Article By Deborah Potter
The Most Valuable Right Ever Given to Mankind
The world is in continuous confusion and turmoil … why? Mankind is constantly striving to obtain the best life has to offer. For many generations it was to obtain the American dream…. House, 2 cars, 2 children, great job. For the generation of today, it fame, recognition, excitement, experiencing places and situations. A cry to join together for the rights of all in one world …. Share for the common good …. Follow the leader … but what is being shared and where is it leading you?
The constant mantra today is HUMAN RIGHTS ….. I have rights! My body my choice …. I have unalienable rights …. I have the right to bear arms….. I have the right to remain silent … I have the right to speak my mind …. I can pursue anything I want to pursue …. It’s my right!
But for the example of Esau and Jacob we shall check our rights at the door …..
Esau and Jacob …. The sons of Isaac and Rebekah … Twins in birth but not in life. Established in their mother’s womb as two nations and two peoples, one stronger than the other and the older to serve the younger.
Esau the first born the owner of the birthright and a hunter and Jacob, the supplanter, born grabbing his brother’s heel, a dweller of tents. The owner of the birthright was immediately established as Esau. Two boys born within seconds of each other yet with opposite character traits and opposite views of what would be of future importance.
The catalyst that changed the direction of theirs lives and history was this ….. BIRTHRIGHT.
(Primogeniture is the social practice of awarding the first born the natural right to succeed the father as the head of the family …. Based solely on being born first.) Many times what has been obtained free of any labor is quickly devalued and thought to be easily attained.
Esau, long before Jacob obtained Isaac’s blessing, sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. He was weary and hungry and valued earthly things of his immediate need more important than his eternal need. You may read the story and think that Jacob stole Esau’s birthright but Esau made the choice to sell it for something that only satisfied the flesh for a few hours. Esau despised his birthright. Because of the condition of the heart, the enemy was able to steal the life Esau could have had.
The enemy, that old serpent, the spreader of the lies, has one purpose …
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
What is the most valuable right that man is given at birth? The right to choose Eternal Life with Christ
What is the enemy trying to steal? Exactly that … He has a future that is set in stone and he wants to share it with you. How you may ask? With lies, with deceptions, with promises that if you partake of the forbidden fruit that you will have the knowledge of good and evil. His way brought destruction and death to Adam and Eve but Jesus made a way.
John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His [c]own, and His [d]own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [e]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Are you trading your birthright for an apple or a bowl of soup? Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the right to become a child of God that has been freely given to all is to be trifled with … don’t let it be stolen from you and by all means don’t sell it away. The things of this life and the rights that it offers are temporary and only provide a temporary freedom … the right to accept Christ as Saviour as the gift offer by God the Father is eternal. He who the son sets free is free indeed.
Deborah Potter / 2021 / Author / Teacher / Minister
