Man Of God Bible Study Series Part 5- Jacob and Esau: Appetite, Deceit, And Redemption

We trace Jacob and Esau from womb to reconciliation to show how appetite, deception, and grace shape character. We challenge ourselves to trade short-term relief for long-term calling and to choose accountability over anger.

• prophecy spoken before behavior
• the danger of favoritism in families
• Esau’s trade of birthright for appetite
• Jacob’s deceit and the stolen blessing
• bitterness versus accountability
• God’s grace to fugitives and failures
• wrestling with God and receiving a new name
• humility, forgiveness, and restored brotherhood
• four mirror questions for honest self-audit

Check out the book, it’s on Amazon. If you’re a Kindle person, it’s on Kindle, it will be on Audible real soon. Check out the website www.forchministry.com. Hashtag get right because you know what you gotta do

Transcript

Sunday Kickoff & Super Bowl Aside

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Hey guys, it's B-Rob. It is the Food for Thought Faith Cast, and it is Sunday morning, February the 8th. And God is good. He giveth another day. He giveth another day. Praise Jesus. I hope you guys are good this morning. I'm just getting up, getting awake, you know to do. You got the superb Owl tonight. Yep. The biggest and largest human trafficking event ever. Super Bowl. But if you put Super Bowl together and you take and put a space in between the B and the O, you get superb ow. And what is ow? That's Moloch. If you look at the symbolism, yes, a giant owl. They be uh sacrificing to and stuff, you know. Moloch and Baal them pagans. But anyway, we're not gonna do that. We we are here today. We're going to be doing part five in our Man of God series, and we're gonna be talking about Jacob and Esau. So, um it's gonna be a good one, I do believe. I do believe. But before we get into the the actual um meat and potatoes of the podcast, I want to show you something. Look what I got yesterday. My author copy. Yeah, my new book. It's called Discernment. Yep. And I really like the cover. I've designed it. I didn't I did AI, AI did the picture, but I actually designed the way I wanted it to go. Why the camera going up there to Herschel? Anyway, you see it, it's pretty cool. It's an accomplishment, you know, bucket list type things. I am gonna write a lot more books. In fact, the Man of God series podcast will be a Bible study book after we finish all 1819 parts. I haven't decided yet, but we're gonna I think we're gonna do one a week. One or two a week. I don't know. Don't hold me to any of that. Praise God to be alive though. I want to tell y'all about these two. These things, these grunts gummies. Yeah, no, they ain't like we gummies, so these are uh super green gummies, and these things keep me going all day long. I'm 51 years old. I started taking them a couple weeks ago, and you see it's like 6:30 in the morning. I'm like, yeah. Um, I take these as well. It's made by the same company. These are mushrooms, these are functional um mushrooms. So, not the kind to make you uh see God or anything like that, but or see pagan gods or anything like that. But they will uh help you think sharper, help you talk better, make you be a better person. You know what I'm saying? Sorry that Georgia came out of me right there. But anyway, guys, um, that's a good verse. Let me uh let me read that to y'all real quick. Verse came through on my celly phone, on my cell phone. James 1, 2 and 3. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. Man, that's awesome, man. Anyone going through any hardships, anybody going through anything, boom, right there, James. Right there. Oh, that's some good stuff. Well, guys, um, check out the book, it's on Amazon. You can order yourself a copy. If you're a Kindle person, it's on Kindle, it will be on Audible real soon, so you can have a chance to purchase your audio copy. So if you like me and you on the road, you can listen while you drive. I read a lot of books that way. Yeah. But anyway, let's let's start. Let's start with um this. And first of all, let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today, Lord. Thank you for just allowing us to wake up, Lord. Thank you for giving us a spirit, your spirit, Lord, so that we may live through you, Lord. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who came here, walked, died, and rose from the grave, so that we can worship you, Lord, without having a tabernacle, without having priest, Lord. That is an amazing thing, Lord. I thank you to be alive at this point in my time. Um, Lord, I thank you for just putting me in the book, Lord. I pray for all the listeners out there, Lord, that they see your grace, that they humble themselves before you, that they are obedient to you, Lord. I pray that they would get a message from this podcast, Lord, because it's not Brian, it's it's you, Lord. This this is uh, I pray that you put an anointing on today's message, Lord. We love you, we praise you, we honor you. It's in Jesus' holy, heavenly name we pray these things. Amen and hallelujah. Well, guys, um, welcome back to the Man of God podcast. We're gonna walk through scripture in these Man of God podcasts in a biblical order. And hopefully it will transform our modern lives as we do that. Because this isn't just for entertainment, this is to be sharpened, this is to be sharpened. One man sharpens another. Um, I don't