1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17 + Acts 25:1-27 + Psalm 5:1-12 + Proverbs 18:19
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Old Testament – Today in 1 Chronicles 4 verses 9 & 10 we will read 2 verses that modern-day author Bruce Wilkinson wrote a best selling book upon called “The Prayer of Jabez: “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” I’ll start off with a pretty high level question for you here – Why do you pray? How do you pray? What should we pray? Does God want us to pray? Did Jesus pray? Should we model Jesus in praying? I guess I’m coming to think more and more that we of course should pray. Often. Every chance we get really. “Pray without ceasing” ideally. But I’m starting to believe that we pray primarily to discern God’s will and God’s heart – to hear God’s still small voice – rather than to ask for stuff. I mean, I think it is certainly okay for us to ask for stuff on occasion – if it is within God’s will and plan for our lives. But I don’t think we should pray to God as if he was some cosmic slot machine, and that the more we pray, the more blessings & stuff we will get. I think we should be cautious to not view prayer as a “magical” thing that will produce “magical” results in our life. I believe we pray to know the heart of God. I believe we pray for intercession for others. I believe we do pray sometimes to ask for blessings within God’s will and plans for our lives – and I stress “we” and “our” here, as a collective community of the body of Christ. Why do you pray? Do you pray to “listen” to God? Do you pray to intercede on the behalf of others in need?
New Testament – We see continued incredible wisdom displayed by Paul in today’s readings! His appeal to Caesar may look like on first glance he was trying to save his life. Many commentators believe that Paul was actually doing this strategically to get to Rome so he could preach the Gospel in Rome! Yes, he’d be arriving in Rome as a prisoner, but, if we know Paul at all, we know that being a prisoner will not stop him from preaching the Gospel! I love this whole scenario. Paul certainly seems a bit “down and out” on the ways things are going in his life. He’s been imprisoned for two years, he is barely avoiding being killed or beaten, and yet he’s continuing to think of every way to preach the Gospel and advance the Kingdom of God! I wonder about this in our lives today? Are we like Paul in this regard? Are we constantly thinking of ways to preach the Gospel and advance the kingdom? My hunch is that most of us are living very nice lives – no real threat of being killed or imprisoned. And I sometimes wonder if our comfort is maybe the real enemy? Are we not focused on preaching the Gospel or advancing the Kingdom of God because we are simply too comfortable? I do think one of the devil’s greatest tricks is to simply distract us. Not to get us to do evil. But to distract us. Make us too comfortable perhaps? I don’t know… I’m just so impressed with how Paul was so focused on the Gospel and building the Kingdom, in the midst of all his challenges. And I worry about why we are not so focused – and I think it might be our comfortable distractions…
Below is a great image of Festus’ conversation with King Agrippa about Paul’s case from verses 21 & 22: ““But Paul appealed to the emperor. So I ordered him back to jail until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.” “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You shall–tomorrow!”
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul’s Appeal” is at this link.
Psalms – I love Psalm 5 verse 3: “Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” This is a great reminder to pray in the mornings – before we start the hustle and bustle of the day. I know that many of you are reading the One Year Bible readings in the morning, which I think is a great way to start your day! I do see a huge positive difference in my day if I do pray to God in the morning and pray specifically about the upcoming day – and pray for others that I will interact with that day as well. Praise God for the morning!
Actually, while I’m talking about the morning here, let me go off on a tangent if you don’t mind… 🙂 I honestly have lived much of my life as a “night owl.” I went to bed late and woke up late. And I had all kinds of good “reasons” of why I was a night owl. But, I will be honest here – I don’t think being a night owl was good for me. I honestly believe there is so much wisdom in the old adage of “early to bed, early to rise, helps make a person healthy, wealthy and wise.” I personally think that being a night owl was a lack of discipline on my part. I don’t mean to say all this to make you other night owls out there feel guilty… 🙂 But, I do want to encourage you, in that if you think you are stuck being a night owl the rest of your life, I don’t think it is true. I believe you can make the transition to being a morning person. I am an example of someone who has transitioned from being a late-night person to an early-to-bed person. (well, yes, I’m still a bit in the transition phase sometimes it seems…) And I am here to tell you, mornings rock! Early mornings are so beautiful and peaceful! They really are an amazing time of the day to connect with God… Praise God for the morning!
