He found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:17.
No sooner had Jacob left his father’s tent than Esau entered. Though he had sold his birthright, and confirmed the transfer by a solemn oath, he was now determined to secure its blessings, regardless of his brother’s claim. With the spiritual was connected the temporal birthright, which would give him the headship of the family and possession of a double portion of his father’s wealth. These were blessings that he could value….
Esau had lightly valued the blessing while it seemed within his reach, but he desired to possess it now that it was gone from him forever. All the strength of his impulsive, passionate nature was aroused, and his grief and rage were terrible. He cried with an exceeding bitter cry, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” …
The birthright which he had so carelessly bartered he could not now regain. “For one morsel of meat,” for a momentary gratification of appetite that had never been restrained, Esau sold his inheritance; but when he saw his folly, it was too late to recover the blessing….
Esau was not shut out from the privilege of seeking God’s favor by repentance, but he could find no means of recovering the birthright. His grief did not spring from conviction of sin; he did not desire to be reconciled to God. He sorrowed because of the results of his sin, but not for the sin itself.
Repentance includes sorrow for sin, and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life.
There are many who fail to understand the true nature of repentance. Multitudes sorrow that they have sinned, and even make an outward reformation, because they fear that their wrongdoing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not repentance in the Bible sense. They lament the suffering, rather than the sin. Such was the grief of Esau when he saw that the birthright was lost to him forever.
Conflict and Courage p. 63
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for a young girl named Kamerah who got the flu and got a complication called benign acute childhood myositis and is unable to walk due to the muscle fibers breaking down. Rose
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Dear Friends,
My great-grandfather smoked big, fat cigars. All my mother’s life she remembered those stifling,smelly things even though she was still a little girl when he died. She did not like to be around him. When they visited him, he would take them for a drive to see the sights around Chicago. Even though they did not have a car, and normally would be excited to go on a drive, they dreaded it. As he drove, he puffed away on his cigar. He insisted on keeping the car windows tightly closed which filled the car with smoke. Not being used to it, it made my mother feel sick to her stomach and gave her a headache.
My grandfather, who was sitting in the back seat with his girls, began to roll down the window a tiny bit at a time to let out some of that nauseating smoke. By the time he would get the window open an inch or two, my great-grandfather would make him close it again. Over and over my grandfather tried to roll down the window very slowly so as not to be noticed, but every time, he would hear a stern “Edwin!”
Just as that cigar’s smoke surrounded my great-grandfather and became a strong memory of him for my mother, so we have an “atmosphere” that surrounds us. All that we do, our attitudes, our words, and all that we think have an influence on those around us. We may have a heavenly influence or we may have an evil one. It is our choice.
Solomon wrote, “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov 15:23,26;25:11 Isaiah tells us of his experience, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isa 50:4
We are a witness with more than just words. Jesus admonishes us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 Dorcas was a person who witnessed by her works. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9:36-42
Dorcas’ life spoke volumes to those around her. By her kind deeds, she spread a blessing to all she came in contact with. Even though great trial and even death came upon her, it was for the saving of many who knew her. Indeed, God did not allow her to be removed from them. He worked through Peter to raise her up that by the influence of a godly life, she might continue to help those in need.
So “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
May Jesus’ love shine through us to all around us. May all that we do be done “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord (we) shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for (we) serve the Lord Christ. (But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.)” Col 3:23-25 May our thoughts, words, and whatsoever we do bring glory to the One Who loves us so.
Rose