REMEDY

There are quite too many gospel pictures from the lives of Jacob and Esau to cover in a single devotional. Yet we should recall some of the basics. Esau, the first born, sold his birthright for something to eat (Gen 25:29-34); whereas Adam gave up dominion over the earth, his birthright (Gen 1:28), when he ate the fruit of the forbidden tree (Gen 3:6). Jacob, the second born of the twins, was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ. By the sacrifice of two goats (Lev 16:7-10) and wearing the kid skins to appear to blind Isaac as Esau, Jacob received his father’s blessing (Gen 27:16-29); just as Jesus received the blessing of His heavenly Father, standing in fallen man’s place, when He took on human flesh and gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice.

Esau determined to kill Jacob; but he planned to do so after his father, Isaac, passed away (Gen 27:41). Again, this was prophetic of the religious leaders of Christ’s day, who conspired to kill the Lord Jesus, but waited to do so at the appropriate time because they feared an uproar among the people (Mark 14:1-2). Moreover, Esau’s plan to kill his brother comforted his heart and eased his mind. Evil men, like Esau and the religious leaders who conspired to destroy Jesus, cannot be content nor find comfort until they have fulfilled their wicked lusts:

For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. Proverbs 4:16-17

The corruptions which still remain in our flesh will desire to rise up and oppose Christ and His atoning work as well. We must be en garde against such a thing. Christ’s cross comforts us with godly sorrow in repentance as well as joy in salvation (2 Cor 7:10). If we treat Christ’s sacrifice casually or carelessly, however, we backslide with hearts no better than Esau’s or those who comforted themselves with plans to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep at Christ’s cross and glory in it (Gal 6:14). That’s the remedy for such lusts.

Evil men lust wickedness
With violence in their souls;
Yet Christians won’t have peace unless
T’ Christ’s cross do we keep hold.