A Devotional by Pastor Cesar Castellanos

Today’s Bible Verse

Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

Romans 9:13

Chosen for Blessing

Before Esau and Jacob were born, God told Rebecca that in her womb there were two nations and that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Jacob and Esau fought from the time they were in their mother’s womb, possibly because of the feud about who was to be born first. The first to be born was Esau but Jacob was born grabbing onto his brother’s heel. Esau was born with red hair from head to toe. Another version of his name was Edom which meant “red.” His brother’s name was Jacob, which meant “he who grabs the heel” or “usurper.”

Jacob represents the spiritual man while Esau represents the fleshly man. We must understand that the call and purpose of God is for those who are willing to live a life through the Spirit. The fleshly man is the one who chooses to fend for himself without taking God’s ways into consideration. Because he knows that God does not approve of what he does, he chooses to live apart from Him. However, God knows us before we are born and He has sent us into this world with a specific purpose in mind. “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

When Isaac grew old and wanted to bless Esau because he was the firstborn, his wife Rebecca heard and told Jacob. She had enough discernment to recognize that Jacob was the son with the anointing that would bless the rest of their descendants. This was so important to her that she took upon herself the consequences of any curse Isaac might place on Jacob’s life. Rebecca knew that Esau had lost the blessing of the firstborn because he had married a Canaanite woman. The result would be to bring a reproach on all their descendants as well as bitterness to his parents’ hearts. For this reason Rebecca did not think twice. She encouraged Jacob to take the place of his brother in order to receive the blessing.

Jacob was blessed, strangely enough, in association with his clothes. “Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come here, my son, and kiss me.’ So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, ‘Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed’” (Genesis 27:26-27). Even though the importance of his clothes here is easy to miss they are, nevertheless, associated with the first blessing he received, because they carried an aroma. We can compare this carrying an aroma with something else in Scripture – intercession, which is like incense to please God, and is a blessing to those who use it as an instrument to come before Him.

He was blessed with grain and new wine. “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s riches – an abundance of grain and new wine” (Genesis 27:28). This constitutes the financial blessing and even to this day we can see that the Jewish people tend to be very blessed in this area. We can also be blessed in this way, if we keep in mind that riches are also there in order to bless others. Someone once said, “Money makes a great servant but a terrible master.” The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Jacob received his father, Isaac’s inheritance, which came from Abraham. It is still in effect as an inheritance today!

“He placed him as head over nations. “May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you” (Genesis 27:29). God was preparing him so that his nation would always have an overcoming, conquering spirit.

He gave him family leadership. “Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you” (Genesis 27:29). With this blessing He gave Jacob the right of the firstborn.

He would be loved by some and hated by others. “May those who curses you be cursed and may those who bless you be blessed” (Genesis 27:29). A blessing or curse would come upon individuals, families or nations according to the way they choose to relate to the children of Israel. Those who bless Israel will partake of the blessings already set out for Israel but those who curse Israel are exposed to the judgments of God.

Something to Think About

My name is Manuel; I grew up in a marginalized neighborhood in the city of Bogota without a father or mother. From the time I was seven-years-old, I worked to provide for my grandmother. Even as a child, I had the dream of becoming a lawyer and later becoming one of the most influential politicians in Colombia. Even though the circumstances were hard I never allowed the words, “I can’t do it,” to enter my heart. Many times circumstances were against me, but I always believed that I could do it. The grace and favor of God have helped me overcome every situation.

I began to work shining shoes and washing cars in front of a government building. As I grew in God, He began to give me grace in people’s eyes, most of whom were politicians. This is how I went from shining shoes to becoming a delivery boy. Then I was promoted to office helper. Later, I became an assistant and eventually political advisor. Meanwhile, I began to study law. These days, I work as an advisor for various politicians, councilors, and senators in my nation.

When I was eighteen-years-old I had a personal encounter with Jesus. I remember that when I arrived at that three-day encounter, I didn’t even have anything to pack my clothes in. I had to carry them in a bin bag. My jeans and my jacket where torn and they were not at all ‘in fashion’ rather, they were a disheveled expression of how life had treated me. Today, seven years later, the Lord has raised me up, sustained me and prospered me to the point where I am about to graduate from law school. Meeting Jesus was what gave meaning to my life and thanks to the teachings of the Word of God, I always believed that I could conquer whatever my heart desired. If I want to, I can!” (Manuel Sanabria)

Prayer

God almighty, thank You for choosing me and making me Your son. I know that from the time that You adopted me, You covered me with Your love. You healed the wounds in my heart. You broke the chains of oppression that accompanied me, and You set me free from the generational curses of my ancestors. You stripped away all of that from me, like clothes that are no longer useful and now they must be thrown away. Thank You for giving me “new clothes”. You brought new hope to my life and gave me a clear vision. You filled me with the greatest blessings that anyone can enjoy. Thank You, because I feel that I have more than enough because I belong to You. I love You, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Declaration

God loves me so much that He fills me with the riches of His blessings.

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: Micah 6-7; Job 36:1-15
• New Testament: John 19:1-16; Revelation 13