We must consult the Will of God

“I have written for him the great things of my law, but they were considered a strange thing.” Hosea. 8:12
My dear parent, can you see, anywhere, those who hate their children? As we know, all kinds of animals even from small insects to big animals, all the livestock love their children. Nowadays we are also hearing of different types of love, such as dogs feeding milk to cubs.

When children made mistakes, many times the parents simply ignored them, and didn’t take any action because they loved their children so much. But this will bring many problems, troubles and sorrows in their life. Here we see what kinds of problems entered into the family of Isaac, son of Abraham the prophet.

The matter was the blessing of the birthright and to whom it belonged. What did the parents, Isaac and Rebekah do for their children? What happened in their lives? Come; let us enter the story of the four members of this family.

Nowadays, most parents and children are living with many struggles. Why? Because they are traveling on the self-inflicted way, and they are trying to do everything themselves. Sister E.G. White explained about such people: “But like many who now profess to be children of God, they were unwilling to leave the matter in His hand.” PP, p. 180. If we read over and over the story of our fore parents, Isaac and Rebekah, we can learn many things, and our life will change to do the will of God.

The scholars of science talk about twins having the same habits, character and doing everything the same. But here Esau and Jacob both are very different in everything. “Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac, present a striking contrast, both in character and in life.” PP, p. 177.

CHARACTER OF JACOB AND ESAU:

“Esau grew up loving self–gratification and centering all his interest in the present. Impatient of restraint, he delighted in the wild freedom of the chase, and early chose the life of a hunter. Yet he was the father’s favorite. The quiet, peace loving shepherd was attracted by the daring and vigor of this elder son, who fearlessly ranged over mountain and desert, returning home with game for his father and exciting accounts of his adventurous life.”

“Jacob, thoughtful, diligent, and care – taking ever thinking more of the future than the present, was content to dwell at home occupied in the care of the flocks and the tillage of the soil. His patient perseverance, thrift, and foresight were valued by the mother. His affections were deep and strong, and his gentle, unremitting attentions added far more to her happiness than did the boisterous and occasional kindnesses of Esau. To Rebekah, Jacob was the dearer son.” PP, p. 177.

According to the above thought, we can understand that the twin brothers of Jacob and Esau were different in every thought and activity. They did not do even one single thing with the same mind. The older son, Esau was the father’s favorite. The father’s affections were centered upon the elder son. The younger son, Jacob, was the dearer son to Rebekah; he was mother’s favorite. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob. So, the parents were responsible for the battle among Jacob and Esau. Lifelong they lived with struggles, even before their birth, “the children struggled together within her.” Genesis 25:22.

?Who are ready to love only one eye, and hate another eye? Most people like both their eyes. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22 Like two eyes, parents should love both their two children. But there was no unity among this family of four members; they acted as two groups. The older son, Esau was the father’s favorite. The younger son, Jacob was the mother’s favorite. “And Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Genesis 25:28. Do you understand my dear brethren and sisters? Both father and older son were slaves to the taste and to their stomachs. They both, Isaac and Esau made mistakes, even in matters of food.

ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT FOR FOOD

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 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. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.” Genesis 25:29-33. Sister E.G. White says; “…he carelessly bartered the glorious heritage that God Himself had promised to his fathers. His whole interest was in the present. He was ready to sacrifice the heavenly to the earthly, to exchange a future good for a momentary indulgence.” PP, p. 179

So now the birthright belonged to Jacob.
“Knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob, he [Isaac] decided to perform the solemn ceremony in secret. In accordance with the custom of making a feast upon such occasions, the patriarch bade Esau, ‘Go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me savory meat, …that my soul may bless thee before I die.’” PP, p. 179.

Apostle Paul wrote about Esau and his character as follows: “lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his
birthright for you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” Hebrews. 12:16,17. So, again apostle Paul advises parents, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.

THE WILL OF PARENTS

“Isaac made known to his sons these privileges and conditions, and plainly stated that Esau, as the eldest, was the one entitled to the birthright… Years passed on, until Isaac, old and blind, and expecting soon to die, determined no longer to delay the bestowal of the blessing upon his elder son.

But knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob, he decided to perform the solemn ceremony in secret. In accordance with the custom of making a feast upon such occasions, the patriarch bade Esau, ‘Go out to the field, and take me some venison; and make me savory meat… that my soul ay bless
thee before I die.’” PP, pp 178, 179.

“Rebekah remembered the words of the angel, and she read with clearer insight than did her husband the character of their sons. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob. She repeated to Isaac the angel’s words; but the father’s affections were centered upon the elder son, and he was unshaken in his purpose.”

