Message Date: July 3, 2022
Bible
Broken but Blessed – Part 1
- 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Hebrews 11:1-2 NKJV
- 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:20-21 NKJV
- 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25:21-28 NKJV
- 1. If all is well why am I like this?
- Recurring theme: just because you’re blessed, doesn’t mean you don’t have problems.
- Problems are not the rudder of your life. God has a purpose He is working out, and in the end, it will be a blessing.
- 2. Two nations: 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Romans 9:13 NKJV
- 1. If all is well why am I like this?
- Foreknowledge: We must distinguish between God’s foreknowledge and His foreordaining. It is a mistake to say He arbitrarily determined to bring things to pass. God in his foreknowledge looks ahead to events much like we look back at them. Foreknowledge no more changes future events than after knowledge changes a historical fact. There is a difference between what God determines to bring to pass and what He merely foresees and permits to happen.
- “Sane’” (saw-nay’) is the Hebrew word that is often translated as hate. The ancient pictographic letters for “sane” are a thorn and a seed. The ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible explains this:
- The pictograph is a picture of a thorn, then is a picture of seed. Combined these mean “thorn seed.” The thorn, (the seed of a plant with small sharp points) cause one to turn directions to avoid them.” (“The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible,” by Jeff A. Benner. ISBN 1-58939-776-2.)
- Hate = Pain
- In Biblical times, thorns were used as fences to protect flocks from predators or even used as weapons. The idea was that thorns caused pain.
- While intense emotions are sometimes involved, the ancient Hebrew view of hate was more about being hurt or wounded by something.
- Hatred was less about an intense confrontational emotion and inflicting pain. Instead, it was more about making choices to avoid that pain: physical or emotional.
- There is a very specific order of events here. God had not rejected Esau; rather Esau rejected God’s plan. This caused God a great amount of pain. In this context, this verse shows God’s broken heart rather than His anger at disobedience.
- The pictograph is a picture of a thorn, then is a picture of seed. Combined these mean “thorn seed.” The thorn, (the seed of a plant with small sharp points) cause one to turn directions to avoid them.” (“The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible,” by Jeff A. Benner. ISBN 1-58939-776-2.)
- The differences in the boys:
- 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. Genesis 25:26 NKJV
- Jacob = tripster…arranging for his own happiness and success
- 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25:27-28 NKJV
- Esau: man’s man (assertive male)
- Jacob: mild man (gentleman)
- 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 NKJV
- Jacob desired the birthright–desired the blessing–but he was arranging for his own happiness by ruthless manipulation.
- Esau was only interested in instant gratification.
- 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 NKJV
- Jacob = tripster…arranging for his own happiness and success
- 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. Genesis 25:26 NKJV
- 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16 NKJV
- God hated that Esau rejected the blessing. It actually hurt Him.
- 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
- God chose Jacob because he showed up.
- 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16 NKJV
- God chooses those who accept.