WEBVTT 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:14.119 The Lord said to her, Two nations are in your 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.600 womb, and two peoples will be separated from 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:21.620 your body. And one people shall be stronger than 00:00:21.620 --> 00:00:25.460 the other, and the older shall serve the younger. 00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:29.339 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:33.560 behold, there were twins in her womb. Now the 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.859 first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment. 00:00:38.380 --> 00:00:42.320 and they named him Esau. Afterward, his brother 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:48.320 came forth with his hand holding on to Esau's 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:52.359 heel. So his name was called Jacob, and Isaac 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:56.299 was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:00.420 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:05.040 hunter, a man of the field. But Jacob was a peaceful 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:10.099 man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau because 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:14.640 he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:20.900 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:24.760 the field and was famished. And Esau said to 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:28.959 Jacob, Please let me have a swallow of that red 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:32.819 stuff there, for I am famished. Therefore his 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:37.599 name was called Edom. But Jacob said, First, 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:43.540 sell me your birthright. Esau said, Behold, I 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:47.500 am about to die. So of what use then is the birthright 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:52.680 to me? And Jacob said, First, swear to me. So 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:57.239 he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:03.239 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:06.829 he ate and drank. and rose and went on his way. 00:02:06.950 --> 00:02:14.889 Thus, Esau despised his birthright. By way of 00:02:14.889 --> 00:02:20.610 reminder with regards to our practice of preaching 00:02:20.610 --> 00:02:25.689 at Grace Fellowship Church, we practice consecutive 00:02:25.689 --> 00:02:32.129 expository preaching at GFC, which means that 00:02:32.129 --> 00:02:37.599 we primarily Exposit parts, portions, and books 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:43.240 of the Bible in a consecutive fashion. So we 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:46.759 work our way through books. We work our way through 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.860 sections of books or parts of the Bible. And 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:57.319 we do so because we believe that it's best for 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:02.479 the people of God to be exposed and taught the 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:08.960 full. counsel of God in his word. In order to 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:14.759 be whole, complete, healthy Christians, we need 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:19.340 to understand and be exposed to the whole of 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:24.419 God's divine revelation. We need all of the scriptures. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:28.819 We don't just want parts or pieces that we're 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:34.159 inclined to. We want all of it. Now, one of the 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:39.000 benefits of consecutive expository preaching 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:46.099 is that it forces us to deal with difficult and 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:51.900 hard texts and difficult and hard and weighty 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:56.879 doctrines which we encounter here and there in 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:01.500 the Word of God. But we also... get the benefit, 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:06.400 and we also are exposed to the easier doctrines 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:11.699 to digest. We get all of it. The weighty, strong 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:16.860 meat, and we get the lighter, easier to digest 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:21.759 milk as well, all contained in the Word of God. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:27.839 Today, we get the meat, brothers and sisters. 00:04:28.970 --> 00:04:34.529 Today we get the strong doctrine of the Word. 00:04:34.949 --> 00:04:40.290 Today we come to deal with a weighty topic. The 00:04:40.290 --> 00:04:45.370 topic of divine election. Something that ought 00:04:45.370 --> 00:04:49.970 to be handled with the utmost care and humility. 00:04:51.050 --> 00:04:54.129 Because these are the great mysteries and works 00:04:54.129 --> 00:04:58.629 of God. And we have to be cautious in how we 00:04:58.629 --> 00:05:05.149 deal with the works of God, especially when it's 00:05:05.149 --> 00:05:09.389 strong doctrine. So as we come to our text today, 00:05:09.509 --> 00:05:19.189 we'll be primarily in verses 27 through 34. So 00:05:19.189 --> 00:05:22.629 we come to it, and immediately we'll see that 00:05:22.629 --> 00:05:27.529 we find Jacob and Esau. Growing up, becoming 00:05:27.529 --> 00:05:31.670 boys and then growing into men. In this episode, 00:05:31.730 --> 00:05:35.170 in this altercation that we have, in verses 27 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:39.009 through 34, we don't know their age exactly. 00:05:40.149 --> 00:05:43.529 We know what kind of lives they were living. 00:05:43.750 --> 00:05:46.629 We know what they were doing. We're shown their 00:05:46.629 --> 00:05:49.870 character, but we don't know exactly how old 00:05:49.870 --> 00:05:54.569 they were or where they were at in life exactly. 