Esau’s bad trade

Esau was sweaty and out of breath, totally exhausted after a hard day’s work of hunting. He wanted two things, to eat and to rest. It is pretty much how most of us feel after a long hard day. We get home and want to just collapse on the living room sofa and perhaps if someone could just bring us our favorite meal, everything would be perfect. Jacob was more than ready to please. The wise younger brother had prepared a splendid meal that Esau could not resist and I am sure many of us would not resist either. However Jacob was not as nice as we would hope, nor was he so generous. Jacob was a man with a plan. (Genesis 25:29-34)

Jacob understood that blessings were worth more than rest or food. He understood how to make a good trade. Jesus also talked about trades. He said “what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) Much of what we can obtain in this world comes with a price. It will cost us money, or our time. Jesus made it clear that as we embark on our adventures of conquest, whether they are to obtain wealth, success, recognition, a higher position, or even someone’s favor, we must be sure of what the price is, because we don’t want to lose our souls. We never want to do anything that compromises our principals, our morality and most importantly our relationship with God!

Certainly this means saying no when asked to do something that we know is immoral, but it also means saying no when our time and energy is consumed, leaving little time for God. Our salvation is a great treasure that cannot so easily be surrendered. Our walk with God must be cultivated and developed to its fullest maturity and this takes time.

Esau ignored his great treasure and surrendered it easily. Jacob held that delicious plate of food, whose aroma must have truly been overwhelming, and simply asked for Esau’s birthright. Surely this meant great blessings, an inheritance and rights that should rightly belong to the eldest Esau. Esau agreed and filled his stomach and rested. Jacob would become the father of all Israelites, the chosen people, and from his lineage would descend the Messiah.

Let us not sell our great blessing for so little, all that this world has to offer pales in comparison to all eternity. Let us guard our salvation as it is our greatest treasure.

Related articles

• Not for Sale! (brokenbelievers.com)
• Worth a Hill of Beans – 02/18/14 (thedeepblog.wordpress.com)
• Genesis 27 – Jacob Deceives Isaac and Steals Esau’s Blessing(lastdayscalendar.com)
• Deal With Your Esau Before He Deal With U. (holyspiritmyteacher.wordpress.com)
• We Should Not Allow Ourselves to Be Swayed From God’s Will by the Pleasures of Sin or Relying on Might. (kneeghan.wordpress.com)
• Jacob Steals A Blessing (lacykitkat.wordpress.com)
• Jacob cheats Esau out of the blessing of Isaac (Gen 27:1-27:45)(efinne1540.wordpress.com)

Jesus gets the leftovers

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:7

When Jesus came into this world there was no room for Him in the Inn.  He was born where animals are kept. (Luke 2:7) He was given the leftovers. He had come down from heaven on a rescue mission, where the great idea was for Him to die. There was no escape clause. He was sentenced to die brutally and without mercy, for the love that God has for us. Yet he was given no priority. There He lay where unsightly and smelly animals are kept out of the way.

Jesus preached the good news, went from place to place healing, casting out demons, forgiving sin, counseling, and changing lives.  However he was never given a big church to pastor, a book contract or offered a big Pastoral home, Jesus actually referred to himself as homeless.(Matthew 8:20)

He fed thousands on more than one occasion, raised the dead, walked on water and stilled the storm with a word. But the big network deal for a spectacular show never came. It would have been amazing. It surely would have been a hit.

He was the creator and this world did not recognize him. (John 1:10) He was the promised Messiah to God’s chosen people. He made sure to reach out to them first. (John 1:11) But they rejected him and begged for Him to be crucified. (Luke 23:21)

Jesus is knocking on the door of countless lives. He is the solution for the pain and depression. He is the solution for the empty heart and the troubled mind. But so many still do not give Him a second thought.

Many others like me owe Him everything we have. Including all the hope and peace and joy in our lives. He has saved us! But we often leave him the leftovers. The shopping has been done. The calls have been made. Did we check our email? Good, we took care of that. Dinner is made, and everyone has their Christmas gift. Maybe now we can take some time for our Lord and Savior.  At least He is no longer with the smelly animals in the manger.

More articles on Christmas from bibleaid!

Related articles

• The Birth of Christ – Out in the Cold Stable or In a warm House with the Animals?(fredswolfe.wordpress.com)
• What will You do with Jesus? (encouragementforeveryday.wordpress.com)
• The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2: 1-20 (262downright.wordpress.com)
• Jesus = Clean Slate (scottstrissel.wordpress.com)
• Sweet Baby Jesus (trustingortripping.wordpress.com)
• No room then, what about now? (thepauls.wordpress.com)
• Luke 2:12-14 – This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (church4u2.wordpress.com)
• Jesus Christ, Our Messiah (myviewandopinion.wordpress.com)
• Lets talk Christ not food! (shainadomitilia.wordpress.com)

The Messiah has come!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

In the eternal past He saw our suffering. He saw our pain. He saw the helplessness of our existence and knew then that He would have to come. All along he watched as humanity grew further away from God. The devil and his lies replaced the truth and man would find false gods made of stone and wood. Barbaric practices, human sacrifice, torture and enslavement, became common. Then the moment came.

The spirit descended upon Mary and she did conceive. A baby boy like no other in history; for this one descended from the heavens. This child was God himself made flesh for all humanity to see. The shepherds came and worshiped. The wise man traveled from far and brought gifts, while a wretched king hunted for Him.

God’s greatest gift had come and now for those who believe there is no more darkness. Helplessness is replaced with peace and worry with Joy.

He grew among them, but they did not recognize Him. Some thought Him common, the son of a carpenter. While others with anger, said “they saw the devil in Him”. Many more pursued Him for a miracle. Many shouted, “Son of David heal me!” Some, perhaps a few, dared to wonder. “Who is this man, who talks to the wind and it obeys. Who is this man who awakens the dead? Legions of demons tremble before Him. Could He be the Messiah? “

They took him away in secret, in the darkness, without cause. He was innocent. They thought it was their plan; it had been His from the very beginning. He freely gave his life. He shed his blood, drop by drop it fell to the ground, as they whipped him and beat him. They nailed him up high for all to witness and thought him defeated.

Then came Sunday morning, the most glorious morning ever seen. The stone rolled away and out came the “bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16). Death was vanquished and no longer our master. He overcame and the victory is ours. We will live with Him forevermore.

Receive Him as Lord and be saved. He returns and His own anxiously wait. The Messiah will come with crown and sword. He will rule and His kingdom will never end!

Consider these Verses on O.T. Prophecies-of-Jesus