Compiled
by Brother L. Harrell
Will I choose the wasteland of Edom / Esau
or the blessing of Israel / Jacob?
Edom chose stew. (I'm convinced it tasted real good!) He
was feeling faint, and that stew helped satisfy his strength for the
day. He and his seed received their inheritance, a wasteland for
their own, where the jackals roam. While Edom was enjoying his
blessing (his freedom, his land and his stew), Israel got a trip to
Egypt with persecution for a few hundred years (I suppose it seemed
like forever). Edom’s wasteland must have seemed mighty
delightful at that time (as opposed to Pharaoh’s Egypt).
But, his brother Israel is the one who prevailed with God and
man. This is the one who inherited the covenant, and who God
honored with a name change. Imagine the years of tears Joseph,
Israel’s / Jacob’s son must have shed in Egypt. Of course, when
Israel left their prison in Egypt, they took riches with them.
Land, houses, vineyards, etc. were waiting for them by faith to receive
them as their own.
In our generation and covenant relationship with God, we have the same
choice. We can choose stew, getting what we can to survive or we
can choose the refinery of affliction (chastisement as sons), after
which the riches of the world have already been commanded to come to
us. The riches are waiting for our refinement.
This
kingdom (reign of God) is not in
meat and drink (flesh and fleshly actions) but righteousness, peace and
joy through the Spirit. This is a war fought in the spirit realm
(not with flesh and blood..). Our righteousness is in Jesus,
by faith in Jesus, beginning with and ending with faith.
Esau did not have zeal for things of value. That is why he traded
his birthright away for something as worthless as stew. God’s
feelings towards such complacency are evident through His relationship
with Esau. To the contrary, his brother struggled with God.
Israel insisted that he would not let go until he was blessed. He
suffered violently, was injured, and prevailed.
The violent take it by force and receive the blessing(s).
The kingdom of God is like treasure and pearls. One will sell /
sell out all to obtain such a prize. (See "The Savvy Manager / The Unjust Steward")
Since many recognize that speaking in tongues as God gives the
utterance is evidence of Him pouring out His Spirit, why does man not
pursue this blessing so he can't be duped by false teachings? Esau shed
tears after he was denied obtaining what should have been his by
birthright.
Many have chosen to abide in associations where the divinely miraculous
is frowned on. Many choose to abide where the divinely ordained
structure and exercise of the gifts are denied. Many boast of how
they obtained goals using their own resources without bowing to the
Lord or His ways. Later these persons can be found with tears in
their eyes (as Esau's) wondering where is God and if there is a God,
since they are in the middle of such turmoil. (If there are not
tears in their eyes, their sad tragic story will leave tears on their
brother's eyes.) Many
people have been terribly oppressed down the years, deliverance is and
has been an option they could choose at any given time, by calling on
the Lord.
content revised:
08/07/08
http://seventhdayapostolic.org/ChooseLORD/