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:59.079 we'll see that there's this altercation between 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:05.459 Jacob, the promised heir, and Esau, who's rejected 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:11.980 or cast off ultimately by the Lord. Now, one 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:13.980 of the things that's important for us to understand 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:20.759 and see in this text is the fact that God has 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:25.959 already declared what will take place. in the 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:30.920 life of Jacob and Esau. We saw this in verse 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:34.560 23, where he says, Two nations are in your womb, 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.720 and two peoples will be separated from your body, 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.480 and one people shall be stronger than the other, 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:44.740 and the older shall serve the younger. So we 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:48.279 see that God has declared his ordained plans 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.980 and purposes with regards to Jacob and with regards 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:56.980 to Esau already. And a lot of it involves this 00:06:56.980 --> 00:07:02.459 idea of a birthright. Now with the patriarchs, 00:07:02.459 --> 00:07:06.980 this concept or idea of birthright, or we could 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:13.680 say family inheritance, is deeply intertwined 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:18.019 with the idea of the divine promise and blessing 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:22.540 that God has given to Abraham. to Isaac, and 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:26.240 we'll see ultimately he gives it to Jacob as 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:30.300 well in our text. We can't separate those two. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:35.160 So when the text talks about the birthright and 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.639 inheritance for the heritage or descendants and 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.339 offspring, it's also talking about the promise. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.600 And so when we're talking about the promise, 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:50.220 we know from Galatians chapter 3. That when God 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:54.879 gave the promise to Abraham, he was giving the 00:07:54.879 --> 00:08:01.180 gospel ahead of time to Abraham. So we're dealing 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:05.959 with things, the things of Christ. We're dealing 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:10.759 with the things of the gospel. So the first thing 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:15.620 we have to consider as we look at this text is 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:19.490 that we have to consider Esau. The older brother 00:08:19.490 --> 00:08:25.069 that does not inherit the birthright. Now in 00:08:25.069 --> 00:08:29.949 this text we learn a great deal about Esau. We 00:08:29.949 --> 00:08:34.529 learn his trade and we learn his station in life. 00:08:35.490 --> 00:08:39.730 What's his trade? We see that he's a skillful 00:08:39.730 --> 00:08:45.450 hunter. He lives and he dwells and he roams in 00:08:45.450 --> 00:08:51.490 the woods. With the beasts of the field. He spends 00:08:51.490 --> 00:08:57.529 his time away from his family. He spends his 00:08:57.529 --> 00:09:01.950 time away from other people. He's off by himself 00:09:01.950 --> 00:09:06.990 following his own desires. Following what he 00:09:06.990 --> 00:09:13.769 enjoys. He's a skillful hunter. And he lives 00:09:13.769 --> 00:09:16.590 and he dwells and he roams in the wilderness. 00:09:16.690 --> 00:09:21.309 He's almost described as a beast in the text. 00:09:21.629 --> 00:09:24.289 Think about how he's described at his birth. 00:09:25.529 --> 00:09:29.669 Afterward, I'm sorry, verse 25. Now the first 00:09:29.669 --> 00:09:34.649 came forth red, all over like a hairy garment, 00:09:34.929 --> 00:09:40.230 and they named him Esau. The author is already 00:09:40.230 --> 00:09:45.940 speaking. ill, in a sense, of the firstborn. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.340 He's already speaking negatively, in a sense, 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:55.620 with regards to Esau. He's stating that he's 00:09:55.620 --> 00:10:00.179 not like Jacob, and it's not a good thing. It's 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:03.320 not a positive thing. Now, we'll see, Jacob's 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:07.600 not the standard. Jacob's not the shining knight, 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:12.889 either. But the author... is already speaking 00:10:12.889 --> 00:10:18.769 ill in some way of Esau. Now what's his character 00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:23.509 like? What do we see about who this man was in 00:10:23.509 --> 00:10:27.769 this text and in this altercation? Well, we see 00:10:27.769 --> 00:10:35.049 that he's a carnal man, that he follows his appetites, 00:10:35.129 --> 00:10:39.529 that he has no foresight for what is to come. 00:10:41.549 --> 00:10:43.909 You know what he cares about, brothers and sisters? 00:10:44.490 --> 00:10:49.769 He cares about his belly. He cares about filling 00:10:49.769 --> 00:10:55.070 his belly with food. He cares about getting game 00:10:55.070 --> 00:11:00.509 because he likes it. He enjoys it. He does what 00:11:00.509 --> 00:11:04.149 he wants to do, when he wants to do it, how he 00:11:04.149 --> 00:11:09.309 wants to do it. He's inclined towards immediate. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:15.580 gratification. I need food, and I need it now. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:21.059 I'm hungry. Give me food. This is essentially 00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:26.919 what he's saying to his brother. In Genesis chapter 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:32.059 27, where Isaac curses Esau after blessing Jacob, 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:37.720 he says, you will live by the sword. You know 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.580 what that means, brothers and sisters? That means 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:46.580 that Esau is going to live in violence. He's 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:51.940 going to be a man of violence. He's a carnal, 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:57.039 natural man following around the lusts of the 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:03.399 flesh who is violent in his nature. He reminds 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.259 me a great deal of many other figures we've already 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:09.980 seen in the book of Genesis. Can you think of 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:14.080 any who Esau is very, very similar to already? 