Redeemer Church of Oklahoma City

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. –Genesis 27:19-25

The firstborn gets it all: the wealth, yes, but better yet, the approval and blessing of the father. The blessing of the father is what Jacob wants most of all. It is an immaterial thing with more power than all the material things in the world. After all, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can make (or break) my heart. Isaac knew it; Rebekah knew it; Jacob knew it. Rebekah and Jacob go to great lengths to get the words of the approving father on Jacob.

Jacob dresses up like someone else to try to get the blessing. He wants this approval and is willing to deceive in order to get it. How often do we dress up like someone else to get the approval of people! How often do we deceive even ourselves into thinking we can be someone else to get our heavenly Father’s approval!

This is a sad situation with Isaac’s family. It’s a sad situation with our own families.

But there was one who was truly the Firstborn of All Creation. There was one who had the blessing, the approval, of his heavenly Father. At his baptism, when the Spirit descended, the blessing rang throughout the universe, “This is my Son in whom I am well-pleased.”

This truly firstborn son also dressed up, but in the opposite way Jacob did. This one who genuinely deserved all the blessing and approval of the truest Father dressed up in human flesh and frailties so that the blessing would go to the undeserving children. This is how Jesus made all of his people able to hear the Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are indeed the children of God (Rom. 8:16). We have the approval and blessing of the Father: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God!”

And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.

The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Come, Thou Almighty King
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is continues. Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15. 

Visitors are always welcome!