Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday January 9, 2009 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis.

Today's Message: Spiritual Blessings. All children of God are descendents of Abraham and receive spiritual blessings, but we must be willing to do what it takes to get them. It is not too late for us to introduce godly spiritual values to our children or someone else's as long as we have them ourselves.
Today's Bible Reading: Genesis Chapters 25-27
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if the link does not work on your browser you can copy and paste this one to it: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025-27&version=9

Isaac pleaded to God for a child and He blessed him and Rebekah with twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Even before they were born they were fighting in the womb, "And Isaac intreated (pleaded) the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 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. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 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." (25:21-26).

Now, Isaac loved Esau, who was hunter and Rebekah loved Jacob, who rather cook the food than hunt for it. "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob." (25:27-28). Only two men in the Bible are called hunters, Nimrod, the rebel, and Esau. The fact that Esau is described as a hunter like Nimrod, gives us some insight into his true character.

Esau had no interest in spiritual values, knowing this Jacob ceased the opportunity to take his birthright from him. "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. 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." (25:29-34). There was no way that Esau could not have been at the point to die by missing one meal, to sell his birthright over one meal proved that he really had no interest in what God had to offer him. The family birthright included, the sacred position of spiritual leadership of the family and heir to the covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants. More importantly, the birthright was a link in the line of descent through which the Messiah was to come.

Now, Isaac was getting old in age and unsure of how much longer he would live, so he planned to bless Esau, but Rebekah overheard Isaac speaking to him and when Esau left to do as his father commanded Rebekah schemed to get Jacob blessed instead. "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. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee." (Genesis 27:1-8). It appears that Isaac's admiration for his worldly minded son Esau caused him to ignore the prophecy that God had revealed to Rebekah before the twins' birth.

Jacob was blessed as the prophecy stated and that caused much friction between Esau and Jacob. That friction has carried on for generations and is still carried on today. Like Esau, many are willing to gratify fleshly cravings in total disregard for God's will in their lives until it is too late. Then, like Esau, they find fault with the people of God and blame their failures on someone else. Inevitably, the faithful servant of God will be falsely accused and betrayed; but, it is encouraging to see from Jacob's experience that it is impossible for anyone to keep the chosen servant of God from accomplishing the perfect will of God.

Jesus Christ is Revealed: As the spiritual Seed that would bless all the nations. "And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" (Genesis 26:4).

Today's Psalm: 3:8

"Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Help me to hold on to the Spiritual Values that you have taught me in Your Word and bless me with the wisdom to teach others what I have learned. Give me strength and endurance to keep going no matter how difficult things get to accomplish Your perfect will for me. In Jesus' name........Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God bless you,
Christina
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