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:18.620 Think about Cain, the brother who killed his 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:21.340 own brother, Abel, because he had a better sacrifice. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.299 There was enmity between the two. So he struck 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:28.159 him and killed him. He reminds me a great deal 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.700 of Lamech, who we read about in Genesis chapter 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:36.059 4, who was known for his exceptional violence. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:41.899 And his vengeful nature. And who's also known 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:45.440 for his sexual immorality. And being the first 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:49.740 polygamist in the world. He reminds me a great 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:54.200 deal of Nimrod. Who was a mighty hunter before 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:57.460 the Lord. But the beginnings of his kingdom were 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:03.279 Babel. He reminds me a great deal of Ishmael. 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:08.379 Who was compared to a wild donkey. He would roam 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:13.399 and always be at odds with his brethren. This 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:19.019 is Esau as the text is characterizing him. Paul 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:25.440 speaks of men like Esau in Philippians chapter 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:36.279 3. Paul says this, He says in verses 18 -19, 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:41.360 listen to these words. For many walk, of whom 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.379 I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:48.559 that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.639 whose end is destruction, whose God is their 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.399 appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:03.169 who set their minds on earthly things. This describes 00:14:03.169 --> 00:14:09.129 Esau to a T, brothers and sisters. He's a natural 00:14:09.129 --> 00:14:13.210 man following his natural inclinations and his 00:14:13.210 --> 00:14:19.590 natural desires throughout life. Now, what was 00:14:19.590 --> 00:14:26.330 his relationship to his birthright? To the promise, 00:14:26.450 --> 00:14:30.009 the inheritance? Well, the text tells us in verse 00:14:30.009 --> 00:14:35.330 34, that he despised his birthright. Meaning 00:14:35.330 --> 00:14:39.350 he held it in contempt. He did not value it as 00:14:39.350 --> 00:14:41.889 he ought to. And actually we see in the end, 00:14:41.929 --> 00:14:44.950 he trades it for lentil soup, which is the most 00:14:44.950 --> 00:14:50.149 common bean soup that a person could get. Here's 00:14:50.149 --> 00:14:53.840 Esau. who trades the glorious promise of the 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.659 inheritance and the promises associated with 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.039 that and the blessings, he trades it for that 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.200 which is common so that he can fill his belly 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:08.299 in the moment. He rejects the birthright. He 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:11.019 denies it. He doesn't want it. He doesn't want 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:13.460 anything to do with it. He doesn't see the point 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:16.100 of it. He doesn't see the importance of it. He 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:20.389 doesn't see the significance of it. This is why 00:15:20.389 --> 00:15:25.129 we read in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, starting 00:15:25.129 --> 00:15:29.190 in verse 15, see to it that no one comes short 00:15:29.190 --> 00:15:32.590 of the grace of God. That no root of bitterness 00:15:32.590 --> 00:15:37.169 springing up causes trouble, and by it many be 00:15:37.169 --> 00:15:42.169 defiled. That there be no immoral or godless 00:15:42.169 --> 00:15:46.710 person like Esau, who sold his own birthright 00:15:46.710 --> 00:15:51.679 for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:56.559 when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.940 rejected. For he found no place for repentance, 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:05.440 though he sought for it with tears. The author 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.960 of Hebrews couldn't be any more clear about Esau. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:14.480 He was godless and immoral. And how do we know 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:18.940 that according to this text? Because he despised? 00:16:19.450 --> 00:16:25.649 His birthright. He did not want it. He held it 00:16:25.649 --> 00:16:28.570 in contempt. He gave it up for that which is 00:16:28.570 --> 00:16:31.509 insignificant and that which is common in the 00:16:31.509 --> 00:16:35.690 world. He placed his earthly desires and his 00:16:35.690 --> 00:16:42.470 immediate gratification above eternal favor and 00:16:42.470 --> 00:16:45.990 blessing, brothers and sisters. His eyes went 00:16:45.990 --> 00:16:51.519 this far. He had no foresight with regards to 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:56.559 spiritual realities or spiritual truth. He was 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:00.679 godless and he was immoral in this world. There's 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:08.980 nothing more clear in the Bible than this. Now, 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:13.480 when we come to this, we need to ask, why would 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:20.160 a man cast off such a thing? Why would a man 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:25.640 despise this which is good, his inheritance? 