“You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”. Genesis 50:20
In this lesson 6 we see a further definition of the descendants of Abraham and the inheritance of God’s covenant promises and the development of the concept of the terms ‘firstborn’ and ‘birthright’.
Last week we saw how Ishmael was not the line of promise and represents “man’s effort” to fulfill the promises of God. The next logical question is “who exactly are Abraham’s descendants?” One could conclude from the previous week’s study that it is only the natural line of Abraham (not the slave woman, Hagar) that the promise is given, as God establishes His promises through the natural line of Abraham and his wife Sarah, thru their son Isaac. For Genesis 21:12 says,
12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.
This week we see Isaac’s wife Rebekah, give birth to twin sons, and from the beginning God explains that there are two nations within her. “The nations will be rivals from the very beginning” and “the older will serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Jacob and Esau are born, Esau being the older and also the one most loved by his father Isaac. Loved most for his ability as a skillful hunter and the game he brought home.
Ironically, Jacob proves himself as the more skillful hunter in the acquisition of Esau’s birthright and blessing as the ‘firstborn’ of Jacob. The Hebrew terms here leave no question that Jacob plotted to steal the birthright (double share of the inheritance and spiritual leadership and kingship of the family). This birthright is entitled to Esau as he was the oldest, the ‘firstborn’ son of Isaac.
Esau, coming in famished from the field, sells his birthright for a single meal, a strong example of the pursuit of earthly desire in exchange for spiritual promise.
Genesis 25:29-34: 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Hebrews 12 further describes Esau as being godless because of this action. This action is described this way because he did not value the promises given by God given to his father Abraham. Everything is about a promise; for us as well as Esau and Jacob. If you don’t value the promises of what God said he would do and offers, then the ‘birthright’ (being heir to these promises) will be of no value either.
In contrast, Jacob so valued the inheritance (promise) he went to extreme (even unethical) measures to obtain them. Not only does he obtain the birthright, he teams up with his mother to also trick Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing as well. This blessing is important as it is the father’s confirmation of this inheritance as well as a sign of the father’s strength and fullness of his being. Look how God in His Word describes His Son as the firstborn of all creation. Do not miss the emphasis on the pleasure intended relative to the ‘fullness’ of the Father.
Colossians 1:15-19 : 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
While these actions demonstrate an admirable value in the promises and blessings of God, God deals severely with Jacob to purge him of these deceptive methods. In later chapters Jacob does indeed receive the promises from God, but not as crafty Jacob “the deceiver” (Jacob means deceiver) but as Israel (meaning “God fights”).
This story of Jacob and Esau further defines who Abraham’s descendants are. The promises of God aren’t for those entitled to them by birth order, but they are a gift to those who believe and value them. Hebrews 12:22-24 beautifully includes us as believers as recipients of these promises by describing us as the “church of the firstborn”.
Hebrews 12:22-24: 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The value we have for the sacrifice of Christ and the righteousness we receive through that sacrifice, leads us into abandonment of the earthly goals in pursuit of the promised heavenly Jerusalem.
The remainder of the study this week focuses on the development of the nation of Israel (the descendants of Jacob, now named Israel) and the transition of this nation out of Canaan to Egypt. Jacob shows favor to his son Joseph, born of Rachel. The other brothers attempt to rid themselves of Joseph, by stripping him of his robe given by his father Jacob, selling him into slavery. Slavery that leads to temptation by his masters wife, then being falsely accused, and imprisoned. God reveals his plan to grow the nation into a nation that recognizes His sovereignty. The story of Joseph is a fascinating story of faith and trust in God, but do not miss as you read, the many, many ways the Joseph foreshadows the first and second coming of the Messiah. Follow the link below to a table that lists many of these:
We see the faith of Joseph grow in the most difficult of circumstances. Notice God also molds Joseph’s brothers. They go from being brothers that sell Joseph into slavery, to being brothers that demonstrate their willingness to bear the punishment for Jacob’s other favorite son, Benjamin.
Joseph completely summarizes this passage in Genesis 50:20 with a complete parallel to the life of Christ. “You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”. Exactly as the death of Christ fulfills, through His death, many are saved!