Scriptures: Romans 9 v 10 - 14; Hebrews 12 v 14-16;
Obadiah v 1 - 21.
One of the patriarchs of Israel was Jacob, son of Isaac,
grandson of Abraham. Jacob had an 'older' twin brother called Esau who sold his
birthright or inheritance to Jacob for a plate of food.
Esau was a cunning, extremely hairy and greedy man. He
was a hunter and given to violence. Jacob was a man who lived a simple Godly
life. Our God looks onto the heart of
man and discerns motives and intentions and what He saw in Esau was the gross
nature of the unsaved man.
Our God seeks those who are humble and have a contrite
heart. Those who are truly remorseful will find mercy with Him. Even in our
courts today the judge looks to see if a guilty man has shown remorse for his
criminal deeds. The harshest prison sentence is given when there is no remorse.
This is made worse when the evildoer brags and gloats about his deeds.
God's judgment on Esau in Obadiah starts with His word
against Edom and the Edomites. Edom was the tribe that grew from Esau. He hated
the way they rejoiced when Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, went
through trials and tribulations.
God loves Jacob for his submission and meekness, and
hates the rebellion and pride of Esau. God was busy separating a group of
people born from Jacob who would be called by His name. They would be known as
the Israelites, the apple of His eye.
Esau and Jacob were twins with equal environmental
opportunities but who were total opposites of each other. Rebecca, their
mother, loved Jacob more than Esau. She would have known Esau had sold his
birthright to Jacob but she made sure Jacob inherited the blessing through
fooling the dying Isaac as to his identity. She covered Jacob's hands with
goathair so that blind Isaac would think he was bestowing his final blessing on
Esau.
In our Christian lives today we need to be sure we are
not following Esau into the pit of Hell. Are we selling our birthright of
salvation into the greedy, cunning hands of the apostate church? Are we
exchanging the blessing of eternal life for everlasting shame. Esau carefully
sought repentance for what he had done and never found it.
I am praying with more and more people who have been
soul-damaged by false doctrines abounding in the church today. Some see the
light. Some get sucked right back in.
I, and many others, can only help those who sincerely
want to change to be like Jesus. Some have set their standards too low and are
easy prey for the agents of satan who wish to destroy true faith.
The rise of homosexuality in the Church is a sign of how
far we have fallen if it does not distress us. God calls it an abomination and
condemns those who practice it to hell. Read about it in Jude v 6 - 13. It
concludes with......foaming out their own shame for whom is reserved the
blackness of darkness forever.
We cannot sympathize with gay rights and feel pity for
them. Jesus can set them free of their lust and forgive their sins like all who
come to Him with sincere repentance will receive. But we are asked to accept
this sin as acceptable and be party to it. God forbid.
This serious error is only one of many that have put many
denominations on the broad way that leads to destruction. We need to re-examine
our hearts and direction diligently to be sure we are on the strait and narrow
way that leads to life. We will be mocked and scoffed at but so was Jesus
Christ.
Prayer: Father God we face many temptations today to
succumb to mediocrity and to slide into error. Many never get to even hear the
truth. Change us O Lord to walk in Your ways and live the life of joy You have
promised us. In Jesus' name. Amen.