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:31.099 What came with that? The influence, the power, 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:34.000 the headship of the family. Why would he cast 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:38.839 off dignity? Why would he cast off the honor 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:44.180 of being the family heir? Why would he cast off 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:47.359 that which is associated with the divine promises 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:55.079 and blessings? Of God. Why would a man reject 00:17:55.079 --> 00:18:01.779 these things in favor of common soup to fill 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:06.480 his belly in the moment because he was hungry, 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:11.359 worn out, and tired? Think on that, brothers 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:15.859 and sisters. We will answer that question. Now, 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:20.180 we also have to consider Jacob, the younger brother, 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:25.720 that does inherit the birthright. The older brother 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:29.279 does not inherit the birthright. But the younger 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:33.140 brother does inherit the birthright. So what 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:36.940 do we learn about Jacob, the younger brother, 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:41.660 from this text and this altercation in verses 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:48.940 27 -34? We learn a great deal about Jacob. We 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:52.960 learn his lifestyle and what he was like in comparison 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:58.259 or contrast to Esau. We learn that he was a peaceful 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:04.420 man. We read this in verse 27. But Jacob was 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:07.920 a peaceful man living in the tents. That word 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:13.940 peaceful, it carries the idea that he is more 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:17.980 whole. It's the word that's used for upright 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:22.240 or blameless throughout the scriptures. But it 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:26.099 also carries the idea that he was civilized, 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:30.240 which also says something about his brother who 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:35.960 was uncivilized and more brute than Jacob. In 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.759 some ways, it's fair to say that Jacob is more 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:43.559 refined, that he lives with the family, he's 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:49.769 around the people. We don't know exactly what 00:19:49.769 --> 00:19:53.630 his trade or what his occupation was. He's probably 00:19:53.630 --> 00:19:57.450 aiding or helping with the household and the 00:19:57.450 --> 00:20:02.609 family affairs already, or he acts as a shepherd 00:20:02.609 --> 00:20:07.490 in some way, shape, or form at this time. Now, 00:20:07.490 --> 00:20:11.450 we're tempted to come to Jacob and think, oh, 00:20:11.470 --> 00:20:15.690 well, his character surely is far beyond the 00:20:15.690 --> 00:20:19.430 character of Esau. It is better than Esau, brothers 00:20:19.430 --> 00:20:26.569 and sisters. But he's not perfect, and Jacob 00:20:26.569 --> 00:20:32.009 will see clearly and outrightly sins in this 00:20:32.009 --> 00:20:37.250 altercation and this interaction. It's different, 00:20:37.349 --> 00:20:40.730 but he's still a sinner, and it's obvious and 00:20:40.730 --> 00:20:45.710 clear from the text. We see that he's crafty. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:48.960 This is true even of his birth. Why does he get 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:52.819 his name? Because as soon as he's born, he's 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:55.299 already trying to get one step ahead of his brother 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.400 to pull his brother down underneath him so he 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:02.180 can get in front of him. He's already overly 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:12.099 ambitious in life. In a sinful manner. He's selfishly 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:17.599 ambitious. with regards to getting ahead, with 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:20.460 regards to getting what he wants, with regards 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:25.099 to getting what he likes. He's crafty. He's deceitful. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:30.059 He's manipulative, brothers and sisters. The 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:33.599 language in this text with regards to this altercation 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:36.859 between the two, the Hebrew is very clear. It's 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:42.559 the language of a trap. Meaning, Jacob, the younger 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:49.559 brother, sets a trap for his older brother Esau. 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:54.700 Why? So that he can take advantage of him and 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:57.940 so that he can exploit his moment of weakness 00:21:57.940 --> 00:22:03.200 so that he can obtain and get what Jacob wants. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:08.579 He's deceitful. He's manipulative. He's overly 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:12.299 ambitious. But we have, in spite of all of these 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:18.990 things, We have to recognize something. In spite 00:22:18.990 --> 00:22:23.809 of his sin, in spite of his flaws, what did Jacob 00:22:23.809 --> 00:22:30.309 want? He wanted the birthright. In spite of all 00:22:30.309 --> 00:22:33.289 of these issues in his life, Jacob wanted that 00:22:33.289 --> 00:22:38.730 thing that God had promised to him. Jacob longed 00:22:38.730 --> 00:22:41.670 for the very thing that God had promised would 00:22:41.670 --> 00:22:45.579 be his possession. Now, does he go about it in 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:49.980 the right way? No. We saw that in the life of 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:52.279 Abraham, didn't we, brothers and sisters? He 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:54.519 wanted the promise of God to come about, and 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:57.519 he resorts to the flesh to get it. But we also 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.779 see that Abraham is gradually and progressively 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:04.099 sanctified more and more and more in his life, 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:08.140 and we'll see the exact same thing in the life 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:11.359 of Jacob, who would become Israel. where at the 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:13.380 end of his life he can say that God has been 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:20.440 the shepherd of his life all his days. So, yes, 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:25.859 he has his issues, but he wants the promise. