Birthright
In the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis chapter 25, verses 27-34, we learn about where our treasure lies.
The story of Jacob and Esau tells us that when Jacob was cooking a red lentil stew, and Esau was famished, Esau sold his birthright to satisfy his hunger with some stew.
According to Google, birthright means “a particular right of possession or privilege a person has from birth.”
Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob as Esau was a skilful hunter, and Issac loved the taste for wild game (Genesis chapter 25, verses 27-28). Therefore, since there is more privilege for being the firstborn, Jacob probably wanted Esau’s birthright to win Isaac’s favour.
“The law of the firstborn is nothing but an expression of the exceedingly high esteem in which the first child was held.” (John Goldingay, Genesis)
Although firstborn privilege is still essential in today’s context, I would act like Esau if I was hungry.
I want to receive love from my parents, but if I am starving, I think I will forsake my birthright if necessary without much consideration. I cannot concentrate on anything else if I am hungry, even how much I want to focus on something. I would try to regain love from my parents after my hunger had been satisfied.
Nevertheless, my parents know me too well that I cannot do anything if I am hungry. Most of the time, my meals were always prepared before either of them went to work.
I am also glad that I do not have to sell my birthright to my little sister, even when she leaves food for me to eat.
Spiritual birthright
More significant than earthly birthright is the spiritual one—God’s adoption of us as His children. As soon as we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we automatically have been adopted as God’s beloved children (John chapter 1, verses 12-13).
The main reason that Jesus was put to death on the cross is that God has loved us so much. God has wanted to restore our relationship with Him.
However, due to humanity’s disobedience against God of eating the fruit in the tree of knowledge of good and evil in Genesis chapter 3, human beings have been accustomed to figuring things out by themselves and without God’s help.
Hence, Jesus had to sacrifice His life to give human beings a chance to turn back from their old ways to God since Jesus was wholly human and God. Otherwise, the destiny of human beings was death.
Therefore, Jesus has provided human beings eternal life through their faith in Him as their Lord and Saviour (Romans chapter 5, verses 12-21).
Jesus, our treasure
Since God has given us so many blessings through Jesus and has marked us in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, we should treasure Jesus and live for Him abundantly.
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 14-15)
If we treasure Jesus, live for Him, and dream God’s desire, God’s plan for each of us eventually will work out, even though we may have to go through a tough road (Proverbs chapter 16, verse 9; Matthew chapter 7, verses 13-14).
God’s marvellous plan for His people
God’s plan might even surprise us.
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm chapter 37, verse 4)
For example, due to my visa, I had to leave Auckland and go to New York. I visited Korea, my home town in between. Besides meeting new extended family on my grandmother’s side in New York, I became a Christian, was baptised and received a gift of writing from God.
The time to leave New York and come back to Auckland had come again due to my visa.
Other than making awesome brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, I have had opportunities to become a student of Carey Baptist College since July of 2016, an article writer for Press Service International since July of 2018, and a ministry leader of Waiheke Island Baptist Church since March of 2020 and more.
As God’s plan for me has been fulfilling in surprising ways, I now truly understand these Bible verses:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5-6)
Although God might lead us in different ways than planned through the Holy Spirit, He is also a mysterious God. We never know what His plan is for each of our lives (Proverbs chapter 16, verse 9)
All we can do is follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and trust and believe in Christ Jesus. Remember that God is our heavenly Father who desires the best for us.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verse 11)
Therefore, Jesus Christ should be considered our eternal treasure!
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew chapter 6, verses 19-21).
Kevin Park is studying at Carey Baptist College and finds that Christian-writing is his ultimate will of God and his ultimate method to build the kingdom of God. He started to become a Christian writer from 2013. Other than his writing life, Kevin desires to see that each finds everlasting satisfaction in God, the Almighty. You will be able to contact him at kevin.park1991@gmail.com. He loves to encourage others spiritually.
Kevin Park’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/kevin-park.html