Basic HTML Version
lated in the Fent9n version.
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will prove another " key"
to Bible understanding for the reader to carefully fasten
in his memory the fact that "Edom" refers to EsAu.
Many prophecies pertaining to the present and future
employ the name Edom. They cannot be understood
unless it is realized that they refer to the descendants of
Esau, primarily the Turkish nation today.
"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And
Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what
profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said,
Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he
sold
his
birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau
bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink,
and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his
birthright." Later,·Jacob subtly took from Esau his bless–
ing. The story of this deception is found in the 27th
chapter ofGenesis.
Jacob's Deceptlon
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was ata time when Isaac was old, his eyesight dimmed
with age. Nearing the end of his life, he called Esau and
requested that he go to the field and hunt for venison,
prepare it and bring it to him. He would then bestow the
blessing confirming the birthright.
But Rebekah overheard, and sent Jacob quickly for
two kids .of the goats. These she prepared in the same
tempting way that Isaac loved his venison. Then she
took sorne of Esaú's clothes and put them on Jacob. Now
Esau was very hairy, while Jacob was smooth, so Rebe–
kah carefully placed the skins of the two kids upon
Jacob's hands, arms, and smooth part of his neck.
In this disguise, with bis imitation venison, Jacob went
in to receive his father's blessing. "And Jacob said unto
his father, I am Esau thy firstborn" (Gen. 27:
19).
Isaac was surprised he had found the venison so
quickly and betame suspicious. Jacob lied again, assert–
ing the Eterna) had brought the venison to him. Isaac
detected the voice was that of Jacob.
" And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, 1 pray thee,
that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very
son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his
father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's
voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he
discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his
brother Esau's hands. so he blessed him" (verses 21-23).
What the Blrthright lncluded
Now notice carefully what that blessing included!
"And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now,
and kiss me, my son. And he carne near, and kissed him:
and he smelled the smell of his raiment , and blessed
him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of
a field which the Eterna! hath blessed: Therefore God
give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the
earth, and plenty ofcorn and wine [Fenton's translation:
increase and possession]: Let people serve thee, and
nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren,
and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be
every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that
blesseth thee" (verses 26-29).
Note it! Materialistic promises,
narional
in nature.
every one! Not one of them pertaining to salvation.
None having to do with life after death. Nothing spiri–
tual here! All pertaining purely to this present fteshly
life! NATIONAL prosperity-rainfall, plenty of corn and
wine, the fatness of the earth. or, as the margin reads.
the fat places of the earth- increase and possession.
"Na–
tions
shall bow down to thee!" " Let peopJe serve thee."
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HUGE FLOCKS OFSHEEP
were among the blessings promised to Abraham's descendants.
10
The
PLAIN TRUTH December 1978