Proverbs – Proverbs 18 verse 19 is very timely in my life… “It’s harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars.” Recently I received a voicemail from a friend that made me so angry when I listened to it! And I thought to myself, “that is absolutely no way to talk to me. I’m gonna call him back right now and set him straight on this!” And then after settling down a bit, I decided this voicemail was not worth the argument. I had every apparent “right” to take up an argument because of tone of the voicemail, but something inside of me (thanks God!) encouraged me not to do so. And I ended up calling this friend back later and didn’t address the voicemail tone, and things have been great ever since. Did I do the right thing? Should I have called him out on the voicemail tone? Should I have started up an argument? For some reason I didn’t. And this Proverb seems to make me think I did the right thing. If I had taken up the argument about the voicemail, I just might have been clicking a “lock” that would have separated us for a season… Have you ever had an experience like this where you didn’t allow your anger or frustration with a friend flare up in order to protect the friendship? Is this wise to do? Is there a time to allow the anger or frustration to not be held back?
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the song “Mighty to Save” sung here by Michael W. Smith:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYZQ6KN13jU
Do you believe our God is mighty to save? Click here for Might!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. “ Psalm 5:3 TNIV
Prayer Point: Pray to God each day in the morning for your day ahead. Share your requests with God and wait expectantly, trusting that God hears your voice.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Mike you wrote:
“Why do you pray? How do you pray? What should we pray? Does God want us to pray? Did Jesus pray? Should we model Jesus in praying?”
I have concluded at this time in my life that prayer for me is communicating with God, both listening and speaking. Praying should be more about listening then rattling off my laundry list to God for the things I think I need but in reality are wants. I hope my prayers are from the depths of my heart and not some ritual. I desire true intimacy, a relationship that is substantive, and not just talking to be talking.
Because my delimitation of prayer is “communicating with God,” and God knows my needs even before I do, I want to hear from God what He wants me to do. Jesus’ heard from His Father in his time of prayer and he always spent time with God right before something big was about to happen. May I strive to model my Lord and Saviors’ behavior.
I Chronicles 4:5-5:17
Since my habit ‘till a year ago was to read thorough the first eleven chapters of I Chronicles, like I read through the beginning of Numbers and Ezra, going 100 miles per hour, I don’t really remember when Jabaz’s prayer stopped me in my tracks, but it did. It was like hitting a speed bump going 60 on a wide opened highway then suddenly seeing this thing, this bump pop up in the road ten feet ahead. I figuratively flew in the air.
Every time I come to this section, I see something I’ve never seen before and am always amazed by the depth of this text. I’ve come to realize that Jabaz’s name is my name, is everyone on this board’s name. We all have been conceived in pain and scarred by the names given to us. Names like: You’re no Good, Just Like Your Father, Stupid, Dumb, Ugly, Why Don’t’ You Act Like Your Brother/Sister, and the names go on. These names define who we are from our childhood, reining us in and keeping us confined to the valley of despair and limited potential.
Jabaz, I believe, was more honorable than his brothers because he asked God to remove the limitations placed upon him so that he could be what God had called him to be and not what men told him he was.
I love how the Amplified translates this passage:
9 Jabez was honorable above his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez [sorrow maker], saying, Because I bore him in pain.
10 Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.
Acts 25:1-27
I just realized the ruling officials of the day were also the judges. I’ve read this many times, but never noticed the political leaders having the dual role of judge and ruler. So Paul’s admonishment to Timothy (1 Tim. 2:1-3),
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
Now has greater weight and depth of meaning because I realize these political leaders weren’t just politicians that could be voted out of office. They were appointed to carry out government business, oversee the citizens and inhabitants as well as judge their behavior and actions at trial.
I wonder what that would look like today in the USA if our elected officials ran the courts.
Psalm 5:1-12
Although using different words and more of them, David, like Jabaz, is asking God to remove the boundaries that have placed him in danger. Hmm, maybe God has already removed those boundaries, maybe we just need the vision to see past the cardboard walls and flimsy fences, smoke and mirrors the devil, and folk have built around us.