have that memorized, that verse memorized, but um I know, and you know what I'm talking about. Well, guys, today's episode is gonna be for any man or woman who has ever made a decision out of haste, hunger, or just plain not thinking, just straight off emotions instead of wisdom. For anybody who felt like he had to force God's hand, that's that's a tough one, right? That's a tough one. He had to force God's hand. I don't think you can actually do that, but I think you might be able to get his attention. It depends on your heart and how much faith and how much belief you got, right? It's also for anyone who's wrestled with identity, comparison, or resentment. Um wrestling with identity, I think a lot of us do that because this world tells you you have to be a certain way, and then you wrestle with the fact that you're not. Does that make sense? Umparison. In this case, Jacob and Esau were twins. So I could see that. I have four younger brothers. Excuse me, three younger brothers. Oh no, I'm I'm the fourth. Um, a lot of comparison growing up, you know, which leads to what? Resentment. So you see what I'm talking about. So if you've ever wrestled with that, think about this. Listen to this, and I hope you get a message from it. You know? Or anybody thinking that, you know, just wondering if God, you know, can still use them, or does God still care after they messed up a lot? And there's a lot of people out there that uh really suffer with that. You know, a lot of people have pasts, but you see, God does not hold you to that. All you have to do is repent. But today we're talking about Jacob and Esau, which are Isaac's sons. They're two brothers, uh, one promise, two very different responses to God's promises. Um, twins, section one, if you look at Genesis chapter twenty-five, verse twenty two, the babies jostled within each other, within her, or with each other, within her. The babies jostled each other within her. And she said, Lord, why is this happening to me? You see, even before their birth there was conflict, even before their birth there was conflict, and this right here, and I'm gonna say this right now because I am a pro-life person, that verse right there proves all those people that say health care that are crying about abortions being banned, it's right there in the Bible. Right there. They were alive and they had conflict even before birth. Boom. Put that in your pipe and smoke it while you're driving home. Don't do that. But anyway, um the twins were wrestling in the womb before birth. You see? And Rebecca asked the Lord, what's going on? And God answers her in verse twenty three. Listen closely. He says, Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older we're served, the younger. You see, this is important because God speaks destiny before behavior even happens, before they are born. You see, that kills any pro-choice argument. That kills it. The Bible right there. Nobody uses that, right? Man, God just put that on me. I just thought about that. That's amazing. Okay, back. Um, we were talking about God speaking or God, you know, moving before any kind of before birth, he speaks destiny. He tells her what is going to happen. So, this is the thing. Esau is the firstborn, he's big, red hair, hairy, red skin, really strong. And then Jacob comes out and he's holding Esau's heel. You see, Jacob's name literally means heel grabber or deceiver. Interesting, huh? I thought that too. Esau grows to be a great hunter, a man of the field, you know. A redneck. If you will, I got a lot of friends like that. I got a lot of really good friends like that. But Jacob, he grows up a little more quiet, a little more to himself, stayed among the tents. Today it would be staying in the house. Um, that's kind of me. I'm kind of that person. And don't get me wrong, I don't I don't mind mingling. I don't mind, I feel the best when I'm in public on stage. I mean, it's just home to me. I don't know why. It just is. But enough about me. You see, Scripture says Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed the wild game. He was a hunter, he was a daddy's boy. You see what I'm saying? Um, but Rebekah loved Jacob. He was a mama's boy. You see, right here we see something dangerous in the household, and it happens daily, right now. I know it does. I've seen it, I've witnessed it. I grew up in it. And it's very dangerous for men, it's very dangerous for children, period. Because you got two sons, same parents, same God, different feelings, which create different paths. Let's look at Genesis twenty five, verses twenty-nine through thirty-four. Once, when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the country. He was tired, he was famished, he was exhausted, he was hungry, he was empty, he was drained. So Jacob being as smart at it as he was, he sees an opportunity to deceive, because his name means deceiver. In verse thirty-one, Jacob replied, Sell me your birthright. You see, birthright back then wasn't just money, it was spiritual leadership, it was legacy, and it was God's covenant promise through Abraham, remember? The lineage, the DNA line, God's promise. You see, Esau says in verse 32, look, I'm gonna die. What good is the birthright to me? In verse 34 tells us, so Esau sold his birthright. He despised it. You see, that right there in itself should shake any man listening to its core. And let me tell you why. Esau didn't just lose his calling, his