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:31.420 He wants the blessing. His life is oriented toward 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:35.599 the promises of God, where Esau's life is going 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:40.289 the opposite direction. Jacob's going toward 00:23:40.289 --> 00:23:43.250 the blessing, toward the inheritance. He's seeking 00:23:43.250 --> 00:23:46.069 for it. He wants to lay hold of it while Esau 00:23:46.069 --> 00:23:49.630 casts it off and rejects it and wants nothing 00:23:49.630 --> 00:23:57.630 to do with it whatsoever. And he gets it. He 00:23:57.630 --> 00:24:03.230 obtains it. It comes into his possession. We 00:24:03.230 --> 00:24:09.440 see the younger brother prevailing. over the 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:15.259 older brother just as the Lord stated would take 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:22.339 place. Jacob receives the promise, the inheritance, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:27.319 and the birthright. He is the sole heir just 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:32.019 as the Lord declared he would be. Now we have 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.920 to come to this, and just like we did with Esau, 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:43.180 we have to ask the question. Why? Why did Jacob 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:49.539 come into possession of the birthright and not 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:59.180 Esau? Why did Jacob become the heir and the next 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:04.900 patriarch and not Esau? Why would the Messiah 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:11.220 come through the lineage of Jacob and not Esau? 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:15.799 Why would he become the father of the church 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:21.259 in a sense just like Abraham and not Esau? What's 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:27.119 the difference? Why him? Why does he get the 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:32.059 promise and the blessing and be the heir and 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:36.680 not his brother Esau? Is it because of his family? 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:42.539 Well, they're a part of the same family. Was 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:46.460 it because of his birth? Well, they come from 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:50.660 the same womb and the same environment. Was it 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:58.019 because of his virtuous character? No. His character 00:25:58.019 --> 00:26:01.259 was just as flawed as his brother's character 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:06.130 was flawed. He was a sinner just like his brother 00:26:06.130 --> 00:26:11.789 was a sinner. Jacob did not deserve the inheritance 00:26:11.789 --> 00:26:15.470 or the birthright any more than Esau deserved 00:26:15.470 --> 00:26:18.569 the inheritance or the birthright. Yet it comes 00:26:18.569 --> 00:26:21.210 into his possession and he becomes the blessed 00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:26.609 recipient of it. Why, brothers and sisters? That's 00:26:26.609 --> 00:26:29.990 the question, isn't it? This leads us to the 00:26:29.990 --> 00:26:33.279 last thing we have to answer. We're the last 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:36.740 thing we have to consider. Not just Esau, the 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.880 older brother, who does not inherit the birthright. 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:42.660 Not just Jacob, the younger brother, who does 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:45.579 inherit the birthright. But we have to consider 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:49.819 the sovereign grace of God. That's the basis 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:54.420 and reason that Jacob does receive the inheritance 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:58.440 and the birthright. We have to remember that 00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:02.279 last week, When the Lord gave a prophetic word 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:07.579 to Rebekah in verse 23. He declared that these 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:12.160 events and this appointed end would come about. 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:15.140 Let me read it one more time just for clarity's 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:21.380 sake. Two nations are in your womb. And two peoples 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:25.140 will be separated from your body. And one people 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:28.619 shall be stronger than the other. And the older. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.339 shall serve the younger. In our text today, we 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:38.380 see these ordained events coming to pass. Don't 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:42.160 we, brothers and sisters? We see two boys, two 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:47.380 men, two nations in conflict, fighting. It's 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:50.220 an altercation between the two. There's enmity, 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:53.480 there's hostility between these two. That's why 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.339 Jacob sets a trap for his older brother Esau. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:59.339 There's hostility and conflict between the two. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:03.039 But we also see that one of them, and one of 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:06.660 them alone, becomes the heir. One of them is 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:09.380 supreme, and one of them prevails, and that is 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:12.440 the younger brother having victory and prevailing 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:18.319 over the older brother, just like... God declared 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:23.859 it would come about. Now, understanding that 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:26.259 the sovereign will of the Lord is coming to pass 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:33.519 helps us understand the source of the distinction 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:40.339 between these two. It helps us grasp the distinction 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:46.740 between Jacob and Esau. And the distinction between 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:53.180 the two is God's choice of Jacob and not Esau. 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:56.519 Turn with me to Romans chapter 9, if you would. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:04.539 In Romans 9, we see the Apostle Paul working 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:09.779 an argument for his recipients. We see that he's 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:15.779 teaching the recipients that... Just because 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:20.259 a person is Jewish or a part of ethnic Israel, 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:25.539 that does not mean that they can presume upon 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:30.779 grace and salvation. Meaning just because they're 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:33.980 a part of ethnic Israel or they're physical descendants 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:38.420 of Abraham, they are saved. That's not the case. 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:42.160 Paul wants them to understand this and see this 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:47.009 clearly. So he says this, starting in verse 3, 00:29:47.089 --> 00:29:50.130 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, 00:29:50.289 --> 00:29:53.829 separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, 00:29:53.890 --> 00:29:57.309 my kinsmen, according to the flesh who are Israelites. 00:29:59.410 --> 00:30:03.410 To whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the 00:30:03.410 --> 00:30:06.190 glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the 00:30:06.190 --> 00:30:08.569 law, and the temple services, and the promises? 00:30:09.349 --> 00:30:13.029 Whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ? 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:17.380 according to the flesh, who was over all, God 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:22.579 blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:26.200 the word of God has failed. For they are not 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:32.339 all Israel who are descended from Israel. He 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:36.440 wants his readers to be well aware. Just because 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:39.779 you come from ethnic Israel does not mean you 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:45.619 are saved by grace. It doesn't mean that you're 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:49.420 automatically in Christ. So what does he do? 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:54.440 We read in verse 7, Nor are they all children 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:57.500 because they are Abraham's descendants, but through 00:30:57.500 --> 00:31:01.359 Isaac your descendants will be named. That is, 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:05.460 it is not the children of the flesh who are children 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:10.259 of God, but the children of the promise are regarded 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:14.710 as descendants. For this is the word of promise. 00:31:15.029 --> 00:31:19.349 At that time I will come and Sarah shall have 00:31:19.349 --> 00:31:25.289 a son. Now, he's saying that those who are saved 00:31:25.289 --> 00:31:27.970 and those who have been saved have always been 00:31:27.970 --> 00:31:31.609 saved by the promise of God with faith. He's 00:31:31.609 --> 00:31:34.190 already cleared this up in Romans chapter 4. 00:31:34.690 --> 00:31:37.990 And we see that they are justified by faith in 00:31:37.990 --> 00:31:42.059 Romans chapter 4 and Romans chapter 5. And that 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:44.920 they're in Christ. This has always been the case. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.480 But listen to what he says next. And not only 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:53.839 this, but there was Rebecca also referring to 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:56.660 the circumstances we've been studying in Genesis. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:01.480 When she had conceived twins by one man, our 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:05.240 father Isaac. For though the twins were not yet 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:08.680 born, and had not done anything good or bad, 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:13.309 so that God's purpose, according to his choice, 00:32:13.609 --> 00:32:17.569 would stand. Not because of works, because of 00:32:17.569 --> 00:32:21.170 him who calls. It was said to her, the older 00:32:21.170 --> 00:32:25.269 will serve the younger. Just as it is written, 00:32:25.470 --> 00:32:30.849 Jacob I have loved, but Esau I hated. What shall 00:32:30.849 --> 00:32:34.690 we say then? There is no injustice with God, 00:32:34.829 --> 00:32:38.500 is there? May it never be. For he says to Moses, 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:41.819 I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:44.119 will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:48.980 So then it does not depend on the man who wills, 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:54.740 or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 00:32:57.640 --> 00:33:05.839 The reason that a person, Jew or Gentile, comes 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:10.740 to be saved is not because of their will, their 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:14.980 effort, their merit. It's because of the divine 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:21.220 choice of the living God to place his grace upon 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:28.440 them. What is the distinction between Jacob and 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:32.019 Esau, brothers and sisters? The grace of God. 00:33:32.910 --> 00:33:35.930 What is the difference between Jacob obtaining 00:33:35.930 --> 00:33:39.150 the promise, receiving the promise, and Esau 00:33:39.150 --> 00:33:42.009 being a reprobate and rejecting the promise? 