Proverbs 18:19
I went looking for the Hebrew word translated “offended” or “offend” in this passage and the primary English usage is not offend or offended but transgress and transgressor (26 times). Offend or offended is translated only once and it is in this verse. [Pasha` to rebel, transgress, revolt—Strong’s Number 06586]. This is not some little bit of rudeness or terse remark; this is a major breech or violation against another person. So I’m not so sure that this verse is saying not to allow an offence or slight to break up a relationship so much as it is a warning stating, “Don’t sin against a brother or close friend”. I will have to explore and study this further.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====== Colleen:
Cosmic slot machine…that was good! I think that prayer doesn’t have to always be a request. Sometimes I simply have a conversation with God about a fear, an event, or a person that I love…always makes me feel better. I can also relate to the Proverbs reading today and I am very glad I did not “lock out” the friendship with harsh words or actions. Wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. God bless!
Colleen
======= Dee:
Mike, Thanks for your hard work and dedication in writing the daily blogs. I’ve been trying to catch up with my daily readings. Something in your July 7th comments popped out to me. In your blog, “I just think we should be cautious to not view prayer as a “magical” thing that will produce “magical” results in our life.” My father was diagnosed with premature cell leukemia 5 years ago. At the time of diagnosis, his prognosis was recovery was below 50%. Our minister at the time had all the family join hands in a circle around dad’s hospital bed. At the same time, our minister got down on his knees, prayed the most powerful, “magical” prayer we’ve ever witnessed. We believe beyond all doubt that the prayer offered to God that day was the beginning of my father’s healing. I very, very much believe that if a prayer is lifted up to God in faith, believing in His power and might, that wonderful “magical” things can happen. Dad is in full remission to this day. As the old beautiful song says, “Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door.” That is very “magical” to me.
I believe we cannot limit the power of God. We have to pray for God’s will, but there have been numerous times in the Bible when His people have prayed for God to “change His mind”, and God answered them by doing so.
Thanks for your diligence in providing us with insightful comments.
Keep the faith!
Dee
===== Roslyn:
It’s good to be talking about PRAYER once again.
Yes, we pray for a number of reasons: to praise God and to acknolwedge his presence in our lives, to ask for forgiveness to ask for discernment, to pray for ourselves and the rest of the world—-that we may be all united in PEACE.
Asking is part of prayer but it should not dominate our prayer life…
The act or prayer is an act of complete sumbission to God, to be able to “silence our minds” and allow God to do the talking as we listen… or for us to talk and God listens. But it is only in the quietest, deepest moments that we’re able to listen, that we become one with and in God.
Roslyn
====== Laura:
Mike, I agree with your response and the way you handled your friend that sounded rude on your voice message. I have had opportunites when I could of and felt very justified to speak my mind. To say things out of anger and fustration. I have found that this is a very good time to pray. I’ve prayed away anger before and even asked God to help me handle the person that has made me angry or is difficult to deal with. When I have been obedient in responding the way He has asked me, the outcome has always been positive. Believe me, this is not always as easy as it sounds. For me anyway.
One time at work I had an issue with a rude condescending supervisor, who I felt very justified to be rude back to. Instead, when I went on my break I prayed about it. After that my anger discipated. In my prayer, God had told me to apologize,which if left up to me, would of been the last thing on my mind. After apologizing things got much better between us.
It seems we do get a little distracted in our daily lives and that we might forget about God when things are going smoothly. I don’t feel that I would of understood the blessings, had I not gone through some trials. He taught me many of lifes lessons during difficult times in my life. Praise God!!!!
Laura
====== Peter:
About what you mentioned in context with Jabez’prayer and “pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:14-18)” I have been reading John Piper’s 2004 book “When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy”.p. 156. This advice to pray without ceasing comes in the midst of the “idle” provoking you, the “fainthearted” leaning on you, the “weak” depleting you. You are called to encourage and help and be patient and not return evil for evil. Whee do we get resources to love like that? The answer “rejoice always”. The key to this rejoicing , this delight, which sustains the life of fruit-bearing love is “pray without ceasing” and “give thanks in all circumstances”. This will make us durable and fruitful in relation to all kinds of people.
