ESAU WAS THE FIRSTBORN ...

"ESAU WAS THE FIRSTBORN" AUDIO BLOG
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Esau was the firstborn, but God loved Jacob (Israel)!

Ever wonder why Jacob (Israel) was born grasping Esau's heel? "Afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob (one who grabs by the heel, supplanter). Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." Genesis 25:26

Or, ever wonder why Esau gave away his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew?

Genesis 25

29 "Jacob had cooked [reddish-brown lentil] stew [one day], when Esau came from the field and was famished; 

30 and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please, let me have a quick swallow of that red stuff there, because I am exhausted and famished.' For that reason Esau was [also] called Edom (Red). 

31 Jacob answered, 'First sell me your birthright (the rights of a firstborn).' 

32 Esau said, 'Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?' 

33 Jacob said, 'Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]'; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright. 

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. In this way Esau scorned his birthright.'"

Or, even why Esau lost his inheritance, when Jacob and Rebecca tricked Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing of the firstborn?

Genesis 27

5 "But Rebekah overheard what Isaac said to Esau his son; and when Esau had gone to the open country to hunt for game that he might bring back,

6 Rebekah said to Jacob her [younger and favorite] son, “Listen carefully: I heard your father saying to Esau your brother,

7 ‘Bring me some game and make me a savory and delicious dish [of meat], so that I may eat it, and declare my blessing on you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’

8 So now, my son, listen [carefully] to me [and do exactly] as I command you.

9 Go now to the flock and bring me two good and suitable young goats, and I will make them into a savory dish [of meat] for your father, the kind he loves [to eat].

10 Then you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before his death. 

11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, 'Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth [skinned] man.

12 Suppose my father touches me and feels my skin; then I will be seen by him as a cheat (imposter), and I will bring his curse on me and not a blessing.'”

Why would God let these things happen?

Well, because God loved Jacob! And, He knows our hearts!

Jeremiah 17:10

“I, the Lord, search and examine the mind,

I test the heart,

To give to each man according to his ways,

According to the results of his deeds."

Hebrews 12:16 "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."

And, just as Cain was evil in the sight of God:

Genesis 4

3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 

4 But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; 

5 but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and he looked annoyed and hostile. 

6 And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? 

7 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”

So, too, was Esau evil in the sight of God, and Jacob loved:

Malachi 1

God’s Love for Jacob

1 "The oracle (burdensome message) of the word of the Lord to Israel through [My messenger] Malachi.

2 'I have loved you,' says the Lord. But you say, 'How and in what way have You loved us?' 'Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I loved Jacob (Israel);

3 but [in comparison with My love for Jacob] I have hated Esau (Edom), and I have made his mountains a wasteland, and have given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.'

4 Though [impoverished] Edom says, 'We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins.' Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the Wicked Territory, the people against whom the Lord is indignant forever.'

5 Your own eyes will see this and you will say, 'The Lord is great and shall be magnified beyond the border of Israel!'"
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What can we learn from all of this? I think God's reprimand to Cain, when Cain was sullen and angry because God did not accept his offering, says it all:

Genesis 4:7 "If you do well [believing Me [God] and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”  

Choose God! Repent, confess your sins, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

​Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! Praise God! Amen.