Learn to be Content

DEVOTION

GENESIS

LEARN TO BE CONTENT

Gen 27:30-38

30 After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, "My father, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing." 32 His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I am your son," he answered, "your firstborn, Esau." 33 Isaac trembled violently and said, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him — and indeed he will be blessed!" 34 When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me — me too, my father!" 35 But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." 36 Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" 37 Isaac answered Esau, "I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?" 38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud.

NIV

We certainly see two men who have been injured emotionally because of this deception by Rebekah and Jacob. Again, this dysfunctional family causes pain and anguish to each other. When Isaac realized what had happened he was even physically upset. His preference for Esau was certainly evident by his response finding out he had given Jacob the firstborn blessing intended for Esau. When Esau heard what Jacob had done to him he burst out with a bitter cry. This was a sad day in the life of both Isaac and Esau. Yet did not Esau remember he sold Jacob his birthright? Why would he think he had that right to the firstborn blessing? Would not have the whole family known about this bargain years ago between Jacob and Esau? Did they keep it a secret? That seems strange the birthright would have been kept a secret when in fact that is what qualified the one with it for the blessing of the firstborn. By his remakes he confesses he was deceived twice, once from his birthright and now from his blessing. Why would he feel he was due the blessing? Yet it seems both Isaac and Esau felt the firstborn blessing belonged to Esau. It just seems strange. But what can we learn for our lives in this mess. Could our lesson be in the response of Esau? He became bitter in his cry. This bitterness was leading him to anger and hatred toward his bother. We have to guard against any bitter feelings toward any other person, especially if they are receiving some compensation we feel is due us or that we just wanted. This compensation could be in the form of material gain such as a promotion and raise at work, or in the form of praise and congratulations for some act or deed. Jealously and envy are precursors to bitterness. Discontentment and want are precursors to jealously and envy. When we have Christ in us, what more could we possibly need? Sure, the physical needs of this life are always before us. But the Lord has given us instructions to live by both his own words and through his apostle Paul. But first let us hear from Solomon.

Prov 19:23

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

NIV  

Contentment is a key for living free of bitterness, anger, rage, malice, envy and jealously.

Phil 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NIV

Learn to be content is the lesson, learn to be content. It takes work, it takes learning, because it does not come to us naturally. We need to employ our skills of learning how to be content. This is especially true in respect to watching others receiving those forms of compensation. The desire for wealth leads to this envy and jealousy that serves to lead us into discontentment with what we have, but we are warned against such desires.

Heb 13:5

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  

NIV

Esau’s bitterness and rage was because he lost the opportunity of a lifelong blessing of prosperity and success. We cannot live our lives watching others live, for we live in Christ and God orders our footsteps. We already have the greatest blessing anyone could ever have, eternal life. We have the Holy Spirit living within us, guiding us into all truth and leading our way through life. Jesus left us his peace and his contentment. We merely have to rest in him, being content that God has every aspect of our lives under control. He will never leave us, he will never forsakes us. How blessed we are.