The Natural Vs The Spiritual

You have the story of Esau and Jacob, Esau came out first and then Jacob was on the heels of his brother Esau.

This is a spiritual principal because what is natural comes first, and then that which is spiritual.

Esau is a picture of the natural man, Jacob the spiritual.

Saul was first then David.

Adam considered to be the first Adam, then Jesus the second Adam.

what comes first is natural then that which is spiritual.

You ever noticed how we usually default to a natural way of thinking before we think spiritually?

Someone passes away its easy to default to a natural way of looking at death. Which I believe God sympathizes with the pain. But we fail to see it from a spiritual perceptive.

We look at death as being final and we will never see that person again.

But not seeing that God took away that person and His judgements are sure and right. That this is the way of all of creation.

I like what David said at the end of his life. “I go to the way of all the earth.”

So what comes natural comes first then that which is spiritual.

Genesis 25:27–34 (CBC Gen/Ex): The story has some powerful humor in it; and so we may think of it as the story of Hairy and Grabby

Genesis 25:29–34 NKJV

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Jacob was a hunter too but he was more of a shrewd and calculated hunter.

Esau came in and it say’s he was weary.

He was weary from exertion and hunger.

Esau being out all day haven’t caught anything to eat. Though very skilled yet his skilled failed him.

John 6:63 (NKJV)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Only the Spirit can discern spiritual things.

When Jesus said spiritual things to people though what He said was spiritual they where taken as attacks.

The things where considered hard saying because of there flesh.

Jesus said, “the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

I cannot not receive a spiritual word in the flesh.

Romans 13:14 (NKJV)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

At salvation we put on The Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

We make no forethought of the flesh. Essentially we don’t premeditate sin.

Like theres a difference between first degree murder and manslaughter.

Manslaughter reckless but a mistake, first degree murder was premeditated and you plotted and schemed.

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Mark 14:38 (NKJV)

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV)

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

John 8:15 (NKJV)

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Jacob was very skilled but his skills failed him. He was very able but His ability failed him.

Not only was Esau very confident in his flesh he actually despised his birthright.

This story reveals that often spiritual things are often despised and manipulated.

When it says Esau despised the things of God thats referring to his godlessness. The things of God where profane to him.

See in this story Though Jacob was not righteous, he was not deceptive either at this time.

See if Jacob was righteous he would’ve given his brother the stew without any condition. And he probably would’ve told his brother the value of his birthright.

The birthright had to do with inheritance you often received a double portion from the rest of your siblings.

But Jacob was deceptive here He was very open and obvious, but ruthless.

He must be given credit for knowing what was worth having and going after it. But he also knew his brother and how he could force the birthright from him.

Esau, on the other hand, did not care for things of lasting or spiritual value; he lived for the moment. He was profane

Hebrews 12:16 (NKJV)

lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

Don’t sell your inheritance because of pressure that comes from the world.

Esaus inheritance was irrevocably lost.

This could be true if our Christian life ends in apostasy. if there is a falling away from doctrine and Gods truth this could be a reality for us unfortunately.

Even though Jacob and Esau where twins they where entirely different

They have absolutely different viewpoints, different philosophies of life. Their thinking is different, and their attitudes are different

Several significant expressions are used in describing the two men.

1. Esau was a “skillful hunter” (lit., “a man knowing hunting,” ).

2. He was also a man of the open country (25:27) he was always outdoors.

3. He was athletic.

4. He was a papas boy .

He went in for sports. He went in for everything that was physical, but he had no understanding or capacity or desire for spiritual things. He was only interested in that which was physical. He represents the flesh

He is what we would desire our boys to be. Athletic, an explorer, skilled. He would be like the jock. On paper Esau is a solid guy!

1. Jacob, on the other hand, “had a quiet temperament”

2. “blameless,” which does not have its moral sense in this passage).

3. He was “dwelling in tents” (NLT, “preferred to stay at home”) , a way of saying that he was civilized (25:27)He was good with things around the house.

4. He was the one that would do things properly, say things in the right way, and value the things that made life good.

5. He was a mamas boy, he did everything his mama told him right wrong or indifferent.

As the exchange approaches, Jacob is presented as this quiet, calculating, and cunning man standing there stirring the stew. He may have been waiting for this opportunity for some time. Esau is portrayed as emotional and carefree: He was fainting and gasping (“famished,” 25:29, NASB), gulping the food down and rushing out.