Hittite) women (Genesis 26:34-35). Instead, as was customary at that time, Esau should have submitted to his parents, who should have sought a godly wife from their own people, as Abraham did (Genesis 24), so that the woman he marries, who would not turn him away from serving God (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Now in retrospect, we find, the ungodly Esau who chose to live his life the way he wanted, weeping with a great and exceedingly bitter tears – tears of regret and not necessarily of repentance; tears of pang and not necessarily of penitence – for the Bible says that he then chose (again the ungodly) to wait for a time (when his father would pass away) and murder his brother Jacob, who had deceived him of his blessings from Isaac.

Points to ponder:
When we seek and live ungodly lives, willfully despising the spiritual birthright for satisfying our sensual and fleshly desires (pride of life, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh), we have no inheritance in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:8-10). When we chose to live an adulterous life by wedding the pagan world and its pleasures, we are in enmity with God (James 4:4) and we cannot expect to be blessed in all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), that comes about by believing in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son as our Savior. Should we chose to reject the blessings of God in Christ Jesus, pain and tears, exceedingly bitter tears, is what is in store for us, just as was expressed by Esau.

And if you and I are to introspect our life today and find ourselves to be like Esau, ungodly and unrighteous, let us cry now the tears of repentance so that we would not have to cry later the tears of regret. There will be no tears in heaven for God himself shall wipe away our tears when we are in his presence. Oh you, oh you, what tears does thou cry (now)?

Genesis 27:34 (KJV)
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

Oh Isaac, Oh Isaac, why are you trembling (very exceedingly)?

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On May 17, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Isaac found out that he had been deceived by his younger son Jacob who robbed his elder brother of his blessings from Isaac, the Bible records that Isaac trembled very exceedingly. Isaac was shaken to the core within that he shook uncontrollably involuntarily. Trembling is a physical response that is evoked when one is in a state of adventure, anxiety or apprehension. No doubt Isaac was in an adventure, not the kind he wanted possibly, for the adventure in which he sought to bless his favorite son (Esau) despite God’s plan, that the elder (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob) (Genesis 25:23), led to great anxiety and apprehension, that shook him to the core.

Points to ponder:
Isaac attempted to cheat God and was in turn cheated by his own son. Isaac who was not shaken when his father Abraham was about to sacrifice him because of his obedience to God was now shaken because of his disobedience to God. Deception leads to despair and trying to cheat God of his plan is not a trivial matter – it is a trembling matter – a very exceedingly trembling matter. We must submit to God our will, just as Jesus did (Luke 22:42), instead of trying to subvert it and end up trembling very exceedingly with anxiety and apprehension. God’s will is that all must be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) by believing in his Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior, Lord and Master (Acts 16:31; John 13:14-17). Are you and I trembling very exceedingly?

Genesis 27:33 (KJV)
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

Hast thou but one blessing, my father?

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On May 13, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 27:30-38 gives the account of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac, discovering that his younger brother Jacob had deceitfully usurped him of his blessings, in addition to his birthright, which he foolishly relinquished for a bowl of soup. As soon as Isaac had given his blessings to Jacob and Jacob had barely left Isaac’s presence, Esau returned from his hunting. He made the savory venison meal that his father had requested as a condition to give his blessings to Esau, and asked his father to arise and eat and bless him. Isaac’s realizing that he had been cheated trembled and asked the same question he had asked his other son Jacob – Who are you? Esau responds that he was his firstborn, though he was devoid of his birthright which he had sold to his brother Jacob. Technically, Esau had no rights to his father’s blessings. Isaac informs Esau of the subtlety of Jacob and that he had blessed Jacob already. When Esau heard this, he cried out with a great and exceedingly bitter cry and asked his father to bless him also. Esau also exclaimed that Jacob had lived up to his name as a supplanter who had robbed him of his birthright first and now his blessings and questioned his father “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”, “Has thou but one blessing, my father?” and he lift out of his voice and wept.

Points to ponder:
The questions posed by Esau to Isaac, his father were “Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?” and “Has thou but one blessing, my father?” It is sad to see that Esau own desires to gratify the desires of his flesh (Genesis 25:29-34) had robbed him of the spiritual blessings he was originally entitled to as the firstborn son of the father.

While this account gives us a clear picture of our natural state of affairs, there is hope and good news that can be gleaned from this account. As the children of Adam, who gratified the desires of his flesh and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3), we relinquished the right we had with God the Father and our creator. The spiritual blessings that we were to enjoy, being created in God’s own image, was lost (1 Corinthians 15:22). The questions that we had to grapple with and that made all creation groan (Romans 8:22), for even the land was cursed on account of Adam’s sin (Romans 3:17-18) were “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”, “Has thou but one blessing, O God our Father?”

But praise be to God the Father, who made the provision of his Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15), who makes it possible for us to be adopted back into God’s family, when we believe in him and when we receive him. And all whoever accepts Jesus as their Savior, Master and Lord are adopted as children of God (John 1:12, Romans 8:15) and are blessed not in one, but in all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3) – from selecting us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, giving us sonship and saving us by his blood and forgiving us, and sealing us by his Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:3-13).

