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10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
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SCENE No. 1.
PLACE:   A rural area where Esau and Jacob grow up and later make the bargain over the birthright.
DEVELOPMENT of the lesson:
- Esau y Jacob are the twin sons of Isaac y Rebecca.
- Their birth was God’s answer to Isaac’s prayers on account of his wife’s inability to have children.
- This condition had lasted for almost 20 years.
- Rebecca then sought an answer from God due to difficulties during her pregnancy.
- She learned that her sons were going to be very different one from the other, and would initiate two distinctly different nations.
- As predicted, the two were very unlike each other. Esau was an active person who loved hunting while Jacob was a quiet person who lived a simpler life.
- Although twins, the boys were different in their physical attributes—Esau being hairy and Jacob being hairless, or soft-skinned.
- No doubt the father taught his sons about the privileges and responsibilities that were theirs as descendents of  Abraham.
- The boys would have been about 15 years of age when their grandfather Abraham died, the man of whom God had said, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and
they shall keep the way of the Lord.” Ge.18:19.
- Division developed between the parents. Isaac gave preference to Esau, whereas Rebecca gave preference to Jacob.
- >> Cmt. Favoritism such as this ought not to be seen in any family. Parents ought to do as God does: love each one without showing differences.
>> Cns. Children and young people practice a form of favoritism when they form a close circle of friends, and exclude others.  Ask them how they would feel if God were to treat His creatures this way.
- Esau was the first of the twins to be born, hence, it was his right to be the family head and inherit the greater part of the father’s goods.
- This was one of the provisions of the birthright.
- Nevertheless,  Rebecca had been told that “the elder shall serve the younger. ” (Gen.25:23)
- This was simply God’s sovereign will. (Rom.9:1-12).
>> Cmt. There are “secrets” known to God alone for certain choices He makes.  For the inquisitive students who want a “cause and effect” explanation, reference can be made to God’s omniscience which allows Him to know the future, and therefore bring about certain events in the present.
>> Cmt. The emphasis in society is that equality must prevail.  Care should be exercised to show the difference between equality of CONDITION before God with it’s corresponding responsibility, and difference of POSITION with it’s variables determined by many factors, including God’s sovereign will.
- One day, after they were grown up,  Esau came home from hunting, faint and hungry.
- There he found his brother Jacob cooking pottage, some kind of a red stew.
- Desperate to eat, he asks his brother for some of the stew.
- Jacob, true to the meaning of his name, is a cunning person and quick to seize an opportunity.
>> Cns. In addition to the physical differences between these two young men, there was also a difference in their appreciation of spiritual things.
- The birthright included promises of God which were important to Jacob.
- Included in those promises was the expectation of the birth of the Messiah.
- However,  Jacob was not prepared to wait and let God work out the fulfillment of the promise made to his mother before he was born.
- Taking advantage of Esau’s hunger, he asks him to sell his birthright in exchange for a plate of food.
- Esau agrees to the exchange, giving little importance to the privilege of the birthright.
- In God’s eyes, this meant that he “despised” it, for at that moment, it was not as important as satisfying his appetite.
- - He treated his birthright as if it were equal in value to a plate of food.
>> Apl. Similarly, young people, adults and even children have their priorities turned around, especially in things that have to do with spiritual matters. Many do not appreciate God’s salvation and are willing to let it go for some pleasure or momentary advantage.
- Later on, Esau would shed tears over his foolish bargain. By then it would be much too late. (Heb. 12:17)

SCENE No. 2.
PLACE:   Country area where Isaac and his family live.
DEVELOPMENT: - Isaac, now very old, asks his son Esau to go out into the field and hunt an animal with which to prepare his father’s favorite food.
- No doubt Esau feels honored to be asked to provide something that will please his father.
- It is also a special occasion, for Isaac plans to give  Esau his patriarchal blessing, something of great value to the one who receives it.
- Apparently Esau does not think about the day when he sold his birthright.
- Even though he made the promise thoughtlessly and in a hurry, it is about to produce its unhappy consequences.
- >> Apl. There are times when in anger, or due to great need, or because of being rushed, we promise things without thinking about how, afterwards, God holds us responsible to keep our word.
- Rebecca listens to the conversation between Isaac and Esau and plans a way that her favorite son, Jacob, can receive the blessing that Isaac is about to pronounce.
>> Cmt. It is not revealed in Scripture whether Rebecca knew about the episode when Esau exchanged his birthright for a bowl of food.
- Her action will produce a break in personal relations in this family, and  Jacob will have to flee to a distant country.
- Jacob will never see his mother again, but will remember that some of her last words to him consisted of counsel to do wrong.
- >> Apl. Usually we expect that a mother will give good advice. A mother’s influence is mistaken if she allows her ambition for her child to blind her so that she does not think about the possible consequences.
>> Apl. Every Christian mother must have confidence in God’s love for her child and keep in mind that when a problem is left in His hands, He will do what is best.
>> Lxn. In the matter of salvation and of spiritual things, one must be sure to act according to what is correct before God, even though loved ones suggest things to the contrary.

SCENE No. 3.
PLACE:  In Isaac’s tent.
DEVELOPMENT: Isaac, nearly blind, is about to bless his son.
- Jacob has taken him a plate of food prepared by the mother according to the preferences of his father.
- Jacob has been dressed in his brother’s clothing and has the animal’s skin on his arms and neck, to give him the feel of a hairy man.
- Blind Isaac has his doubts about his identity but the disguise deceives him.
- He extends his hands to bless Jacob, believing him to be Esau.
>> Cmt. Patriarchal blessings in the name of the Living God were similar to decrees or laws issued by a government, binding and irrevocable.
- After Jacob leaves his father,  Esau arrives with the food he has prepared, only to discover that Jacob has received the blessing.
- His words and his weeping show how hurt he is, and he swears to kill his brother in reprisal. Jacob must flee. There will be no celebration or banquet to mark the occasion of his receiving the father’s blessing, won using devious means.
- Weeping, Esau tries to change what has been done, but Jacob’s blessing cannot be revoked or annulled.
- One moment of carelessness resulted in irretrievable loss for the rest of Esau’s life.
>> Apl. There are many people who miss salvation because of making a careless choice at some point in their lives.  God takes account of this attitude.
>> Apl. The salvation of the soul is a much greater matter than the birthright.
- The birthright blessing has to do with life here on earth, while the salvation of a soul is for Eternity.
>> Cns.  Jacob recognized the value involved in the blessing of the birthright.   Although he acted in an incorrect manner, this was what motivated him when opportunity presented itself.
- Isaac’s words could not be repealed.  They were spoken and the effect was permanent.
>> Apl. Show the finality of God’s pronouncements.  Prc. Rev. 3:7.
“These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.”
>> Sug. When sinners hear their sentence given out at the Great White Throne, it will be unchangeable.  There will be no revoking of what is spoken.