January 31

January 31

Esau & the Birthright -- God makes choices, the second birth & Esau's shortsighted trade.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Genesis 25

Reading 2: Romans 9:10-12

Reading 3: Hebrews 12:14-17

Have you noticed in our readings that there is a thread of heritage in the story of humanity? Starting with Adam and restarting with Noah and his sons, there is a thread of generational inheritance running through all the stories we have read. This is because God is our Father, and inheritance is integral to God's blessing. We do well to remember God's plan has always been for our blessing, but today we read a story of someone who did not recognize that foundational principle.

With our logical and rational mindset, we might see Jacob as the wrongdoer in this story. He is living true to his name (which means deceiver or supplanter). Esau seems to be the victim of unfairness until we remember the principle of blessing. Instead, it is Esau we see as the sinner - he disregards the grace of God and rejects the inheritance God has planned for him. The writer to the Hebrews describes him as immoral and godless; quite an indictment! And Paul writes to the Romans that "God chooses people according to his own purposes; he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works," and God had a purpose for Jacob - we will see that in the coming days.

Do you identify with Jacob? Has God blessed you despite your sins? Today, remember that God has a purpose for you, and he plans to give you a full inheritance of his blessing!

Have a great day!

Mark.