Guessing God’s Word vs. Trusting God’s Word
I teach best about what I needed to know. The lesson I’ve learned from the Isaac family.
“And he (Jacob) arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he (Jacob) said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.” Genesis 32:22-29
What in the world is going on in the life of Jacob? Who is this man that out of nowhere, shows up in the night and starts a fight with Jacob? It wasn’t Jacob who provoked this man. I did witness a bar fight where someone got beat up for no other reason than being at the wrong place at the wrong time just because the other guy didn’t like his face.
But this is different. This man shows up and purposely wrestled with Jacob. This man wants to bring Jacob to submission, to surrender, to give up and to have Jacob plea ‘uncle’. Jacob did not give up so easily. This man did not prevail against Jacob. Prevail, meaning succeed, triumph, winning over Jacob. Then, there was a sense of urgency from this mysterious man, he had to go. His time was up, dawn was at hand. We do not know why, and the Holy Spirit didn’t want us to focus on the reason for this urgency to leave. If it were important, the Holy Spirit would have told us.
This man for whatever reason did not want to struggle with Jacob all through the night but now, at the crack of dawn, he had to go and Jacob didn’t plea uncle. This man had no choice but to induce injury to Jacob. He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip, and the socket of Jacob’s hip went out of joint. And still, Jacob did not plea ‘uncle’, didn’t give up.
Why was Jacob so stubborn? Why did Jacob with a disjointed hip hold on to this man with despair? What did Jacob desperately seek from this man? BLESSING. Jacob wanted to receive this man's blessing. But why was it so important for Jacob to yearn for this man's blessing? Jacob was insecure about his future. He swindled Esau's birthright for stew, and he disguised himself as Esau to receive Esau’s birthright from Isaac.
Let’s review the event that leads to those two incidents.
Let’s review the event that leads to those two incidents.
“Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her:
“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob,” Genesis 25:21-28.
From birth, Jacob received a promise from God that his older brother would serve him, which mean that Jacob has a special destiny. This was God's plan and promise to Abraham that his descendant will multiply to become a great nation. Remember God’s plan, since Adam’s fall due to his disobedience. God’s plan was to redeem the world and it would be through Abraham's descendant and now through Jacob's lineage that will lead to Jesus's birth. It was customary that the birthright goes to the older son, who inherits all of his father’s wealth and property. This is what causes Jacob and his mother to err. Jacob didn’t need a birthright to fulfill God’s prophetic plan.
God’s plan was to use Esau with his birthright to serve his brother Jacob. In the Strong Concordance, the verb to serve has a wide range of definitions. In general, the verb ‘to serve’ describes a function, a responsibility, intended to look after someone of importance. However, Jesus taught a different meaning in Matthew 20:28: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” I believe that God instituted the beginning of a tradition starting with Esau that is kept as of today. The firstborn has the responsibility to look after his brothers and sisters just as Jesus did toward His brothers and His sisters after Joseph His father died and now toward His bride, the Church.
Rebekah didn’t understand God’s plan and assumed that Jacob at one point in time would have to receive Esau's birthright for Esau to serve Jacob. Therefore, just like Sarah, Abraham's wife, Rebekah took the matter into her own hand, and instead of waiting unto the Lord to let Him bring it to past this promise, Rebekah influence Jacob to see God’s statement come to pass. So Jacob waited for an opportunity, and it happens:
“Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright,” Genesis 25:29-34.
It was wrong for Jacob to ask his hungry brother for his birthright, while he could freely give food without condition. Esau's attitude toward his birthright was wrong also, he despised it. It was not a subject of importance. Birthright, Isaac's inheritance was not in his heart. He was quite satisfied to live as a hunter. But for Jacob, he associated birthright with fulfilling God’s intent to have his brother serve him.
Then it came to pass that Isaac was very old and his death was imminent. Again Rebekah acted without wisdom and instructed Jacob to steal his brother's birthright inheritance from Isaac. It didn’t really matter that Esau earlier bartered his birthright for stew, it was the custom for the firstborn to be blessed as a sign of becoming an heir of Isaac inheritance, and the firstborn was Esau. Isaac assumed that part of his inheritance was the promise God made to Abraham to become a great nation. Let read on,
“Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
And he answered him, “Here I am.”
Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”
But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
So he went to his father and said, “My father.”
And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”
And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”
Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.
Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”
He said, “I am.”
He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:
“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”
Genesis 27 1-29
Now you see, Isaac assumed that part of his inheritance was the promise God made to Abraham to become a great nation which was passed on to him. Isaac also didn’t understand God’s intention. It was Jacob that God had chosen to continue Abraham’s lineage. Isaac was to bless Jacob as the descendant of Abraham God’s promise. His wealth accumulated - the birthright was for Esau to serve his younger brother Jacob. Let’s read God declaration to Rebekah:
“And the Lord said to her:
“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
Genesis 26:23
Rebekah and Jacob didn’t understand how God would fulfill His plan. Jacob didn’t need Esau's inheritance. He had God’s promise that the older brother would serve and help him. He didn’t see how it would happen. Jacob assumed that he needed Esau's birthright.
Now, Jacob was in deep trouble, he had to face the consequences. Esau at his return from his hunting found out about Jacob's action. He became furious and his intention was to kill Jacob. Esau didn’t understand either that it was not his father Isaac's blessing that was important, it was God’s word that was.
“So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob,”” Genesis 27:41.
Everybody, which included Rebekah, Isaac, Esau and Jacob misinterpreted God’s word. In our modern time, that would have been a good episode of a soap opera. None took God by His word and none waited to see how He would fulfill His promise.
What were the consequences? Jacob fled to Rebekah’s brother Laban in Haran. And twenty years later he returned. During these twenty years, Jacob worked for Laban, taking care of Laban’s ewes (female sheep) and his female goats, (Genesis 31:38). In the day the drought consumed Jacob, and the frost by night and his sleep departed from his eyes which means that Jacob works without rest. Thus Jacob has been in Laban’s house for twenty years, Jacob served Laban fourteen years to acquire two wives, Laban’s two daughters, and six years to gain a flock of his own. During these twenty years, Laban changed his wages ten times. His servitude toward Laban consumed him.
Jacob had a tough time accumulating wealth. He worked hard for what he could have if he would trust God and not acted in a treacherous way toward Esau. Esau would serve him, help him accumulate wealth.
Now, after twenty years of absence, the moment of truth was at hand. Would Esau kill Jacob? How would Esau greet Jacob? Jacob feared for his life and for his wives, his wives servants, and children. Jacob was anxious and restless. He was thinking through ways to appease Esau's anger. And that is when this mystery man appeared and wrestle with Jacob. This mystery man was God. It was both a mental and physical struggle for Jacob. He desperately needed God’s favour. He pleads for God’s blessing and he wouldn’t let go until he receives it. He prevailed and he attained God’s blessing but with an injury to the hip. Yet again, Jacob didn’t understand, he didn’t have to struggle, he could simply ask in humility since it has been already planned for him.
Did Jacob have to fight? Did Jacob have to swindle Esau’s birthright?, Did Jacob have to work so hard to gain wealth? Couldn’t Jacob rely on God's promise? Jacob, on his way back to the land of Seir, the country of Edom, recognized the wrong he did toward Esau. He also recognized that he did not trust God by not waiting on His promise by taking action by his own hand. Jacob wanted affirmation that God has kept His promise. He finally realized that according to God’s declaration to his mother Rebekah, his brother Esau's destiny was to help him, to take care of him. Jacob fought for God's blessing so that he could rest in God’s blessing. And God blessed him. Jacob wanted to make amends toward Esau by giving him all his position. Surprisingly, Esau didn’t need any of Jacob's wealth, but Jacob insisted, therefore Esau accepted it. Esau was glad to be with his brother again. Why and when did Esau's anger toward Jacob subside? We are not told.
As time passed, God appeared to Jacob and reminded him that his name was no longer Jacob but Israel. God then confirmed to Israel, His promise made to Abraham and Isaac.
“And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land,”” Genesis 35:10-12.
“Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him,” Genesis 35:13.
That must have been quite a tête-à-tête, a memorial dialogue. I would have loved to have been there, to have ears to hear. Since the scriptures have been written for our benefit, what can we learn from this scenario within Esau’s family? After all,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16.