Since all who have believed in and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s son, our Savior, have been blessed in all spiritual blessings, they do not need to ask “Has thou but one blessing, my father?”. Do you have to? Don’t leave that question unanswered, please.

Genesis 27:30-38 (KJV)
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

The blessing of Jacob (and of Jesus)

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On May 11, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 27:28-29 lists the blessing that Jacob receives from his father, Isaac. It was for God, the Almighty (Elohim) to give unto Isaac the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth with plenty of corn and wine. It was for people to serve him and for nations to bow down to him: for him to be lord over his brethren and for his mother’s sons to bow down to him: and anyone who cursed him would be cursed and any one who blessed him would be blessed.
In other words, this was a blessing of:
– prosperity: the dew of heaven (waters/rain) and fatness of the earth with plenty of corn and wine (harvest); one that meant no drought and/or famine.
– power: with people serving and nations bowing down and for him to be lord over his people.
– passage: of blessings and curses reciprocally.

Points to ponder:
Jacob, the son of promise, deceptively got the blessing of prosperity, power and passage from his father, Isaac.
Jesus, the Promised Son of God (Genesis 3:15) duly got, from God, the Father, the blessing of:
– prosperity (for the harvest is plenty – Matthew 9:37),
– power (for all authority is given to Jesus and he is Lord over all; the King of kings and Lord of lords – Matthew 28:18; Revelation 19:16) and
– passage (for we are blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings and those who do not love him are cursed – Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 12:21;1 Corinthians 16:22),

Are you blessed in Christ Jesus with all spiritual blessings or are you cursed? In other words, do you love Jesus or not? If we love him, we will keep his commands and people will know that we are his disciples.

Genesis 27: 28-29 (KJV)
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

Sensible Guidance or Spiritual Guidance

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On May 10, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 27:14-27 lists the account of how Isaac was deceived by his wife, Rebekah, and his secondborn son, Jacob, who usurped the blessings of Esau, the firstborn of Isaac.
Upon the command of Rebekah, Jacob fetches two young goats which she uses to prepare the favorite dish that Isaac loved. Interestingly she was so adept as a cook that she cooks the goats as it it was venison which was Isaac’s favorite dish. She put on Jacob the good garments belonging to Esau and then she put the skins of the young goats on Jacob’s hands and neck to make him hirsute as Esau. She gives the savory meat and the bread to Jacob, who brings it to his father Isaac. When Jacob comes to his father, he addresses Isaac as “My father” but Isaac recognizing that he did not sound like Esau, questions him as to who he is. Jacob lies that he is Esau and that he did what Isaac had asked him to do, which was to hunt game and bring him venison. When Isaac questions again as to how he had returned so quickly from his hunt, Jacob even lies by bringing the Lord God in the picture, saying that the Lord God brought the game (deer) to him. Still not convinced, Isaac, asks Jacob to come close so that he could feel him and determine if he was being deceived. Upon feeling Jacob, Isaac exclaimed that the voice is that of Jacob, but the hands are that of Esau. Then Isaac questions Jacob, one more time if Jacob was indeed his firstborn son Esau and Jacob lies again. Isaac then summons Jacob to bring him his venison and after he had eaten and drunk the wine presented, he asks Jacob to come close to him and kiss him and when Jacob gives him the kiss (of betrayal), Isaac smells the smell of the Esau garment on Jacob and is now convinced (completely fooled and tricked) into thinking that Jacob was Esau and blesses him.

Isaac’s eyesight (sense of sight) was failing and he was turning blind, so much so he could not see (27:1).
Isaac’s ears (sense of hearing) was not quite as bad for he discern the difference between the voices of his sons (27:22).
Isaac’s hands (sense of touch) was unable to discern between goat hair and a his son Esau’s hair (27:23).
Isaac’s tongue (sense of taste) was unable to discern between goat meat and venison (27:14, 25).
Isaac’s nose (sense of smell) was unable to discern the smell of Jacob masked under the smell of Esau’s garments (27:27).

First of all Isaac should not have attempted to change God’s plan and bless Esau instead of Jacob for the Lord God had promised Rebekah that the elder shall serve the younger. In the deception of Isaac, all of his five senses failed him and he was deceived. Isaac should have instead depended on God and trusted in the inner sense, the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God to guide him.

Points to ponder:
Many of the times, we rely so much on our five God given senses and they are subject to fail in doing what they are supposed to do. What we ought to rely on is on the Holy Spirit of God, who indwells in all who believe in Jesus and who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13) and not let us be tricked by the ancient deceiver, the devil (Revelation 12:9). Are you being guided by your senses or by the Holy Spirit of God?

Genesis 27:14-27 (KJV)
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which theLord hath blessed:

Directing God, really?