00:33:42.170 --> 00:33:45.369 It's the will of God and the fact that he is 00:33:45.369 --> 00:33:49.150 merciful and gracious and he saves those whom 00:33:49.150 --> 00:33:56.369 he wants to save. It's the fact that God sets 00:33:56.369 --> 00:34:02.089 his merciful love upon them. He chooses them. 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:07.980 He inserts his grace into their lives and redeems 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:12.480 them. That's the distinguishing mark between 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:22.119 Jacob and Esau. This means the absence of God's 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:27.460 electing grace and love in Esau's life leaves 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:33.280 him a natural with a reprobate heart and a reprobate 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:38.820 mind. Now, I did not say that the absence of 00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:44.159 God's grace makes him a reprobate, did I? No. 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:48.099 The absence of God's electing grace and love 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:52.179 in a person's life leaves them a natural, carnal 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:57.420 man. It leaves them who they are in reality. 00:34:58.380 --> 00:35:02.800 Those born with a sin nature. Those born under 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:06.599 the wrath of God. Those who are sons of disobedience 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:09.159 from the moment of their birth. Those who willingly 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:13.159 and freely cast off the very promise of God and 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:19.440 the gospel of Jesus Christ. It leaves them, carnal, 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:27.159 natural men, to live the life they want to live. 00:35:27.710 --> 00:35:34.650 In this world. God does not make men. To be rebellious. 00:35:35.170 --> 00:35:40.949 Men are born rebellious. God does not make men 00:35:40.949 --> 00:35:45.730 to be depraved. They are born depraved. And they 00:35:45.730 --> 00:35:49.250 want to be depraved. They want their sin. They 00:35:49.250 --> 00:35:51.949 want their pleasures. They want their carnalities. 00:35:52.150 --> 00:35:55.469 All outside of Christ are exactly where they 00:35:55.469 --> 00:36:00.929 want. To be brothers and sisters. The absence 00:36:00.929 --> 00:36:04.849 of God's grace. Does not make men. Reprobates. 00:36:05.190 --> 00:36:11.889 It leaves them natural. And carnal men. Esau. 00:36:12.590 --> 00:36:19.050 Was born natural. He lived. As a natural man. 00:36:20.750 --> 00:36:25.889 And he cast off. Willingly. Without compulsion. 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:31.860 Freely. The blessed inheritance which was his 00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:37.179 by birth. He gave it up because he wanted to 00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:44.039 give it up. He despised it of his own free will, 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:52.579 brothers and sisters. This also means the free 00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:56.550 and sovereign grace of God. is the sole cause 00:36:56.550 --> 00:37:05.389 of Jacob's reception of the birthright and the 00:37:05.389 --> 00:37:12.349 promise. That means that Jacob wasn't born worthy 00:37:12.349 --> 00:37:17.230 of the promise or the birthright, but that God 00:37:17.230 --> 00:37:21.469 graciously gave it to him because he's merciful. 00:37:23.530 --> 00:37:28.349 That God chose to bestow this merciful gift. 00:37:28.969 --> 00:37:33.550 God gave him that which he promised freely and 00:37:33.550 --> 00:37:39.369 graciously. And God worked in Jacob's life to 00:37:39.369 --> 00:37:42.650 bring that about. His providence guided him and 00:37:42.650 --> 00:37:46.730 directed him that his good purposes in Jacob's 00:37:46.730 --> 00:37:54.610 life would in fact be brought about. The question 00:37:54.610 --> 00:38:01.710 is not for us today. The question is not, have 00:38:01.710 --> 00:38:08.190 you discovered the grace of God? The question 00:38:08.190 --> 00:38:12.989 is not, have you found God's grace in your life? 00:38:13.130 --> 00:38:15.949 That's a bad question. That's the wrong question 00:38:15.949 --> 00:38:20.289 to ask. The question is not, have you found God? 00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:25.039 Have you sought out His grace? The question is, 00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:28.800 has God's grace been placed? Has it been set 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:34.099 upon you? Has God's grace found you, friend? 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:39.460 Has God's grace entered into your life? Has His 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:46.039 love been set upon you? Has His grace accomplished 00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:50.360 a mighty work in your life of transforming your 00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:55.139 heart? Has His grace given you a new nature in 00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:59.059 Christ? Has His grace regenerated your heart 00:38:59.059 --> 00:39:01.420 and caused you to be born again where you have 00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:06.219 new life welling up in your soul? Has His grace 00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:09.199 changed your desires and your longings so that 00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:11.360 you are oriented towards the gospel of Jesus 00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:16.019 Christ and not immediate gratification like Esau? 00:39:17.780 --> 00:39:23.449 Has the grace of God given you a new heart? So 00:39:23.449 --> 00:39:28.929 that you love Christ. And you look to faithfully. 00:39:28.969 --> 00:39:32.170 In the power of the Holy Spirit. The obedience. 