Esau’s family including himself didn’t trust God by not waiting for Him to bring it to past His promise. Abraham and Sarah did the same, they made an assumption of God’s will and took it upon themselves to make it happen. Remember, Sarah used her servant to have a child, Ishmael.
Many Christians within the Church, assume God’s Words and prefer to believe in their own fabricated lies. So many are just interested in following the tradition of their parent, (Colossians 2:8). Some purposely avoid the truth and desire to stay in the lies and the deceptions, (2 Timothy 4:3-4). But then, there are those who seek the truth and such, need a guide to lead them in the right direction. For those, here are some of the doctrines that are misinterpreted:
The doctrine of Salvation - John 6:29, Hebrews 6:18-19. Many Christians are not well anchored to the true salvation gospel. Their foundation is weak. Jesus is not the cornerstone of their belief. Most people mess it up because they try to introduce their own works, their own effort, their own morality to try to impress God. God is not impressed with anything that we do, only what Jesus Christ did count for God.
If you are one of them, here is the simplicity of the gospel: all you have to do to get eternal life is to believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, it is that simple. When you put your faith in Christ and trust Him alone for your salvation, you will instantly gain eternal life. God the Father will regenerate you, you'll have a new spiritual life and eternal life and it will never be taken away from you, Hebrews 13:5. The only condition to salvation is to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ who died for you. Christianity is the only religion in which we have absolutely nothing to do to gain eternal life and nothing to do to keep it. Jesus did it all.
The doctrine of Replacement Theology - Replacement
theology teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Many church
denominations believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people and believe
God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Israel is
considered as God's firstborn son, always was and always will, Exodus 4:22. The Church is considered as children of God, 1 John 3:1. Those who accept
‘Replacement Theology” act as Jacob did toward Esau desiring to steal Esau’s
birthright. Both the Church and the Nation of Israel are part of God’s plan to
witness His grace and mercy toward all nations. Take notice that the United States of America IS NOT
ISRAEL, NEITHER PART OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL. Inasmuch as some Christian
denominations believe that “The Church” now replaces Israel, there are many who
believe that the United States is Ephraim which is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
In both cases, it is a grave error and this false belief hindered the
understanding of Bible Prophecy. Another grave error is to use bible verses
designated for Israel or Judah to correct or to warn the United States of America
of God's impending judgement. The United States of America is a gentile nation
inasmuch as all other nations, daughter of Babylon, Zechariah 2:7.
The doctrine of Spiritual Growth - Colossians 1:9, 2:2. Aren’t Christians like the Church of Laodicea judged by God as being neither cold nor hot? They proclaim to be good Christian but lack so much discernment by being comfortable swimming in a huge pool of lies, being careful not to make any wave, not to offend the secular. God declared how ignorant they are lacking understanding of His word as stated, “you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” Rev 3:17. As a dysfunctional Church, they have accepted these conditions as a way of life. They live a defeated life satisfied with the gift of salvation with no spiritual growth, ill-prepared for life challenge. Why? Because they do not study God’s word in depth.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:33
God advises, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;” Rev 3:18. Study God’s Word, The Bible, it is worth more than gold. Many are those who perished by fire, burn to a stake, risking their life to preserve the truth. Very few, are those who seek the truth, and very few go to the door to let the truth come in, “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him.” Rev 3: 20. “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37. Therefore, why aren’t they taking Jesus teaching by His word?
The doctrine of the Rapture - Titus 2:13. Aren’t we all like Jacob, and Rebekah, to assume and second guess God’s fulfillment of his prophetic plan? Many write books and profit from them. Dates prediction of Jesus's returns is many. There are many among the Christian communities accusing one another of heresies on controversial's subjects such as eschatology. No one loses his/her salvation over the timing of the rapture. Wither it happen before the tribulation period, halfway or at the end of the tribulation. The scripture is very specific, Christ's return is imminent, which means He will return as a thief in the night, unknown time except to God the Father. There are no prophetic signs pertaining to His return for His bride. All prophetic signs pertain to God’s plan of establishing His Kingdom on earth through His chosen people Israel. Jesus’ parable consists of the condition of the church through many eras, so are the Epistle and the letters to the seven churches in the book of revelation. Our blessed hope is Jesus Christ's return, 1 Peter 1:3. The apostles expected Jesus's return in their time, so was the early Church and all through the centuries. Take the time to study the Doctrine of Imminence.
