TRADING HEAVEN FOR A BOWL OF STEW - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

The Story of Jacob by Brian Carlisle

Some years ago, Brian Carlisle took several teenagers from his home church to
another town to play a game of basketball against a church whom
they fellowship with. This was no professional game or tournament.
They were just ten guys who were out to have some fun.

When they arrived at the park to play, the other church team
had not arrived, so they began to practice. After a while, they
began to wonder if the other teenagers were coming, so BrianI went to
find them. Ten minutes later, he arrived with the news that the
other teenagers would arrive in just a few minutes. But when he
returned to his group of teenagers, they were jumping around with
excitement.

"Wait until you hear what happened to us!" one of his friends
shouted.

"Gary almost got into a fight with a group of boys who wanted
our basketball court!" another one shouted.

"What happened?" he asked.

"These five big, older boys came up and told us to leave because
they wanted our court," Tim explained. "We told them 'no,' that
it was first come first served, and we were here first. They
knew we were right, so they started to leave."

"Okay," he thought. "Not too much excitement...yet."

"Suddenly, the biggest boy looked at Gary and told Gary to give
him his Coke to drink."

"What did you say, Gary?" I asked.

Gary pushed his chest out proudly and replied, "I set my Coke
behind me and told him that he would have to kill me if he
wanted my Coke."

I wanted to cry right there on the spot. Why? Because I had been
trying to get Gary to accept Yah'shua as his Savior for so long.
Each time he tried, Gary would always respond that he wasn't
strong enough to resist temptation and serve Yahweh.

"Gary," Brian wanted to shout, "if you would defend your faith with
the same courage and determination you were willing to use to
defend your Coke, no one would ever be abel to convince you to
turn away from Yahweh!"

Several years have passed since that afternoon, and Gary is very
tall and powerful. Gary is so strong, no one will stand in his
way. Yet Gary still is not a Christian. Why? He's not strong
enough to be one, he claims.

This has always reminded me about a story in the Bible about two
brothers - twins as a matter of fact. Their names were Jacob and
Esau.

Although they were twins in birth, they looked and acted totally
different. Jacob was a farmer with soft, smooth skin. Esau was a
hunter. He was big, strong and covered with hair, especially on
his arms, face and neck.

One day, Esau went out into the woods to hunt for some food.
Esau walked and crawled all day and never was able to kill
something for himself to eat. When Esau returned home that evening,
Esau walked passed Jacob's tent. Jacob was in front of his tent,
cooking a big pot of stew over his campfire.

"Oh, that smells good!" Esau grunted, as his stomach began to
growl.

"Yes, it is," Jacob smiled. "I put everything you like in this
stew. Actually, I think that this stew is the best stew that I
have ever made."

"Can I have some, please?" Esau begged. "I'm so hungry, I think
I'm going to die!"

"Well," Jacob began. "I was planning on giving away what I
didn't eat to one of my friends. He's hungry, too," Jacob slyly
replied.

"Please. I'll give you anything!" Esau promised.

"Anything?" Jacob grinned.

"Yes. Just give me a bowl of that stew!" Esau shouted with hunger.

"I'll give you a bowl of my stew for your birthright," Jacob
offered.

Now a birthright was something very valuable back in
those days. When a father died, his oldest son, who had the
birthright, would receive the biggest part of the inheritance.
He would get more land, more cattle, more money, more servants -
more of everything that his father owned. And since Esau was
born just a few seconds before Jacob, Esau was the oldest and
therefore he had the birthright. When their father Isaac died,
Esau was to inherit a whole lot more than Jacob. However, before
the father died, he would call in his oldest son and pronounce a
special blessing upon him. This was considered more valuable
than the cattle and servants he would receive.

"Yes!" Esau eagerly shouted. "What good is my birthright if I
die of hunger tonight? I won't be alive to inherit anything, so
my birthright has no value to me!" The Bible says that Esau
despised his birthright.

For one bowl of soup, Esau gave away the most valuable item he
owned - his birthright. Esau, by giving away his birthright,
gave away cows, sheep, goats, land, servants, money, and his
family blessing for one bowl of stew that probably made his
stomach hurt all night.

* * *

Now how are these two stories connected that I have told you?
First, they are both true. Second, both Gary and Esau valued
something small and cheap, more than they valued the greatest
gift ever given to man.

As a Christian, we are part of the family of Yahweh. Yahweh has
promised us many things for our life here on Earth, but He has
also promised us eternal life and a mansion in heaven where
there will be no more hunger, pain, enemies, or anything bad.

Heaven is going to be a wonderful place! It will be
greater than we can ever imagine, and all we have to do is keep
serving Yahweh. Sometimes serving Yahweh is easy. Other times it may
be difficult, but we must protect our birthright, our
inheritance in Heaven. One day in Heaven will be worth all the
trouble and trials we have here on earth.

Never give up your birthright! Never give up serving Yahweh! Don't
trade it for food! Don't trade it for friends! Don't trade it
for fame or money! Nothing here on earth can compare to the
wonderful blessings that Yahweh has waiting for you in Heaven!

THINK!

What was the name of Jacob's twin brother?
Which brother loved to hunt?
What member in the family rightfully owned the birthright?
What did Esau take in exchange for his birthright?
What kind of things are people tempted to exchange for their
spiritual birthright?

REMEMBER!

Sometimes it may seem like Heaven and the enjoyment of your
birthright is so far away. But remember the story of Jacob and
how he sold what was most important for something of very little
importance - a bowl of soup. Never give up serving Yahweh for
anything in this world.

A VERSE TO LEARN

"...that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance"
(Hebrews 10:34b).

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************

Dear Yahweh, thank You for sending so many before me
to teach me the way to live. Help me to never
give up serving You, no matter what Satan offers me.
In Yah'shua's Name. Amen.

****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?

Genesis 25:24-34

You can view this Bible story in full color with pictures and
resources to go along with the story at
http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/jacob.html

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