If Not Grace, Nothing
So far in Genesis we have seen the active grace of God through Abel, Noah, Abraham and Isaac. Now we come to the infamous story of Jacob and his older brother Esau. Now we going to understand God's grace in a deeper way.
God chose Abraham out of Ur where he worshipped idols (See Joshua 24:15). God chose Isaac over Ishmael as Isaac was the son of God's promise while Ishmael was the son of the flesh. But now God is going to turn the fabric of our sensibilities upside down. He's going to chose Jacob over Esau. Two characters that preach God's grace without even realizing they are.
Esau had everything going for him. He was first born. He was his father's favorite, he was a man's man. He had it all.
Genesis 25:28 (ESV) Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
But before all that, God had set Jacob apart.
Romans 9:10–11 (ESV) And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
God chose Abraham out of Ur where he worshipped idols (See Joshua 24:15). God chose Isaac over Ishmael as Isaac was the son of God's promise while Ishmael was the son of the flesh. But now God is going to turn the fabric of our sensibilities upside down. He's going to chose Jacob over Esau. Two characters that preach God's grace without even realizing they are.
Esau had everything going for him. He was first born. He was his father's favorite, he was a man's man. He had it all.
Genesis 25:28 (ESV) Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
But before all that, God had set Jacob apart.
Romans 9:10–11 (ESV) And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—
Jacob does nothing right. He swindles Esau, he deceives his old man. After all of it, he runs for his life and avoids responsibility. But God's purpose remained the same.
You cannot read Genesis and think the Bible is centered on good men who did good things. The Bible is about God's goodness in spite of man's sinfulness. And every person God uses and everything they have is GRACE. So is salvation. Salvation is God's work, not ours. We respond to it, but we do not participated in making it happen.
In choosing Abraham, God shows us we cannot boast about our religious heritage - Abraham only had idolatry in his past.
In choosing Isaac, God shows us we cannot boast about our age or stature before others but only God's promised word - Isaac is the son through whom Abraham's offspring was reckoned.
In choosing Jacob, God shows us we cannot boast about what we think we deserve even if the most important people in our lives agree - such as Isaac would have for Esau.
No, at the end of the day, it's always grace.
Some people say if you base your salvation on God's election, then it leads to more sin. After all, what's the point of obeying God if He's decided to chose you? But look at the next story... Esau is the one who despises what he thought he had coming to him (God's election), and Jacob longs for it and does whatever it takes to get what he thought he had no shot for. The purposes of God do not lead to greater sin. No, they lead to greater Godliness in our lives because He is the one who changes us, not we ourselves.
It's grace that you're reading this.
It's by grace you've been saved.
Now live thankfully... and obediently.
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