Characters of Jacob and Esau Contrasted

One people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Genesis 25:23.
Esau grew up loving self-gratification and centering all his interest in the present. Impatient of restraint, he delighted in the wild freedom of the chase, and early chose the life of a hunter. Yet he was the father’s favorite. The quiet, peace-loving shepherd was attracted by the daring and vigor of this elder son, who fearlessly ranged over mountain and desert, returning home with game for his father and with exciting accounts of his adventurous life.
Jacob, thoughtful, diligent, and care-taking, ever thinking more of the future than the present, was content to dwell at home, occupied in the care of the flocks and the tillage of the soil. His patient perseverance, thrift, and foresight were valued by the mother. His affections were deep and strong, and his gentle, unremitting attentions added far more to her happiness than did the boisterous and occasional kindnesses of Esau. To Rebekah, Jacob was the dearer son….
Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God … was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life….
Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the birthright should fall to him, and he was filled with an unspeakable desire for the privileges that it would confer…. The spiritual birthright was the object of his longing. To commune with God as did righteous Abraham, to offer the sacrifice of atonement for his family, to be the progenitor of the chosen people and of the promised Messiah, and to inherit the immortal possessions embraced in the blessings of the covenant—here were the privileges and honors that kindled his most ardent desires….
He carefully treasured what he had learned from his mother. Day and night the subject occupied his thoughts, until it became the absorbing interest of his life…. He believed that the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled so long as Esau retained the rights of the firstborn, and he constantly studied to devise some way whereby he might secure the blessing that his brother held so lightly, but that was so precious to himself.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 177-179.
Christ Triumphant p. 84
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Prayer Requests
—–Prayer request for my husbands Late wifes cousin. m. He writes: “Am asking for your prayers. I woke up with acute pain suggesting a possible hernia problem or male issue..
Have had hernia surgery at ___ _____Hospital in the past. Many thanks for your help. Connard”
—–My 4 1/2 month grand daughter was taken to the ER last night with a 102.2 fever. She has Covid. Please keep her mom, dad, and uncle also in your prayers as they all live under the same roof – young family. Danita
—–Please pray for all the people who are searching for the missing missionaries.
—–PLEASE PRAY We need a miracle for my amazing nephew. My brother messaged early this am. Tahner coded . But the last couple weeks tahner has gotten very sick. His body is failing him. He is so weak. And these doctors have NO explanation. Ashleigh
—–Prayers for Maya. She had many visits with all her doctors, except for one that they see next month. With all her new meds and recent diagnoses, her pulmonologist wants her to have a specific antibiotic on hand, but it’s very expensive at over $2k and insurance is not covering it. They are completely open to using homeopathic remedies, but with all her meds everything has to go through all the docs to verify something doesn’t interact with any of her other meds. She’s lost some weight this winter after fighting cold, flue, covid, pneumonia, etc. so she’s a little thin, but not too bad all things considered. Prayers that the doctors have wisdom to know what they might try, and prayers for mom to have wisdom to know when to say no. She still occasionally gets suggestions to give Maya the botox injections, which nearly killed her last time. Jennifer
—–my best friend/sister had her baby a little over a month ago and he is having some health difficulties so I’m asking for prayers not only for Thomas but for his entire family. Kaitlyn
—–Please pray for E and children that God will guide and protect them. R
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Dear Friends,
About twenty years ago, when our kids were at Union College, Ron and I got off from work a little early and began the five-hour journey to Lincoln. When we were about forty-five minutes from home, I looked over to check the oil pressure and temperature gauges. The oil pressure was about half what it normally was. I asked Ron, “Isn’t the oil pressure a little low?” Just then the temperature gauge rose to dangerous levels. He said, “We’ve got problems.” and told me to pull over.
About a month before, we had gotten the engine rebuilt. Somehow the engine just did not seem to feel or sound quite right to Ron so he had made an appointment with the mechanic to take it back so he could check it out. It didn’t seem to be anything serious—just not quite right. There, alongside of the road, he was wishing that he had been given an earlier appointment.
After checking under the hood and adding some antifreeze and oil, Ron told me to drive about 55mph to the nearest exit. I did. The engine seemed to be doing ok, and I had hope that we would be able to continue on our journey. Ron, however, was watching the oil pressure gauge. It was not doing ok. The needle was fluctuating about 4 to 12 psi’s around a slightly lower than normal reading. When we got to the exit, he told me to drive a little faster to the next one so he could watch it a little longer. It began to settle down. Again I had hope of seeing my children. We passed that exit and he told me to increase my speed again. As I did so, the needle began to fluctuate. I slowed down and turned around at the next exit.
On the way back home, we noticed that the oil pressure was not responding as it should. If I took my foot off from the gas pedal, it would go up instead of down. If I sped up, it would go down. I suggested that the oil gauge had broken and all was really ok. Ron didn’t think so. We went over some bumps in the road. I watched the gauge in hopes that the needle would move with the bumps and that our problem was only a loose connection in the gauge. It didn’t move. Disappointedly we continued driving back home.
Sometimes on our journey of life, things begin to seem “not quite right.” At first, we continue on our way, thinking that we will check out that nagging feeling when the time is more convenient. Outwardly, all is going well and we travel along with anticipation of a pleasant journey through life. Suddenly, our “gauges” begin to show outwardly what has been festering within. Our plans get changed abruptly. We wonder why. Then we have to “pull alongside” the road of life and take a good look at the problem.
Often when troubles and trials come, it causes us to turn around on the broad way where we have been traveling and head back on the narrow path toward Home. (Matt 7:13,14) Paul reminds us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
Let us be quick to recognize when something is “not quite right” and stop right then and “make [our] calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 Let us follow the Lord’s leading even when it means turning around on the pathway we have been traveling. Let us declare as did Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Rose