02 - Birthright And Blessing - Message

2025 02 - Jan 08-Feb 26 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 49:25
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S-1> TEXT: Genesis 25:20-34 KEY VERSE: Genesis 25:34
TEXT: Genesis 25:20-34
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord.
23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger.
24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
KEY VERSE: Genesis 24:26-27
S-2-KV> Genesis 25:34
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
INTRODUCTION:
Last week we began this series about Jacob with some background talking about his Grandfather Abraham, his Father Isaac, his Mother Rebekah, and Abraham’s faithful servant.
S-3> God is moving in the lives of people.
Even when we do not see or understand what God is doing, God is moving in the lives of people.
Birthright And Blessing
Jacob: Discerning God’s Presence
(# 2)
S-4> This is the second in the series, “Jacob: Discerning God’s Presence, by Michael Grigoni.”
S-4> This message is entitled, “Birthright And Blessing.”
Play the video: Lesson 2 – Birthright And Blessing (01:50).
S-5> God will have His way.
Things go better for us when we do not help God, without His permission or direction.
S-6-CF> God will have His way, allow Him to direct you in His plan.
S-7-> 1) A Despised Birthright.
S-8-KV> Genesis 25:34
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
It only takes a few unwise actions to establish bad habits in our lives. We do something once or twice, and it becomes a normal part of our behavior. Often without us realizing it, these actions can embed themselves into our character and reputation.
It is far more difficult to break a habit than build one—a lesson that Jacob learned the hard way. Jacob entered the world clinging to the heel of his older twin brother, Esau, and he seems to spend the remainder of their adolescence nipping at Esau’s heel in an attempt to overtake him.
S-9> God did not make Esau barter away his birthright.
S-10> The Rights Of The Firstborn Son.
S-11> Slide – Rights Of The Firstborn
In the ancient world, the firstborn son held a unique position among his siblings. The family name and title was passed on through the eldest son. The firstborn also received a double portion of the inheritance.
S-12> Birth order also determined the distribution of further family rights and inheritance.
S-13> Hebrews 12:16–17
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
S-14> The Rights Relinquished.
S-15> Although Jacob now possessed his brother’s birthright, he had not yet fully taken the place of the elder brother.
To complete the subversion, Jacob also needed his father’s blessing. Just as Abraham’s old age served as the backstory to Jacob’s story.
S-16> The story of Jacob’s deception of Isaac occurred near the end of Isaac’s life.
S-17> Genesis 27:1
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
S-18> Q1) Jacob and Rebekah use deception to obtain Isaac’s blessing. Were they wrong to do so? Is there a situation where using deception is acceptable? Why or why not?
S-19> Q2) Jacob’s deception and manipulation of Esau sets a pattern of behavior for him. Are there any negative patterns of behavior in your life? How can you break out of them?
S-7-> 1) A Despised Birthright.
S-20> 2) A Stolen Blessing.
S-21> The Set Up.
S-22> Genesis 27:5–8
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
S-23> The Plan.
S-24> Genesis 27:9–13
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
S-25> Slide – Isaac’s Blessing
S-26> The Theft.
S-27> In a tension-filled scene, Jacob attempted to beguile his own father.
S-28> When Jacob first appeared before his father, Isaac asked him who he was and how he had made the venison so quickly.
S-29> Genesis 27:18–27
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:
S-30> Bless Me.
S-31> It is normal for a child or even an adult to want to be blessed.
People go through life, seeking the approval of, and longing for the acceptance of, and ultimately the blessing of, their parents.
S-32> Genesis 27:30–34
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
S-33> Slide – Cultural Reversal
The Apostle Paul speaks about Jacob and Esau in Romans chapter 9.
S-34> We are selected by God, because of our humble repentance and His abundant mercy.
S-35> Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
S-36> Romans 9:17–18
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
S-37> Romans 9:21
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
S-7-> 1) A Despised Birthright.
S-20> 2) A Stolen Blessing.
S-38> 3) A Chosen Brother.
S-39> Genesis 27:42–44
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
S-40> Jacob’s Character.
S-41> Jacob was not chosen by God because of who he was, but because of who he would become.
S-42> The same is true for Esau’s rejection.
S-43> Romans 9:13
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
S-44> Q3) How does Paul’s argument in Romans chapter 9 help you understand God’s election?
S-45> God’s Mercy And Sovereignty.
S-46> God knows the end of our story.
S-47> God knows if we will obey Him or reject His Word.
S-48> Matthew 21:28–31
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
CONCLUSION:
S-49> God’s Election.
If you want to be selected by God, surrender your will to His Will.
S-50> If you want to be blessed by God obey His Word.
S-51> Q4) It is easy as a Christian to take God’s mercy for granted. What are some practical ways you can recall the mercy God has shown you in your life?
S-52> Q5) Are you plagued by feelings of inferiority and failure? How can confidence in God’s love for you and His plan for your life help you overcome those feelings?
S-53> Q6) Think about a time when you tried to retell a story to emphasize the positive. Did you feel like you were being dishonest? Would the truth have conveyed a more powerful point?
APPLICATION:
S-54> Q7) What habits or flaws are entrenched in your character? How did these habits begin for you?
S-55> Q8) What would it take for you to begin to change this habit or flaw?
S-7-> 1) A Despised Birthright.
S-20> 2) A Stolen Blessing.
S-38> 3) A Chosen Brother.
S-6-CF> God will have His way, allow Him to direct you in His plan.
S-56> 1) A Despised Birthright.
2) A Stolen Blessing.
3) A Chosen Brother.
Concluding Song: Ch 000 - “ .”