Peter
====== Ramona:
1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17
Hmmm, the following verse caught my eye and led me to do some digging,
And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took. (1 Chronicles 4:18 KJV)
In trying to figure out who was this Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh that so intrigued me I discovered upon looking in some commentaries that scholars believe she was the women who “drew” Moses, which means, “drawing out,” out of the Nile River. Was Pharaoh’s daughter an admirer of the Jews? It seems she not only adopted Moses as her own but in her marriage to a Jew, she must have had an understanding, or at least acquired one, of Jewish culture and history. So not only was Moses trained in all the arts of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22), he was exposed to Hebrew culture.
I know have greater respect for her because she did not try to make Moses into an Egyptian. She loved him enough to step down from her societal privileges and marry a “slave.” Funny thing though: after Moses had run away to Midian to escape from those looking to kill him after killing the Egyptian, his future wife and her sisters called him an Egyptian (Ex 2:19). Do we really know who people are or do we just think we know. How many people think Jesus was just a good man who helped people?
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====== Mae:
“It’s harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars.”
After the Midweekservice past Wednesday I received a textmessage on my cellphone from one of my sisters in church, one I’ve been very close with for the past couple of months. The textmessage said “Did I do something wrong? I was searching for contact with you and you looked away from me. And when I said we should get together for dinner you didn’t say anything! What’s going on with you? Or is it just my imagination? Please let me know ASAP”. I couldn’t believe what I was reading! This textmessage was wrong on so many levels! I wanted to call her the same minute to tell her: 1.) This is a subject where you should call me for! NOT textmessage me for! 2.) There has been A LOT going on in your live, why don’t you look inside your own heart instead of trying to figure out what’s going on in mine, because I’m fine! I think the Holy Spirit is talking to you, my friend!
Well … I didn’t call her that minute. I was too caught up in my emotion.
I’ll walk you through this so you can understand …
A few weeks ago my friend was wondering the hallway in church, she was crying. I walked up to her and didn’t ask her a thing. I just gave her a hug, gave her a shoulder to cry on. I mean, if she wanted to tell me what was wrong, she would have come to me. But she was just walking and crying. From that moment on many things changed. She and her husband came in late for prayermeetings, she quit all the servings she had in church (cleaning, coffee, childrens care) from one day to the other, she really took a distance not only from me, but from others too and clearly from church to (I’m not saying from God, I don’t know about that). I never asked her what happened, because I believe that if she wanted to share everything with me, she would have come to me. The only thing I did was asking how she was, doing some small talk … but she kept everything short. She was polite, but that was about it. I also tried to invite them for dinner “You really should come over for dinner soon!”. Her answer was “Sure”. Something was defenitly up with her, she hardly talked to anyone, after the service she would go home instead of drinking some tea and have fellowship. After a month of going through this, I decided to take some distance. Stay open to her, show her that I’m here for her, but I thought it would be better if I didn’t walk up to her anymore for a talk. And then all of a sudden last Wednesday, she was smiling from ear to ear “We should get together for dinner soon!”. And that caught me by surprise! I just didn’t know what to say. She said it right before the service, when everybody was shaking hands and wishing eachother a good service. So I also didn’t have time to response the way I wanted to. Well, and then the textmessage came …
You can understand I was floored! I wanted to give her a piece of my mind. But then I thought about several Proverbs that I have read. “Wise people think before they act”, “The wise are known for their understanding”, “Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;only fools insist on quarreling” … well, you get the picture! I just didn’t know what to do. Then I asked myself “What would Jesus do?” and then I started praying for it. All of a sudden it was clear what I needed to do. Jesus helped me, He guide me.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image”. The Lord makes us more and more like Him … so for me it makes sense to ask myself the question “What would Jesus do?”.
Mae
====== Lynn:
For the past few months, I have been reading this blog daily. I have found the comments to be uplifting and comforting. Thank you.
Lynn
====== Brandie:
The Prayer of Jabez is a book I use to use before I took a test and I would pass my test. It also calmed my anxieties. 🙂
I pray for those that are lost that need to find Jesus, my bible study that is going on right now, my sister that is in ICU (which by the way is doing tons better), I pray for those that have lost someone dear that they find the strength to go on with life and God to be there for them. I pray mostly for others and then finally for me.
I have done very well and ‘listened’ to God this past week. I have been patient and waited at the hospital with Whit and on Friday I spent the day with my son. I waited by her bed and told her we were praying for her and my son which he is 3 sent Angels to watch over her.
I think Proverbs 18:19 “It’s harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars.”
is very good because it will make you loose friends. As I lost a really good friend and we haven’t spoke in 7 years and he choses not to speak to me. I really miss him.
Brandie
====== Pat:
There were a couple of things you touched on in today’s reading and commentary that I would like to comment on.
1)I have not read the Jabez prayer book and for precisely the reason you spoke of. Maybe I have the wrong impression of the book. But folks I have talked to recommended it for exactly the reason that is a turn-off to me. “You can get whatever you want!” It seems like often TV evangelists (and some of my friends too) will talk of praying for things, things and things. “Well, I wanted a new couch and so I’ll just pray and tell God to come up with the money.” “I want to make this trip to China so I’ll just pray and tell God that he’ll have to come up with the money.” ad infinitem. Then when the person finagles around and comes up with the money for the particular item, they cast the “blame” for receiving it on God. I personally don’t think He had a thing to do with it. I have long been uncomfortable with that type of thinking. I know that God wants us to bring our every need to Him but I can’t look at Him as a gift-giving machine. I pray to know Him and His will. I do pray to Him for help with things and situations and I know He hears me. I also know that He knows best and I am happy with that. Prayer itself has several components and not all every time. Praise Thanksgiving Confession Supplication maybe some others that I’m not thinking of.
2) The night owl vs morning person thing. I too have always been a night owl. I too feel that it has mostly been a lack of discipline on my part. I find that mornings are AMAZING! I too am a night owl making the transition. It is sometimes difficult to get on up in the morning to spend time with the Lord, but it is SO worth it. A lifetime of habit is sometimes hard to break and it is easy to fall back to old ways. I started about 18 months ago getting up and sitting at the kitchen table with my Bible and my cup of coffee. I began to look at the table as “the altar of the home maker.” It is a wonderful way to start the day. Plus you get to see another of God’s blessings: sunrises!
When you awake in the morning and hear the birds singing, be aware they are praising God their maker and realize God will provide.
Have a nice day!
Pat
====== Doug:
mike, I’m one of the night owls due to being on the night watch. I work from 11p to 7a 5 nights a wk.
This is not bad as with my job I have time to read and study my Bible and pray as I am the only one here at night. It is usually very quiet and My Father God and I have many good conversations.
I enjoy the Bible blog.
Doug
====== Arielle:
I totally agree with mike on “comfortable distractions”
There are lot of times when things are going smoothly in my life that I find excuses to skip prayer.
I sometimes question my love for GOD? Is it not deep enough to spend some time with him? I don’t know!!
I pray earnestly asking GOD to give me the passion and desire to worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
Is this only me or are there others out there who are constantly struggling with comfortable distractions?
I hope most of you could pray for me that I develop a much more passionate bond with GOD each day of my life. Receiving HIM more and more each day – Thanks
Arielle
====== Luch:
I continue to be enriched by OYB community and by mike’s creative touch with his posts. Re Paul’s passion. He is truly as FF Bruce called him ‘the apostle of the heart set free’. I love this daily OYB ‘liturgy’.
Luch
====== Janice:
Praying is so important because, even though God knows everything about us in the first place, it gives us that one on one relationship that God wants. Little talks with God (driving the car, taking a walk, etc) throughout the day keeps us focused on Him.
Janice
====== Wanda:
The section on Jabez stood out to me today. Had me thinking that perhaps it’s those things that are birthed in pain that are able to bring the Father the greatest glory. His very name identified him as pain and he sought God in manner that his destiny was not defined by the name/label given to him by his own mother. May we all transcend the labels that have been attached to us. Glory be to God that defies what attempts to constrict us!
Wanda
====== Karen:
I hope all who read this comment page are diligently praying for the USA. Even those who don’t live in this country don’t want to see it go down like so many nations in the old testament that we are reading about. The people turn from God and down goes the nation. God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.” GOD BLESS AMERICA! Love in Christ.
Karen
====== Molly:
The offended brothers in the New Testament crucified our Lord, Jesus. I believe it is a terrible thing to stay offended.
Molly
====== Jorge:
Years had gone by since an argument with skirts came between me and my group of friends, some of witch I knew since tiny babes just begging to walk .
She chose them, they chose her and the respect that we held as friends for each other at that moment got broken.
Nothing wrong with her but at that moment I rather not to argue with people that were beginning to look to me like hungry bests, and that hold me frozen.
Until this day that i think I have Email one of those guys and we talk without any bad resentments; but I know that I was just trying to be politically correct, not to poor salt over old wounds, specially mines .
Jorge
====== Jane:
A soft answer turns away wrath. Grew up memorizing. it works really well.! It’s so easy to be quick to respond to someone because of a tone of voice. Doesn’t take much to misconstrue someone. BUT how much better is it to think before we speak? Wow! And also to let things go and not read into stuff. Someone may be having a bad day. Anyway do what. Jesus would do. Respond in love! Works every time!
Jane
======= Vance:
I Chronicles 5 (NKJV)
1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright;
2
yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s—
NOTE:
The life of Reuben is an very interesting—and very tragic—illustration of what the “mind of the sinful nature (flesh) can do. He lost his birthright.
What is birthright? Note this answer from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
“Birthright is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son. Where there were more wives than one, the firstborn was the son who in point of time was born before the others, apparently whether his mother was a wife or a concubine.”
In the OT, some men had many wives. The firstborn was the first male born, whether from concubine or wife.
What were the benefits from being the first male born (the birthright)? Again, from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
a. “The birthright of the firstborn consisted in the first place of a double portion of what his father had to leave. This probably means that he had a double share of such property as could be divided.”
b. “The firstborn became head of the family and thus succeeded to the charge of the family property, becoming responsible for the maintenance of the younger sons, the widow or widows, and the unmarried daughters.”
c. “He also, as head, succeeded to a considerable amount of authority over the other members.”
d. “Further, he generally received the blessing, which placed him in close and favored covenant-relationship with Yahweh.”
The oldest son had:
1. double portion of property
2. became head of family after father died
3. assumed authority to rule over the family after father died
4. received spiritual blessing of close and favored covenant relationship with the Father God- Yahweh.
Finally, note this from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
“According to the accounts which have come down to us, all these gifts and privileges could be diverted from the firstborn son.” This could happen through sin—as in the case of Reuben as well as Esau.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: If there was firstborn with a birthright, the family had no access to God’s authority, blessing, and protection on earth. The firstborn with the birthright were essential for the entire family.
Joseph is a picture of assuming the spiritual birthright because of his obedience to his father. Yet, because he was sold in slavery, he could not perform his role of spiritual birthright—exercising physical authority as protector—over his family until he saw them in Egypt as co-ruler of Egypt.
Judah also obeyed. Because he was with the rest of the family, his spiritual obedience and faith enabled him to assume the regular practice of the authority and the blessing of the birthright over Jacob’s family.
FIRSTBORN IN NEW TESTAMENT
The concepts of “firstborn” and “birthright” find their greatest and fulfilment in the NT in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider these verses:
Romans 8 (Amplified)
29
For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
Colossians 1 (Amplified)
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[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.
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He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].
Hebrews 12 (Amplified)
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But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,
23
And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,
James 1 (Amplified)
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And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].
Finally, I really like this verse in Romans which is excellent to meditate on.
Remember the physical children of Israel: Their access to all of the rights, protection, and authority of their father after he passed only came through the firstborn with the birthright.
We have access to all of what our Father in heaven has—only through Jesus, the Firstborn:
Romans 8 (Amplified)
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The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
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And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
NOTE that through the amazing grace of Christ, He has made us FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST because Christ has graciously SHARED HIS INHERITANCE WITH US.
But this will only happen if we allow true repentance to break into our hearts so we can enter into the full spiritual inheritance that Jesus has already secured for us.
We share Christ’s authority over sin and Satan. We exercise our spiritual authority through prayer in submission to the Lord
Vance
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