Blue Belly swift |
Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "you shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan," and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. Also Esau saw the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had. Genesis 28: 6-9 NKJV
I've heard it explained that Esau sees Jacob receive this blessing and instruction, then out of rebellion marries someone that will displease his father and mother even more. I am quite certain that is not the message here or the case. Esau was the number one son in his father's eyes, and though he is a grown man, I think this a ploy to regain favor. It is rather like the family vultures, that are always far and away, until a family member is sick and dying. They are then the most accommodating and caring. I believe Esau is still angry but has resigned from rage to imitate works he thinks will be pleasing. He has become a politician or what my one friend at work refers to as a snapshot guy. I think Esau is not trying to understand the situation from the perspective of God's will and choice, but would rather elevate the position of the patriarchal blessing. He does not realize that the words of his father can in no way change or influence the words of God. Jacob was chosen by God, outside of works, and there is no amount of kissing up that can change this. Esau was concerned with his appearance to men, but God looks at the heart.
And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with Him. So He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the lord said to him, "now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have, then indeed all things are clean to you. Luke 11: 37-41 NKJV
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.