970
THE K I N G ’ S B US I NE S S The boys were about 76 years old, and their characters were well formed. They have come now to a testing place where we will be able to form some estimate of the future of their lives. An incident in the daily life of the two men decides their destiny. It is a question of the greatest and gravest importance.. The birthright included the right of primogeniture, including the office of prophet, priest and king; title to the land of Palestine, and the headship of the nation; typical of the right of the Lord Jesus as the first-born. Esau placed but little value upon the birthright; it meant but little to him; he under-estimated the consequences. Hebrews says he was “ a profane per son.” He sold out for a morsel of meat. Men are born to certain priv ileges; a capacity for believing in this land of ours with the Bible at hand, with the church and the open door, with the history of God’s dealing with the children of,— men have an invita tion to a birthright which has been purchased at a great price, and an inheritance eternal in the heavens. They have a capacity to receive the Lord Jesus as Saviour, to love Him and to serve Him. They have the prospect of a Christian home, and fellowship with the Lord and with His people. This birthright privilege which has come to men in this land, has come at great sacrifice by their forefathers. Men have sold this birthright for a life of sin and debauchery; some for a life of worldly pleasure; some for posi tion and possession; some for family reasons; some for social reasons. It is staggering to know at what a pitiful pittance men have sold their souls and bartered their best interests. We are not now looking at the char acter of Jacob. We will study that in the succeeding lessons, but here Jacob was a wise man. He valued the birth right. He bought it for a song, but it would have made no difference in the
have done he would not have taken steps, especially such unworthy steps, to supplement it. This was surely an illustration of lack of faith on his part. May we not believe that had Jacob not interfered at this point the birthright would have been his in due time, and without his having to go through the sorrow and the suffering that were involved in his taking the matter out of God’s hand? What a lesson for Chris tian men and women to learn today. 5. What about Your Birthright? God has promised forgiveness and holiness and fellowship and eternal life, as well as His loving providences (Matt. 6:33; Rom. 8:28) to all who will believe His testimony and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Have you claimed all these, or are you, like Esau, being cheated out of your birth right? There will be no difficulty in finding an appropriate theme in the- short pass age given us here for our study, but it would require a good deal of imagina tion to use it as HEART OF THE a t e m p e ranee BESSON . lesson. PRACTICAL, POINTS A suggestive theme is “ Sell ing Out- C h e a p ,o r “ Right Values.” The contrast in character is very marked. Esau was the elder and by the law of primogeniture the birthright was his. But God had said that Esau, the elder, should serve the younger. God’s purpose for bringing this about we do not know, but we do know how it was brought about. Esau was a “ hale fellow, well met-.”. He was what would be called in these days, “ a good sport.” He loved the open. “ A gun, a day in the hills, some game and a good meal” were all that he craved. He was easily satisfied. When hungry, he would givfe anything for a square meal. Like the drinking man of our day, who would sell the best he had for a drink of whiskey.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter