Apologetics

Contesting With A Superior Force

by Olawale Ogunsola
06/02/23
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Contesting With A Superior Force.

"[6] She said to her son Jacob, “Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau,
[7]‘Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the lord’s presence before I die.’
[8]Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you.
[9]Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish.
[10]Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” Genesis 27. NLT.

The above story is about a divided family with whom there was a strong covenant between them and God. It was a family that knew God but there was a strong division.

The father was in love with the first son while the second one was the darling of the mother. The father was Isaac and the mother was Rebecca.

Esau chose a contest he could never win. What was it? To contest with her mother, unknowingly, in the area of Isaac's favorite dish. It is important to note that the competition did not start on the day of receiving the blessings from Isaac.

Before that time it was evident that Esau had been preparing Isaac's favorite food. The story does not reveal that Rebecca and Jacob together used to participate in the favorite dish that united the father and the son.

Who is that woman who will want her responsibility to be taken away from her? No record to show that Rebecca complained about the usurpation of her "right' to prepare for Isaac his favorite meal.

Esau knew how to prepare it but the question arises, "Who taught him how to prepare it?" Was it, not his mother? Could he know better than her? I doubt it much!

She has been in charge of preparing Isaac's favorite meal for twenty years before the arrival of the sons. Not only that, it took some years before he could be taught how to prepare a favorite food. How can he "beat" her mother in what she knows how to do best for decades? It cannot be possible.

I only see the day of releasing blessings as a day of vengeance also. Paying back Esau in his coin.

Esau's contest was not against Jacob but against the superior force of his mother. Unluckily enough, he was not in favor of the Lord. This is because the Lord had declared, 'Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated." Romans 9:13.

This worked against Esau. This is because in life, there is always a superior force to contest with and you cannot win by your power or might. You need a superior power of your Maker to triumph. That is why you need to be on good terms with Him all the time. If you are not in favor of Him, you cannot enjoy the favor of man; even when it seems that you enjoy the favor of man for a season, the end will not be favorable.

About Jesus Christ, the Savior of the whole world, the Scriptures disclose,
"[52]Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and all the people." Luke 2. New Living Translation, NLT.

Therefore, overcoming any superior force calls for being in the good books of God. He can even use the superior force in your favor. Instead of working against your welfare, he will be for your good.

What was the outcome for Eaau? He wept bitterly because he lost his father's blessings. Be in a good relationship with God! Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.