Wanting a special place of honor, a place to be recognized, lives inside all of us, within our flesh. As a believer, that’s why we are encouraged to die to our flesh.
Jesus was at the home of a Pharisee and He saw the guests’ strong need to have a place of honor at the table. He addressed them by speaking to them in a parable about their proper place.
Two brothers, Esau and Jacob, were in a special order of the birthright. Esau, the firstborn, had all the firstborn rights from Isaac, his Dad, which were inherited from Abraham. Esau gave away to Jacob the firstborn birthright by “swearing an oath” to him, over a pot of red stew! It’s never a good time to have any type of discussion when a man is famished! Apparently, a verbal agreement was all that was required to make the transaction legal.
Now Jacob, a mama’s boy, the one Rebekah loved much, may have gained his mom’s favor, through the art of scheming. Remember, he was the one who was cooking the stew. It looks like he was cooking up something else as well. However, it was God’s appointment and care, not Jacob’s wits, that he came into that blessing.
Those who push their way forward, stepping on others, are not always going to be first. Those who humble themselves, shall be exalted. All our striving and scheming will never position us anywhere except under the hand and will of God, who is always watching.
Jesus was constantly being watched by the Pharisees,’ wanting to “set Him up” in doing the wrong thing, according to the Law. In His wisdom and way, He was watching them.
The Lord will always provide His continual, delivering help that should always be recounted. For, “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” (Psalm 18: 19)
(Psalm 18, Luke 14: 1-24, Genesis 25, Paraphrased & Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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