00:39:32.230 --> 00:39:38.989 To his revealed will. Has his eternal love. Given 00:39:38.989 --> 00:39:44.469 you faith and repentance. Has his eternal love. 00:39:45.150 --> 00:39:49.650 Given you a trust. In Christ. And a forsaking 00:39:49.650 --> 00:39:52.929 of sin. As Pastor Nick. taught this morning in 00:39:52.929 --> 00:39:57.530 catechism. Has God in His great mercy and His 00:39:57.530 --> 00:40:01.070 great grace provided you with the ability and 00:40:01.070 --> 00:40:04.429 the gift of faith to believe the promises of 00:40:04.429 --> 00:40:07.190 God, to move toward the promises of God in your 00:40:07.190 --> 00:40:12.630 life? Has He granted you repentance from sin? 00:40:14.070 --> 00:40:20.030 Has God's grace brought about other graces in 00:40:20.030 --> 00:40:28.039 your life? has His grace, or is His grace now 00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:34.760 changing you powerfully? Is the Spirit of God 00:40:34.760 --> 00:40:38.239 actively at work in your heart as a believer, 00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:41.940 changing you and transforming you? Is there vital 00:40:41.940 --> 00:40:45.679 power in your soul that is actively stirring 00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:50.619 and moving, changing you? Do you know that the 00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:53.300 living God is at work in your soul? Are you conscious 00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:57.940 of His work in your heart? Is He sanctifying 00:40:57.940 --> 00:41:01.519 you and transforming you? Or do you never think 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:05.900 about the things of God? Do you never think about 00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:08.940 the Word of God? Do you never think about the 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:11.659 Gospel? Do you never think about Christ? Do you 00:41:11.659 --> 00:41:14.699 never think about sin? Do you only look this 00:41:14.699 --> 00:41:21.059 far and this far only? Is God changing you by 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:26.000 His grace? If your answer is yes, praise God. 00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:32.519 If your answer is yes, then Jesus Christ and 00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:36.119 everything He possesses, the world and all that 00:41:36.119 --> 00:41:39.400 is in it, is your very birthright, brothers and 00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:43.900 sisters. Everything that is Christ is yours. 00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:47.300 The Father is yours. The world is yours. The 00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:50.159 new heavens and the new earth is yours. Eternal 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:54.079 life is yours. Eternal joy is yours. A resurrection 00:41:54.079 --> 00:42:01.079 in glory is yours if His grace has been set upon 00:42:01.079 --> 00:42:09.360 you. Has it been? Do you have eternal life? Has 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:12.400 He given you faith to trust in the gospel of 00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:17.019 Jesus Christ? Have you trusted in His blood on 00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:21.340 the cross? His atoning death. Have you trusted 00:42:21.340 --> 00:42:24.679 in the resurrection for new life and power and 00:42:24.679 --> 00:42:32.380 hope beyond the grave? If it has and if it is, 00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:37.800 then Jesus Christ and everything that He has 00:42:37.800 --> 00:42:46.480 promised is yours. It cannot be taken away. It 00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:53.019 cannot be revoked. Because it's of grace. Everything 00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:55.679 that He's promised to you will be yours. Not 00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:58.320 because of your performance. Not because of your 00:42:58.320 --> 00:43:00.860 righteousness. Not because of anything you say. 00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:03.460 And not because of anything you do. It's purely 00:43:03.460 --> 00:43:06.420 and wholly and completely of sovereign grace. 00:43:06.739 --> 00:43:10.780 And it's based on the work of Jesus Christ. That 00:43:10.780 --> 00:43:13.619 means that everything that is the Christians, 00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:16.219 everything that is a blessing as a result of 00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:20.360 salvation, is fixed. and complete and absolute 00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:24.139 because of the perfect, completed, objective 00:43:24.139 --> 00:43:28.420 work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:33.019 That's why it's important that we understand 00:43:33.019 --> 00:43:42.800 salvation is of grace. If you answer no to any 00:43:42.800 --> 00:43:49.119 of those questions, If God's grace has not discovered 00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:52.039 you, if God's grace has not broken into your 00:43:52.039 --> 00:43:56.659 life and changed you, if God's grace is not actively 00:43:56.659 --> 00:43:58.800 changing you and you are not conscious of it, 00:43:58.880 --> 00:44:02.480 you don't know if you're a believer or not. That's 00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:13.360 concerning. If your answer is no, then we should 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:18.429 assume that you're not a Jacob. But that you're 00:44:18.429 --> 00:44:22.150 an Esau. That you're in rebellion against the 00:44:22.150 --> 00:44:25.889 living God. You're still in need of repentance. 00:44:26.809 --> 00:44:31.070 And you're still in need of faith. And you still 00:44:31.070 --> 00:44:35.170 need to receive the blessed promise of the gospel. 00:44:38.090 --> 00:44:43.849 I don't want you to be an Esau. I don't know 00:44:43.849 --> 00:44:47.880 if you're an Esau. I don't know if you have a 00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:51.400 carnal mind and a carnal heart, but the living 00:44:51.400 --> 00:44:56.900 God does. I want you to be a Jacob who is the 00:44:56.900 --> 00:45:01.559 recipient and heir of all the good promises and 00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:04.320 all the good blessings that God has promised 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:08.980 in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But listen, the 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:12.300 only way that comes about is if you turn from 00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:18.780 your sins and you trust in Christ. Now, if you 00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:21.960 give up everything and your pride and your arrogance, 00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:25.880 if you forsake your sin and your iniquity and 00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:29.659 you come to the cross empty -handed saying, I 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:35.860 have nothing to offer and you trust in the righteousness 00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:40.099 and the blood, the atonement and the work of 00:45:40.099 --> 00:45:47.269 Jesus Christ, then you will be It was Jacob.