blessing. He didn't care. He despised it. Does that, I mean, that's crazy. And I see, and I've done it in the past as a young man, but I see it all the time in today's world. And men do it, women do it. They trade their purity for pleasure, they trade their obedience for the convenience, the feel good. They trade their calling from God for the comfort of this world. You see, a hungry man, a famished man or a woman, an empty man or a woman, an exhausted man, or woman. If they don't step back and think about it, maybe go to the word. They always make a short-sided decision. And the evil one's sitting in the corner with pom-poms, cheering them on, cheering you on. You see, scripture makes it clear. Esau wasn't tricked this time. He chose, he was given the choice. That's a lesson. So let's talk about years later. Let's talk about a blessing stolen. You see, years later, Isaac had become old, just like everybody. And in his old age, he became blind. He calls to his son Esau, his favorite. He wants to give him the blessing that the Lord passed down from Abraham. You see, he says, Go. Get me your five minutes game and cook it for me, so I may risk give you my the blessing. So he goes out in the field, and Rebecca, his wife, hears it. She goes to Jacob and she says, Hey, cook some game. The way your father likes it. And go give it to him and say, You are Esau, and he will bless you. So Jacob dresses like Esau, smells like Esau, and lies to his father. In Genesis 27, verse 19, it said, Jacob said to the father, I am Esau, your firstborn, your first son, your firstborn. He lies. He repeatedly lies. And Isaac gives Jacob the blessing meant for the firstborn. He went as far as to his mother put some kind of fur, some kind of skin on him. So when the dad touched him, he felt like Esau. That's as, I mean, they went that far, the Bible says. And Isaac blesses him. So now Jacob's got Esau's blessing, and he is the one that's going to pass down the lineage or the DNA. He's going to continue God's plan. So when Esau returns, Scripture said he cries out to the Father exceedingly. He had been tricked. Think about it. Your younger brother tricked you. I've had it happen in the past. Benji's done a lot in his past to me. But I mean we're we're we tight. We tight like squeaky hamper drawers or something. You know what I'm saying? I mean, we tight. Like a bottle cap you can't get off. But we're older and we don't let the past define us. But anyway, let's get back. Verse 34 says, Bless me too, my father. He cries out. This is one of the most heartbreaking moments in Genesis. But here's the truth. Esau wanted the blessing, but he didn't value the responsibility. He wanted the reward without any reverence. Jacob wanted the promise. But never trusted God enough to wait for it. So both men were terrible. Both men were in the wrong. Just in different ways. You see? Like I said, Esau wanted the blessing. He didn't value the responsibility. He wanted the reward without reverence. Jacob wanted the promise, but didn't trust God enough to wait for it. So he trusted his mother. And he did some bad stuff. You know what I'm saying? We all do that. We all. Let's move on. Let's move on. Like I said, both men were in the wrong. It's just they had totally different ways of going about being wrong. In Genesis 27, verse 41, it says, Esau held a grudge against Jacob and said to himself, The days of mourning for my father are near. Then I will kill my brother. He vowed to kill Jacob. Esau did. You see, instead of repenting, his response was revenge. Instead of owning his decision, he blames Jacob. Same thing Eve did with Adam. That thought process has been passed down and should be a warning to anybody today. You see, bitterness will always grow where there's no accountability. If accountability dies, then bitterness rise. If accountability dies, well bitterness will rise. Thank you, Lord, for giving me that. You see, anger feels very powerful. But it's temporary. And it's lazy. You see, responsibility, taking responsibility and accountability is much, much harder. But let me want let me tell you one thing, it does. It heals. Back to the story. How this relates. You see, Esau becomes consumed by resentment. Jacob, however, becomes consumed by fear. Esau was mad at his little brother. He stole his blessing. A lot of y'all would say, hey, he's got a right to be. But a lot of y'all still live in this world. And what I mean by that, a lot of y'all make decisions based on what the world would do and what other people would do. And don't kill the messenger. I'm just stating a fact. And you gotta look in the mirror and ask yourself, am I doing that? Or am I living spiritually with the armor of God? But anyway, I told you. Esau became consumed by resentment. Jacob, however, becomes consumed by fear because he's scared of his brother. So he's looking over his back his whole life. Think about that. Think about that. You ever did somebody wrong and you looking over your back the whole life? That is not a good feeling. Can't be. I don't know. You see, the thing that's in common are both consequences. Both are consequences of not obeying God. They're both consequences of avoiding his trust. God's trust. Let's stop and talk about Jacob for a minute. He's on the run. Like he's scared. He's alone. He's afraid. Nowhere to go, sleeping on the ground. You see, that's where God meets him. In chapter twenty-eight, Genesis twenty-eight, verse thirteen. He says, I am the Lord. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised. What is this? It's the Father given another chance. It's the definition of grace. You see, God doesn't excuse Jacob's deception. But he doesn't abandon him either. He's still the Father. You see, men, I want to tell you something. Or women, if you're listening. I love you both. But God is not scared of whatever mess you created. No matter how bad. But you see, he's not gonna bless your manipulation. You see, Jacob wakes up and says, Surely the Lord is in this place. And I was not aware of it. I was blinded by my emotions. I was blinded by my feelings. I was blinded by my past. You see, I'm here to tell you that God often meets us after we've run out of control. After we have taken the car and wrecked it, after the train ran off the tracks, after you fell in the ditch, that's when God meets us. Years later, years later pass, years pass. And Jacob musters up enough courage and enough strength because he's asked God for, I mean, he's he's obviously resented. I mean, he's obviously repented. Sorry. And asked God for courage and forgiveness. So he goes to face Esau for the first time in years. But the night before he wrestles with God again. In Genesis 32, verse 26. He's telling God, I will not let you go unless you bless me. And God asks him a question: What is your name? He's testing Jacob. Because Jacob normally manipulates and lies. For the first time he tells the truth. He says, Jacob. So God responds. He says, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel. Because you have struggled with God and with humans. And you have overcome. So Jacob walks away after he wrestles with God. But he walks away with a limp. But let me tell you what he also walks away with, that what that symbolizes, that limp. It also symbolizes a new identity. You see, God will heal. God, first of all, let me say this. God will wound you when he intends to heal you. You will not wrestle with God and walk away unchanged. I'm here to tell you. It won't happen. You won't wrestle with God without transformation. So Jacob finally meets Esau as a different man, as a man of God. So he bows to Esau, his older brother. He humbles himself. Not knowing what's going to happen, but he doesn't have fear anymore because fear we know is false, evidence appearing real. He has hope. He's holding on that pain ends. So Esau runs to him. He embraces him and he forgives him. You see, years of that fear is broken down. Years of that struggle is broken down. That veil is torn. It's ripped apart, it's torn away. You see, this is what happens when pride dies. So guys, gals, here is a question for you. Where in your life are you choosing the appetite of this world over the God's calling? Where in your life are you choosing this world over your calling from God? Question number two. Where are you trying to force God instead of trusting him and letting him work? Where are you trying to force God instead of trusting him and letting him work? Question number three. Where are you blaming instead of owning? That's one of the mirror questions. Where are you blaming in your life instead of owning? You see, God didn't use perfect men. He used honest ones. Esau despised his birthright. He gave it away. Jacob wrestled with this world and God until his name was changed. You see, one avoided responsibility, the other surrendered identity. So you have to ask yourself, this is the last question. Which one are you becoming? Which one of those are you becoming? Are you avoiding your responsibility to God? Or are you surrendering this worldly identity to God? That's the last question, and we're going to leave you on that. Guys, let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Lord, make us men who value what you've given. Lord, just give us the strength to make the correct decision. The one not based on feelings or flesh, but the one based on transformation, Lord. Lord, just give us the strength. Give us the wherewithal. And give us the hope. To not succumb to this flesh. To not succumb to these desires of this world, Lord. But to always stay focused on you and your plans for us. Even when we do not see them, because we are not going to see them. Because that's how great you are. A different level. Lord, we praise you. We thank you for everything you do, Lord. Just please keep us. And please. We know that your will be done, Lord. It's in Jesus' holy heavenly name we pray. Amen and hallelujah. Well, guys, that was uh that was pretty good. I like that story. I like that story a lot, and we will have the next one coming up. So, guys, tune in. We thank you for tuning in. And guys, check out the website www.forchministry.com. Hashtag get right because you know what you gotta do. Um got some new shirt designs I'm gonna put up. I think you might like them. And check out and order the book wherever you prefer. If you like Kindle, go put it on Kindle. It's free if you got Kindle Unlimited like me and you read a lot. Or just get you a copy like me. I appreciate it either way, guys. Everything's a blessing. I cannot do any of this stuff without God. I cannot do any of this stuff if you didn't listen. I love you guys. God bless you guys. And you guys know. And if you don't know, and this is your first time, listen, if you don't have a relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus, you better get right.