Sunday 8 July 2012

Look I am about to die... what's this birthright to me!

That was Esau...

Let's take a look at the text in Genesis 25 vs 29 - 33:

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.  And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.  And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

It has been my experience that just like Esau, there are forces pulling at us in today's world to despise our birthright - to despise the promises of God. They come in "oh so" subtle ways but we need to be focused, clear on what our mandate from God is. 

There can be enormous pressure to exchange your promise of tomorrow for a momentary comfort in today - a comfort which will never carry you into your tomorrow.

You might be believing God for something being steadfast in your waiting but there is pressure on you saying look you are just about ready to dry up - what good is this promise when by the time it comes you are as good as dead, compromise and live, take a short cut and get on with it, cut corners - lie & cheat & get a living for yourself lest you perish from poverty being Mr Honest.

Remember somebody was as good as dead once when God gave him a son, that man was Abraham. Hebrews 11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

When we look at the life of Abraham Genesis 12 till 25, in particular at chapter 17, we see how clear God was about his covenant with Abraham being established IN ISAAC. God has a plan for your life and His blessing will rest only that plan and that plan alone, when we move outside of the plan of God for our lives - don't expect God to bless it. God could have established His covenant with Ishmael but He DID NOT.

Genesis 17 vs 18 - 21b
And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “NO, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish WITH ISAAC,