“Rebekah divined his purpose. She was confident that it was contrary to what God had revealed as his will. Isaac was in danger of incurring the divine displeasure and of debarring his younger son from the position to which God had called him. She had in vain tried the effect of reasoning with Isaac,
and she determined to resort to stratagem.” PP, pp. 178, 180

THE WILL OF CHILDREN

“Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the birthright should fall to him, and he was filled with an unspeakable desire for the privileges which it would confer. It was not the possession of his father’s wealth that he craved; the spiritual birthright was the object of his longing…”

“With secret longing he listened to all that his father told concerning the spiritual birthright; he carefully treasured what he had learned from his mother. Day and night the subject occupied his thoughts, until it became the absorbing interest of his life. But while he thus esteemed eternal above temporal blessings, Jacob had not an experimental knowledge of the God whom he revered. His heart had not been renewed by divine grace. He believed that the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled so long as Esau retained the rights of the first-born, and he constantly studied to devise some way whereby he
might secure the blessing which his brother held so lightly, but which was so precious to himself.”

“When Esau… for a dish of red pottage he parted with his birthright, and confirmed the transaction by a oath. A short time at most would have secured him food in his father’s tents, but to satisfy the desire of the moment he carelessly bartered the glorious heritage that God himself had promised to his fathers. His whole interest was in the present. He was ready to sacrifice the heavenly to the earthly, to exchange a future good for a momentary indulgence.”
“‘Thus Esau despised his birthright.’ In disposing of it he felt a sense of relief. Now his way was unobstructed; he could do as he liked. For this wild pleasure, miscalled freedom, how many are still selling their birthright to an inheritance pure and undefiled, eternal in the heavens. – PP.pp.178, 179

THE PROMISE OF GOD

Who are you? Are you a parent or child? What are you doing? Whatever you do, you must do the will of God. If you are doing anything wrong against the plan and promise of God, what will happen? What kind of trouble and sorrow entered into the life of Esau and Jacob, the children of Isaac and Rebekah? When the parents did not obey the promise of God, they brought many problems to their children’s lives. My dear parents, kindly think about this.
A small mistake leads to a great sin. Here God gave us a wonderful lesson through the family of Isaac, who is our forefather.

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus?
And she went to enquire of the LORD.
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.” Genesis 25:22,23; Romans 9:10- 12. So, the promise of God was that the older, Esau shall serve the younger, Jacob. But the parents and children went against the promise of God. Because of this, they struggled their life long.
Jacob And Rebekah Succeeded, But What Did They Gain?

“Jacob and Rebekah succeeded in their purpose, but they gained only trouble and sorrow by their deception. God had declared that Jacob should receive the birthright, and His word would have been fulfilled in His own time had they waited in faith for Him to work for them. But like many who now profess to be children of God, they were unwilling to leave the matter in His hands. Rebekah bitterly repented the wrong counsel she had given her son; it was the means of separating him from her, and she never saw his face again. From the hour when he received the birthright, Jacob was weighed down
with self–condemnation. He had sinned against his father, his brother, his own soul, and against God. In one short hour he had made work for a lifelong repentance. This scene was vivid before him in afteryears, when the wicked course of his own sons oppressed his soul.” PP, p. 180

My dear parents, here we have a warning lesson. Fathers and mothers, if you give wrong counsel to your children, you are showing a way of sin to them. So, sin will separate them from your guidance and from the shelter of the Lord.

My dear parents and lovely children, through this lesson, we must know only one thing, but a great thing. We must submit ourselves to the Lord. As children of God, we have to leave all matters in His hands. If we do this, we will be happy always and we can enjoy eternity with the children of God
and the heavenly angels; we can escape from all sin, trouble and sorrows.

“How many, even of professed Christians, cling to indulgences that are injurious to heath and that benumb the sensibilities of the soul. When the duty is presented of cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, they are offended. They see that they cannot retain these hurtful gratifications and yet secure heaven, and they conclude that since the way to eternal life is so strait, they will no longer walk
therein.

Multitudes are selling their birthright for sensual indulgence. Health is sacrificed, the mental faculties are enfeebled, and heaven is forfeited; and all for a mere temporary pleasure–an indulgence at once both weakening and debasing in its character.” PP, p.182

If we want a life of happiness in this world, we have to do “Like Abraham, we must be obedient to the divine requirements. In marriage, in our family relations, in public life, we must consult the will of God.” PP, p. 178. If we do this, we will receive everlasting life. Our loving Saviour Jesus Christ says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his work.”

Revelation 22:12 “Surely I am coming quickly: Amen. even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21,22. So, my dear brethren, let us sing and praise the Lord as follows:

“All to Jesus we surrender, All to him we freely give, We will ever love and trust Him, In his presence daily live.”

S.raj Israel, India