April, 1937
THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S
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blessing. Thus at the very beginning of the history of these two men, God’s choice of Jacob over Esau is abundantly vindi cated. Granted that Jacob was scheming, sly, and underhanded with his brother; that later he actually lied to his father about the blessing, and that much more might be said in his disfavor, it still remains true that his heart turned toward God. All his crookedness was merely a revelation of his desire to possess that which came from God. He could have secured God’s bless ing in a much easier way than in the way he took, for God’s purpose was that he should have it; but he chose the long and hard method of obtaining it, rather than to allow God to give it when and how He pleased. There was nothing in Esau which responded to God and His gifts. His atti tude was that if he had to wait for what God would bestow, he preferred, instead, the present momentary pleasure. He is a picture of many who desire to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, rather than to forego them in order to lay hold upon eternal life. III. E sau H ating H is B rother (27:41-45) Jacob, by scheming and lying, secured the blessing from Isaac, as through his meanness and bargaining, he had secured the birthright. But with the blessing, he also must accept his brother’s murderous hatred, and this complication prevented him from enjoying what he had. Esau’s anger and intent could not be hidden (v. 41). But his purpose was revealed to the mother of these boys, and she imme diately began to plan to get Jacob out of harm’s way (vs. 42-45). In the light of 1 John 3:15, we must con clude that Esau not only despised his birth right, but that he also became a murderer. It was in his heart to slay his brother, and while the actual deed was not committed, he was a killer. In these passages, the account, as it con cerns both Rebekah and Jacob, is a sad one. But again we must remember that they were both interested enough in God’s gift to hazard their lives for it, whereas Esau lightly esteemed it, disposed of it, and became a murderer in his heart. "Jacob was a plain man” (Gen. 25:27). The word "plain" here conveys no adequate idea of the meaning of the Hebrew term. Nor is the word "quiet,” used in the Ameri can Revision, any better. In nine of its thirteen occurrences in the Old Testament, the word has been translated by the Eng lish word “perfect" (cf. Job 1:1). But the word does not imply perfection in the sense of sinlessness. Neither Job nor Jacob was “perfect” in this sense. The idea seems to be that of general integrity. With all his faults, and they were many, Jacob had a deep-seated appreciation for spiritual values. He seemed to understand the value of the birthright and its blessing; and this under standing, wrong as many of his actions undoubtedly were, forms the underlying motive in the light of which his character and career must be judged. His life, judged by certain deeds viewed in isolation, seems Points and Problems 1.
to Lot something like t h i s “There is no need to quarrel. There is land enough for all. You choose the place that suits you best, and I will take the rest.” And Abraham had said nothing when Lot chose the best. And Isaac was just like his father in this way. There came a time when Isaac’s herdsmen and those of his neighbor, Abime- Iech, quarreled. This time it was over water. Isaac had dug again a well which, long ago, Abraham had dug for his cattle. Abimelech’s herdsmen came and said, “This water is ours.” Isaac did not quarrel with them. Instead, he moved his animals to another place and dug another of the old- time wells. Again Abimelech’s herdsmen came and claimed the well. Once more Isaac dug, and this time he called the name of the well “Rehoboth” because, he said: “The Lord hath made room for us.” Do we keep from quarreling as did Isaac? The Bible tells us to. It says: “Live peaceably with all men.” Object Lesson N ed and T ed Objects: Two sheets of coarse sandpaper, a tin can, a black ribbon, and a red ribbon. Lesson: These two sheets I have named Ned and Ted. As far as looks are con cerned, they might be twins, but they arc quite different in their actions. Each one has a rough and smooth side. We will take Ned and roll him up and tie this black ribbon around him. You boys E sau , the C unning H unter (25:27, 28) E sau and Jacob were twins, but God chose Jacob above Esau. God’s choice was made before either of the boys revealed what he was. The choice did not depend upon the actions of either Jacob or Esau. But later history proved the wisdom of God’s decision. II. E sau D espising th e B irthright (25:29-34) To the natural heart, set upon enjoying the immediate present, the promise and blessing of God seem vague and valueless. The present appears to be the all-impor tant consideration. What is seen carries more weight than that which is unseen and must be accepted by faith. Esau would not lose the seeming present good for something which, to him, was indistinct in the future —even though God Himself held it out as being desirable. He would say in effect, “I am about to die; I must live, whatever I have to pay for my life; let the future take care of itself.” In this attitude of mind, Esau returned one day from an unsuccess ful hunting trip, tired and hungry. As he came, he found Jacob preparing pottage, and desired some with which to stay his Lesson Text: Genesis 25:27-34; 27:41-45. Golden Text: “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25). Outline and Exposition I.
and girls remember that black stands for sin. Ned is bound by sin, and we will find him quarrelsome. If Ted wanted to, he could be as mean as his brother is, but he does not show his bad disposition. (Roll this sheet of sand paper with the smooth side out.) We will tie Ted with this red ribbon, reminding us of Jesus Christ and His power to help those who have accepted Him as Saviour. As I draw this tin can across these boys, Ned makes a great deal of noise. Ted refuses to quarrel and is quiet. Ted re minds me of the story of Isaac as given to us in Genesis 26. You remember that when enemies wanted the wells of water which Isaac was using, he moved on and dug others. He realized that it took two to make a quarrel, and he would rather give up than take part in a quarrel. Boys and girls, it is easy to be like Ned— bound with sin, always fussing and quar reling; but it is much better to be like Ted —bound by the love of Christ and living peaceably. hunger (vs. 29, 30). Immediately Jacob’s bargaining nature came into play and he offered to feed Esau if Esau would sell to him the birthright (v. 31). Counting the birthright a thing of no value, Esau quickly agreed (vs. 32-34). Satan was right when he said, “All that a man hath will he give for his life” (cf. Job 2:4), and Esau was proving the truth of that statement. “Thus Esau despised his birthright” (v. 34). In the New Testa ment, Esau is described as a “profane per son” (Heb. 12:16, 17), that is, one who considers the future, whatever God may say concerning it, as being too unreal to warrant any sacrifice in the present. However mean and unbrotherly Jacob was, his actions revealed that he valued what Esau lightly esteemed. Afterwards, when Esau wept, his sorrow was not indica tive of repentance for his sin and profanity, but of grief over having missed his father’s BLACKBOARD LESSON ‘/D'” m w man im stmuetu m “* m m n sT o a - ffimrotavr/roesa OffKW £SAU 'foem w amcs of#a>f//re>//cf
MAY 23, 1937 THE WEAKNESS OF ESAU G enesis 25:19-34; 26:34, 35; 27:1-46
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