The doctrine of the Creation - Genesis 1:1. Some Christians accept the theory of evolution and the big bang theory reasoning that it is quite possible that God is part of the evolution. This causes Christians to doubt God’s word and weaken their faith. Take seriously the revelation of God Spirit given to Moses. Moses wrote the first five books called the Torah. Genesis revealed the truth about how the world came about and the origin of man.
The doctrine of Trusting God - 1 Timothy 4:10, Proverbs 3:5, Christians read short devotional scripture as does so many who read the horoscope, reasoning that it might be God’s way to reveal His will to life challenges for the coming day. They don’t study God’s word in-depth. Christians buy lottery tickets reasoning that it might be God’s way to be relieved from the financial stress. Christians give tithes and offering with the wrong motive to appease God or to gain favours. Christians pray to the dead, in particular, Mary, Jesus’ mother. Christians perform repetitive prayers and grandiose meaningless ceremonies. Singing meaningless, insignificant and repetitive short lyric songs, which are so different from the old hymns songs which are full of meaningful theology.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths,” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors,” Proverbs 8:34
The doctrine of Honesty - Rom. 13:13, 2 Cor. 4:2. This doctrine, in fact, is less taken seriously. Some Christians in their business practice dealt shrewdly, dishonesty and lack of sincerity. They falsify the account book, make false tax declarations, and take advantage of the ignorance of their customers. Worst is that they see nothing wrong with this practice, Luke 16:8. To be sincere means that you hide nothing. The word sincere came from the French word “sans cire”, without wax. Commerce in pottery was a lucrative business at one time, the potter to reduce the cost of his loss due to a cracked pot that couldn’t hold water, filled the cracks with wax and sold it. Eventually, the wax would wear out and water would leak through the crack. That was defined as insincere.
One other area of dishonesty is Christian parents toward their own children. They lie to their children without a second thought, reasoning that there is no harm to it since they themselves experienced it when they were young. Adult not only lies to children, but they also reward them for believing a lie. They are not aware of the severe consequences.
The area’s that Christians lie to their children:
- The tooth fairy, Christian adults keep teaching this ritual of burying the children's tooth under the pillow, and as a reward of believing a lie, a child receives a coin. A child will continue to pretend to believe only to receive a coin.
- Easter bunny, again, children are rewarded to believe the lie, with chocolates.
- Santa Claus, yes, children are rewarded to believe the lie with gifts.
- Halloween, celebrating evil as good, again children are rewarded to believe the lie with candies.
ANY CHRISTIAN PARENT WHO TEACHES LIES TO CHILDREN WILL BE JUDGED SEVERELY BY GOD. Christian parents, PLEASE don't teach children to believe a lie and stop rewarding them for believing a lie. Take Jesus warning seriously:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."Matthew 18:6
The doctrine of our Inheritance - Eph. 1:11, 1 Pet 2:9. Esau didn’t care less about his birthright, so are many Christians toward their heritage reserved in heaven. Being satisfied with the gift of eternal life by grace alone and faith alone, many are not interested to pursue rewards such as governing as king and priest, Revelation 1:6. They are quite satisfied to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God. These rewards will be given at the Bema seat of judgment where Jesus will review our lives, Colossians 3:24, 2 John 1:8.
Conclusion
To walk with God is to have fellowship with God the Father without compromise. Christians make compromises because they make assumptions. They do not trust God and do not wait for Him just as the Isaac family did by taking action on their own. To trust God is an important lesson we must learn while waiting for Jesus Christ's return.
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us,” 1 John 1:5-10.
It requires more than keeping the ten commandments to walk with God. We are to walk in the truth. Salvation, we receive by grace alone and faith alone through our Lord Jesus. To be in fellowship with God, it is to trust Him and take Him by His word. After all, Jesus set us apart from the lies:
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth,” John 17:17-19.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments,” John 14:15.
And that is how we walk with God.
c u @ d rapture... which is imminent