The canvas displaying the biblical storyline has just exploded with such splendid colors that spring forth from the painting. In Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith is vindicated. His faith (in Genesis 15) has through his work (in Genesis 22) become manifest. O, the glorious display of a declared righteousness. The incipient wonders of a faith that makes a rebellious human right with God are so simple that even a child could accept its reality, and yet so profound that one can hardly grasp that the eternal chasm between God’s holiness and man’s rebellious and sinful heart has been united. Abraham’s life–now at over 100 years old–is on its way to completion, and he will soon pass on his blessing to his promised son.
“Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac…it came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac…”
Genesis 25:5,11
But no sooner does Isaac–the son of promise: land, seed, and blessing to the nations–begin his sojourn that he finds himself facing once again life’s unexplained. After his marriage to Rebekah there is a problem, and God adequately supplies the solution. Isaac cries out to the Lord and the Lord hears his cry…Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived…and behold, there were twins in her womb.
“Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.”
Genesis 25:25-26
Will either of these be the One who deals with the sinful hearts of men? Will one be the One who puts an end to the rebellion and evil that permeates God’s created order? Will there be One from whom is the acceptable life whereby all humanity can place their faith in Him for the forgiveness of their sin? Will there be born to Isaac the Redeemer of humanity–the Rescuer of mankind? Will his firstborn son, Esau, provide the necessary means of perfection to please the holy God and Creator of humanity? Will the promise given to his grandfather, Abraham, mean anything to Esau?
“When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
Genesis 25:27-34
And so, Esau reveals his desire is for his stomach’s satisfaction instead of the blessings of God made to his grandfather and father. Not only is he not the One through whom ultimate redemption will come to a rebellious humanity, but his birthright as the firstborn (the right to administer the rule of God’s promises made to Abraham and Isaac) is despised. Esau is, as the author of Hebrews states, a godless person…who sold his own birthright for a single meal. His perspective is clear…it is for momentary pleasure.
Can you relate? The reality is, we all like sheep have gone astray. We all, like Esau, at some point have given in to our temporal temptations. Can you think of a time in your life–even when the action was the most godly action you ever performed–that you had 100% perfect motives? The sooner we realize this fact–that there is an abiding presence of evil within us–the sooner we will fall on our face and cry out, “I am insufficient in and of myself to free myself of this ever-present evil within.” It is at this point that that person understands they have a need–a deep and inexorable need that only God can remedy. And that is why we look ahead and see that Christ Had to Die. Our stomach pangs are too severe and our longings for the stew of these momentary pleasures are too tempting. We need something outside of us to change the something inside of us so that we can resist the other things that tempt us to continue administering the spiral of sin and evil and chaos in the world. We need a new life..we need to be born again. But, I’m ahead of myself…
Take a moment to reflect upon Esau’s choice…would you have made the same?
— September 2, 2016