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On May 6, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 27:5-10 gives the account of how Rebekah sought to have her younger son Jacob, blessed by her husband Isaac. When Isaac sought to bless Esau, his firstborn, instead of allowing God’s plan to work in the life of his family, for God had said that the younger, Jacob, would rule over the elder (Genesis 25:23), Rebekah eavesdrops on that conversation. When Esau goes out to hunt for venison as his father desired, Rebekah goes her younger son, Jacob and hatches out a plan to deceive Isaac into giving his blessings to Jacob. She in fact commands her son Jacob to obey her (verse 8) into deceiving his father, Isaac.

While on the surface it may seem like Rebekah was in fact working in accordance with God’s plan of how the elder would serve the younger, we must be careful to note from this account, certain minefields that we ought to avoid.
First, Rebekah has to resort to eavesdropping into Isaac and Esau’s conversation (verse 6). When families (especially parents), don’t communicate with one another and show not out of good conversation, with meekness of wisdom, their works, they resort to earthly, sensual and devilish wisdom (James 3:13, 15).
Second, while on the onset it may seem like Rebekah was trying to help God in his plan, the end does not justify the means, for it brings discord between her sons, and not peace (James 3:18). Instead of directing God’s plan, she should have been dependent on God for him to bring to pass his word. She obviously should have known of the consequences of hurrying God’s matters up as her father-in-law, Abraham, tried to take charge of God’s plan and that results in the birth of Ishmael and not the promised child, Isaac, her husband, leading again to discord between the children of Abraham.

Points to ponder:
Let us be careful to learn from this account that we must first communicate with meekness of wisdom, God’s plan in our lives, especially  with our loved ones (family) and not resort to worldly wisdom that is sensual and devilish. We must also be extra careful to not take charge of doing God’s work, our way, but instead depend on God to fulfill his word, according to his word. In other words, we must stop trying to direct God of his work, whether it is at church or it is at home.

Are you directing God or are you dependent on him?

Genesis 27:5-10 (KJV)
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

James 3:13-16 (KJV)
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Isaac was (truly) blind

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On May 5, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 27 gives us the account of the tale of two brothers – Jacob and Esau and how Jacob the supplanter, aided by his mother Rebekah, steals away not only the birthright of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, but also his blessings. This account starts out by stating that when Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, he could not see and at that time he called Esau his eldest son and told Esau “I am old and don’t know the day I would died, so make me my favorite dish of venison that you hunt and when I am satisfied after eating it, I will bless you before I die.”

First this account shows that Isaac was playing favorites between his children (Genesis 25:28) and despite his physical blindness, he was turning a blind eye to the fact that Esau his firstborn who had rights as his firstborn, had despised that birthright that entitled him to a double portion of his father’s blessings. Second, Isaac, turned a blind eye to the fact that Esau had married two Hittite women and that the blessings of God if given to Esau would not stay with God’s people as was covenanted with Abraham. Third, we also notice that Isaac took matters his his own hands and did not see that the God of his ancestors, who breathed life in man formed from dust, could keep him alive as long as God intended and instead of relying on God, predicted that he was going to die. Fourth, we can see that instead of hungering for the spiritual issues of life for his children as did his father for him by making sure that he did not take a worldly ungodly wife, Isaac focuses on meager venison to satisfy his physical hunger, in his old age. Fifth and most importantly, Isaac willfully chose to go against God’s plan, and turn a blind eye to God’s word given to Rebekah, that it would be the elder (Esau) who would serve the younger (Jacob) (Genesis 25:23). So in five instances, we can clearly see that though Isaac was blind physically, he was truly blind spiritually.

Isaac did not see that the one who despises their birthright is not entitled to the father’s blessings and that God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11).
Isaac did not see that the one who marries into the world systems (pagan wives) loses the privilege of being blessed as the one who follows God.
Isaac did not see that God is Sovereign and controls one’s lifespan.
Isaac did not see that satisfying his spiritual needs was more important that gratifying the fleshly hunger.
Isaac did not see that God’s word and plan would always come to pass and that he could not change what God intends and wills by hurrying things up.
Isaac was truly blind for he was blind spiritually.

Points to ponder:
What is noteworthy is that Isaac who was willing to be offered as a sacrifice in his younger days, who willingly waited for a godly wife from his own people, who was assured of God’s blessings, in his latter years, shows a decline in his faith. May this be a warning to each one of us, that we just don’t start well, but we end well as well and as Apostle Paul declared, may we be able to say at life’s end – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Let us not turn a blind eye and :

  • despise our right as children of God that we are granted when we believe and accept Jesus (John 1:12)
  • be married to the worldly views and systems but let us focus on being the bride of Christ, submitting to him alone (James 4:4; Ephesians 5:22,23; 2 Corinthians 11:2)
  • fail to recognize the Sovereignty of God over our lives, and in his hand is the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10)
  • gratifying our fleshly lusts and physical hungers instead of satisfying the Spirit of God
    and
  • take matters into our own hands, trying to circumvent and willfully go against God’s plan for our lives, but like Jesus did, let us willfully accept God’s will be done in our lives (Luke 22:42).

Let us not be truly blind.

Genesis 27:1-4 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

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