ESAU
Whenever the name ESAU is mentioned or used as a reference point, what readily comes to mind or play is the man who sold his “birthright” for a Pot of Porridge or Red Stew as translated in some versions of the Bible.
This is the truth and nothing but the truth.
However, as I studied the Word of God, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to another truth;
Yes, Esau sold his birthright for a Pot of Porridge or Red Stew, but we seem to forget that as long as the life and journey of Esau were concerned, the Potter had decided, and made of him, what He willed, while he was a child forming in his mother’s womb and there was nothing he could do about it.
How do I know this?
This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as his wife.
Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was barren and the LORD granted his plea, Rebekah his wife conceived and became pregnant with twins.
But the children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked.
The LORD said to her:
“The two sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations shall be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other, and your older son will serve the younger son”.
I just want to imagine how Rebekah felt that particular day and moment when she went to inquire from the LORD why the children in her womb won’t just stop struggling and the LORD says to her; you are pregnant with two sons, your first son due to no fault of his, will serve the younger.
In order words, the future and destiny of the child have been decided even before he is born.
When the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she indeed have twins.
The first one was red at birth. He was like a hairy garment all over so; he was named Esau. Then his twin brother was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel so his name was called Jacob.
The physical transaction that took place between Esau and Jacob as seen in Genesis 25:27-34 where Esau traded Jacob his birthright and swore an oath to back it up, was a fulfilment of that which had already taken place spiritually, while the children were in their mother’s womb.
One cannot help but wonder why of all the things in the world, Jacob would ask for his brother’s birthright, for a bowl of Red porridge stew, seeing that he was hungry and tired after a long day of being in the field hunting.
Giving Esau food to satisfy his hunger is something he should have done for him ordinarily with no conditions or strings attached as his twin and elder brother.
In our life journey on earth, we humans seem to always forget the Sovereignty of God (the Potter) who moulds us (the clay) as He wills.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote these words of God:
“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”
The LORD God of host who made the heavens and the earth is the potter, and we are the clay.
When the potter takes a lump of clay, he usually does so with a plan in mind.
As the potter has a plan, so too does God have a plan for every creature of His.
He moulds and shapes us however He seems best, to fit His purpose for our life.
The clay is submissive to the potter while he moulds.
The clay cannot question the Potter.
This is evident in the story of Pharaoh and the Israelites, where we learn that; God made Pharaoh for the sole purpose of showcasing His Glory by hardening Pharaoh’s heart to his destruction.
The Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, in Romans 9:17-21(NLT)
“I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth”. “So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and He chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
Well then, you might say,
“Why does God blame people for not responding?
Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?
No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being to argue with God?
Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you created me like this?”
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same clay to make one vessel of honour and another vessel of dishonour?
Judas Iscariot
If you read the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in every single passage of the scripture where the name of Judas Iscariot is mentioned you will see that he was simply fulfilling the scriptures that were written about him.
Then Jesus answered and said,
“I choose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray Him. John 6: 70-71
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this fulfils the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me’.
“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out … Acts 1:16-25(ESV).
Beloved, the destiny of Judas Iscariot was already decided before he was born that; he will be chosen among the 12 Disciples and when the time came, he will betray Christ for 30 Pieces of Silver to the Chief Priests and the Elders after which he will take his own life this was prophesied by King David years before Judas was conceived in his mother’s womb as seen in Acts 1:16-25.
Why would God mould a man, use him and set him up for destruction? is one question we all have to wait and ask him when we see him personally.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33-34
“For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counsellor?
One thing is sure, whatever God does, it’s to show His Power and Wisdom that His name will be glorified throughout the whole earth.
The Man Born Blind
The story of the man who was born blind is a perfect example. John 9:1-12
As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been born blind from birth.
“Rabbi His disciples asked Him, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parent’s sins?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’’ Jesus answered. “This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him.
The Scripture did not tell us the age of the man who was born blind. However, for the Scripture to refer to him as a man, it means he was quite advanced in age.
Let’s take a minute to ponder on how life must have been for him and his parents, before his encounter with Jesus who healed him.
Perhaps there were times the parents exchanged words, blaming themselves for how their son was born. From what Jesus said, it’s no one’s fault he was born blind. He was born blind simply because the potter chooses to mould him blind so that his mighty works might be displayed in him.
Beloved, Our present state might not be like the man who was born blind as seen in the book of John 9:1-12 above. But we are dealing with challenges, pains, sorrow, sicknesses, situations and circumstances that are beyond what we can understand.
We blame ourselves, living in guilt and shame that our sins or the sins of our parents are responsible for what we are going through.
Before you assume that it’s your sins or the sins of your parents and ancestors that are responsible for your present state of pain and discomfort, ask Jesus just as his disciples did.
Most times, it’s the potter doing what He does best, which is moulding the clay how He seems best so that He might display His mighty works and bring “Glory” to His name all over the earth.
The potter while you were in your mother’s womb, just like Esau, Judas Iscariot, Pharaoh and the Man who was born blind already decided what to make of you the clay.
The disciples of Jesus were more after the cause of the blindness, but Jesus pointed them to the Purpose of his being born blind which is verse 3: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Beloved Scripture tells us that God from the same clay makes one vessel of honour and another vessel of dishonour the question is; which vessel are you?
The clay lives for the glory of the potter.
Don’t forget, the clay cannot question the potter why He choose to mould it the way He did.
God Bless YOU
