Firstborn continued

Letter 162 (firstborn con.) 25/10/02

Years have now gone by and Esav, who had despised the birthright (Gen. 25:34) when in need of immediate gratification, was not, however, willing to give it up altogether. Knowing that aside from the ‘automatic’ rights of a firstborn, there was also the father’s right hand blessing upon death, he felt quite confident that he still had his share coming (and what with being daddy’s favorite an’ all…! 25:8). Indeed, Hairy Red’s projections into the future did not fail. When the time came for his father to bless him, Yitzchak called him over and put in an order for that delicious venison delicacy that his son the hunter was so noted for (27:1). But, remember Rivka (Rebecca) and her devised plan? Being keenly aware of the latest developments, she now set out to implement the plan (and menu).

While Esav is out in the field hunting for that nice portion of venison, Rivka calls her beloved Ya’acov, instructing him in what will become one of history’s most crucial impersonations. Rivka tells Ya’acov to go out and get two young kids, which he does. After making them into a stew, she plasters the hides over his hands and neck, as the crux of the plan was that Ya’acov would go to his blind father as his brother. Being blind, Yitzchak would naturally communicate through his other senses and with the obvious differences, of one son being hairy and the other smooth-skinned, something had to be done… To make sure that the plan would not fail, Rivka also gives Ya’acov the best of Esav’s wardrobe (country odors included).

Tensions were running high as Ya’acov carried in the savory meal, with some freshly baked bread and a little wine. All of the delicious fragrances, as part of the cover up plot, were to have an intoxicating effect on the “old man”. Then the test begins. Yitzchak was already suspicious of foul play (Esav had just left for the hunt, how could he make it back so quickly?). It would take divine intervention to pull this off… Ya’acov, who just barely manages to pass the test, receives the following blessing of the firstborn. “May God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!" (Gen. 27:28-29). One can see from the nature of this blessing, that losing it is no small matter.

Adam, Noah, and Avraham all shared in YHVH’s kingdom order as firstborn and patriarchal heads of the human family. Each was like a prince, who would ultimately rule with Elohim. Now, Ya’acov, is the 22nd elder to join the list of the 24 who are sitting around the throne (ref. Rev. 4:4). However, Ya’acov, unlike the others, does not represent merely himself; he is a promised and chosen nation (Gen. 25:23) that would one day be the Israel of God (the prince who rules with Elohim).

After the death of his father, Ya’acov becomes the sole heir to the throne of Elohim on earth, as it was in the course of his generation that all the rest of the firstborn from Noah onwards died, only to be seen again, as mentioned above, when their Kinsman Redeemer would take the scroll out of their Heavenly Father’s hand (ref Rev. 5:1-7). It is imperative for us to understand this. One of the 24 elders, called out: "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." No one, in heaven, on earth or under the earth qualified to open this scroll, not even these 24 elders sitting around the throne. Michael the Archangel did not qualify either. In order for someone to take the scroll and open it, one would have had to overcome and to legally qualify for the position of a redeemer. Why is that so important to understand? Because we, who have been called into the body of Messiah as a first fruit, or firstborn, have to also qualify by overcoming in order to fulfill the position that all Creation is groaning for and waiting to see. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs----heirs of God and joint heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom 8:16-19). We must be careful not to be like Esav, and give up our birthrights for the tantalizing ways of the flesh.

Ya’acov and mother danced for joy upon the completion of the mission, which was but short lived, as the will of Elohim was going to continue to be done. Ya’acov’s brother returns home from the hunt, only to find out that his younger sibling had stolen his double portion and the right hand blessing. It is interesting that in order to receive the blessing Ya’acov had to lie to his father, which seemed to have been an acceptable tactic, according to divine justice. However, it did result in a very strong reaction from Esav, and understandably so. Loss of this magnitude produces rage and bitterroot judgment, while bitterness and anger of this degree, will always turn into hatred and murder. Esav, now possessed with these thoughts and emotions, set out to kill his brother. This is quite reminiscent of the story of Ka’yin (Cain) who killed his brother over the same issue. In our lives today, as a redeemed remnant, the battle that rages inside us is also of a similar nature; the conflict between the rightful firstborn – that is the natural man - and the second one - the spiritual man. “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption" (1Cor. 15:30). “But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now…For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another" (Gal. 4:29; Gal. 5:17).

Ya’acov was now fleeing for his life from his twin brother, who was a mighty hunter.

"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says YHVH, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks” (Jer. 16-16). Since “there is nothing new under the sun”, and “that which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done (Ecc.1:9), could these descriptions be referring to the “mighty hunters” (such as Esav and Nimrod), and to the fishers of men, as defined by Yeshua?

What we see in a microcosm in the book of Genesis is a macrocosm today, for the seed or progeny of these forefathers is still alive in people groups (see letter 76 “battle of the firstborn”). The same murdering spirit that was in the heart of Esav was transferred over to his firstborn’s firstborn son, Amalek. YHVH tells us that even in this generation the conflict continues.

“Then YHVH said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven… Because YHVH has sworn: YHVH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation’" (Ex. 17:14,17). It is obvious that there can be no peace treaty signed between the flesh and the spirit.

The following is the list of what we give up if we sell our birthrights for a portion of tantalizing flesh.


But to him who overcomes:

“I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God"' (Rev 2:7).

“shall not be hurt by the second death" '(Rev. 2:11).

“I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it"' (Rev. 2:17).

and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations” (Rev. 2:26).

“shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev 3:5).

“I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (3:12).

“I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev 3:21).

“shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Rev. 21:7).

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God?” (1st John 5:4-5).