Message from Scripture: 7/14/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Gen. 25:34: “ Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.”

In Biblical times, the order of birth was significant; one's birthright was important, and being the firstborn son carried great privilege with it. The firstborn male would receive a double portion of the inheritance, the father's blessing, and legal continuation of the family line. So great were the rights of the firstborn male, the Law of Moses prohibited playing favorites among sons, trying to give the birthright to one other than the firstborn son (Deut. 21:15-17).

The concept of the firstborn plays an important part to us as children of God as well. Christ is described as the firstborn (Col. 1:15), but with the sense of priority, of having preeminence, over all creation, both as deity, being the Son of God, as well as He who took on flesh to fulfill the will of God. The Hebrew writer reminds us, “Although He was the Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered” (Heb. 5:8).

Because of Christ, we are children of God too, having been redeemed by our Lord. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). We have been bought with a price, and we should glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Esau despised his birthright, meaning he held it in contempt, he did not treat it with the respect it was due. He learned of its real value and worth too late, and though he sought it with tears, it was gone (Heb. 12:17). Our birthright as children of God in Christ is infinite, because it offers us eternal life. How valuable it should be to us! Don’t let it go by casting away the life you have in Christ. Treasure it, live it, and look forward to what it provides. God bless.

Robert