Schoolmaster to Christ
GENESIS CHAPTER 25
Schoolmaster to Christ
GENESIS CHAPTER 25
Scripture Reading: Genesis 25 (KJV)
We have already referred to the remark that the book of Genesis is "full of the seeds of things;" and as we pass along its comprehensive pages, we shall find them teaming with all the fundamental principles of truth that are more elaborately brought out in the New Testament. True, in Genesis these principles are set forth illustratively, and in the New Testament didactically; still, the illustration is deeply interesting, and eminently calculated to bring home the truth with power to the soul.
At the close of this chapter we are presented with principles of a solemn and practical nature. Though Jacob's character and actions will later come more fully before us; let us now briefly consider the conduct of Esau, regarding the birthright. The natural heart places little or no value on the things of God. To it God's promise is a vague, valueless, powerless thing, simply because God is not known. Thus, present things carry weight and influence in man's estimation. Man values anything he can see, because he is governed by sight and not by faith. To human nature the present is everything; the future is a mere uninfluential thing – a matter of uncertainty. This is the way it was with Esau. Consider his fallacious reasoning, "Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" What strange reasoning? The present is slipping from beneath my feet, I will therefore despise and entirely let go of the future? Time is fading from my view; I will therefore abandon all interest in eternity! "Thus Esau despised his birthright." Thus Israel despised the pleasant land (Ps. 106:24); thus they despised Christ (Zech. 11:13). Thus those who were bidden to the marriage despised the invitation (Matt. 22:5). Man has no heart for the things of God. The present is everything to him. A mess of pottage is better than a title to Canaan. The reason Esau made light of the birthright was the reason why he should have grasped it with great intensity. The more clearly we see the vanity of man's present, the more we shall cleave to God's future. So it is in the judgment of faith.
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Pet. 3:11-13).
These are the thoughts of God, and, therefore, the thoughts of faith. The things that are seen shall be dissolved. What, then, are we to despise the unseen? No; the present is rapidly passing away. What is our resource? "Looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of God." This is the judgment of the renewed mind; and any other judgment is only that of "a profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" (Heb. 12:16). We pray the Lord will strengthen our faith. Only in this way can we learn to judge things as He judges.
