JC Blog

I just made it through a very stressful and challenging week. In the midst I found myself working through the book of Matthew. As I came to Matthew 8, where Jesus and the disciples are  in a boat, in the middle of the storm. As read,I stopped and spent time looking over this account. Because, in the midst of my own storm, I knew the answer to the question of how to get through it, how to get to the other side without drowning, lie in these passages.

Here is a rundown of what happened on that day. Jesus is teaching and multitudes of people are pressing in. Seeing the crowd, Jesus gives a command that that He and the disciples would cross over to the other side of the lake. Once they got into the boat and away from shore, a furious storm came on them. The wind was howling and the waves were sweeping into the boat. The Amplified Bible indicates the violent storm was of hurricane proportions (Mark 4:37 Amp). However, Jesus is sleeping in the stern of the boat.

Seeing that they were in great danger, the disciples wake Jesus and tell Him they are perishing (Matthew 8:25). Mark’s account even records the disciples saying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). Luke records that the disciples called Him “Master” before announcing the boat was going down (Luke 8:24). Jesus wakes up, rebukes the wind and tells the waves to be still. After calming the storm, He asks the disciples why they are afraid and how it was that they had no faith.

Instead of taking a cue from Jesus sleeping in the midst of the storm, the disciples focused on the storm and the dire situation. Interestingly, Jesus chides them for not having faith. The disciples just did what any of us would do when it seems we are going to drown, we say it like it is and we prepare for the worst However, if we are going to survive this life and all the trying situations we face, we have to look at how Jesus responded to these things and take our cues from Him not from the situation.

Three Things I learned from this Account

First, if Jesus says “you are going to the other side.” then get ready, you’re going!

If Jesus rebuked the disciples for panicking, waking Him and speaking of their destruction then this is the first thing we absolutely cannot do. This is hard. If the situation is bad, it is our nature to focus on it and want to talk about it. We want to focus on the wind and the waves because sometimes it is hard to see anything else. However, notice that Jesus was sleeping through the storm. It was like a hurricane but it did not trouble Him. He was in the midst of it with them, in the same situation and He did not respond to it like the disciples. Why? Because in the beginning He said they were going to the other side of the lake (Matthew 8:18, Mark 4:35, Luke 8:22). He looked to the outcome and called it finished. In faith Jesus spoke about going to the other side and acted on that even though a storm was coming.

In the midst of our own storms, we need to focus on the finish and speak the outcome instead of the problem (Mark 11:22-24). The disciples had a word from God that they were going to the other side. The storm didn’t change that. God calls things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). We too must have this attitude and practice speaking faith especially in the midst of dire situations. If you have a word from God that you are going to the other side, then you are going! Act on that word, especially when the storm comes.

Secondly, you will not drown if the Jesus is in your boat!

Can you imagine the Savior of the World drowning? Can you imagine redemption being put on hold because the key player was no longer available? No, absolutely not! This perspective that Jesus is in the boat with you, and will not drown, is necessary when the waves are sweeping into the boat. Knowing that you are going to get to the other side and that the Savior is there is all you need to know. Then you can stop focusing on the situation and start applying Biblical principles.

Rejoice Always - Philippians 4:4-9
Consider it pure joy - James 1:2-8
Let the peace of God rule your heart - Colossians 3:15
Be clear minded and self-controlled so you can pray - I Peter 4:7
Cast all your cares on the Lord because He cares for you - I Peter 5:7
Etc.

Now is the time to show the Lord your faith! Faith please God (Hebrews 11:6). Now is the moment to shine! Victory is near, show God you trust Him, show Him your faith, show Him that the waves and the wind do not compare with His glory, power and might. Take His attitude that the situation does not dictate or affect the outcome!

Lastly, the question “Lord, don’t you care that we are perishing?” is never appropriate to ask when the Savior of the world is in your boat!

This must have been a devastating statement to Jesus. After all, His purpose of entering into humanity was to save it (John 3:16-17). And the disciples woke Him, looked Him in the eyes and asked why He didn’t care they were going to drown. It’s not even that they woke Him to prepare or inform Him of what was going on, they woke Him to accuse Him of indifference, callousness, blatant disregard of their lives. What Jesus must have thought! After all He was in the boat with them.

I was thinking about this, because in the midst of my own storm, I kept asking to Lord to save me, when His word clearly tells me that I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Romans 8:37). I asked Him where He was in the midst, when His word teaches me He will NEVER leave or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). I asked him, “Lord, don’t you care that I am perishing?” and He responded, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17).

If I would have had Jesus’ perspective about getting to the other side instead of focusing on the water rushing into my boat, these questions would never have been asked. Instead I would have shown the Lord my faith, I would have known He was right there with me seeing me through the whole thing solely because He cares!

This lesson is not soon to be forgotten. I hope to always have the attitude and perspective that Jesus had when responding to problems, situations, people and life. I want to respond based on how Jesus responded. I want to show my faith and trust in Him in all things. I want to get to the other side unscathed by the wind and waves knowing He was with me the entire way!

“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” ( Hebrews 11:31 )

Rahab had an understanding of God’s character; an understanding that many of His covenant people lacked. As terror spread throughout the land, because of the Israelites camped at the Jordan awaiting entrance into their Promised Land, Rahab made a deal with the spies hidden in her house and God honored it. The account of Rahab’s faith is an amazing story of redemption.

When Joshua sent spies into the land to bring back a report, they stopped at Jericho entering into Rahab’s house. As a prostitute, her house gave them opportunity to blend in. After hiding them on the roof, she redirected the king’s servants, who were looking for them, into the countryside on a wild goose chase. She reveals to the spies that the entire land was shaking with fear because their God’s fame and mighty works had preceeded them for decades ( Joshua 2:9-11 ).

Rahab’s next move was amazing, she asked the spies to exchange her kindness for a sign that she and her family would be spared when Jericho was defeated ( Joshua 2:12-13 ). Agreeing to her terms, they instructed her to keep the scarlet cord, on which they escaped in the window. Assuring that everyone remaining inside would be spared ( Joshua 2:17-20 ).

What is interesting about this, is that Rahab made this deal based solely on God’s grace. She was from Jericho, she was a harlot, she had no right to ask anything. Secondly, she put herself in grave danger by helping the spies and then remaining in the city surrounded by enemies who could turn on her if they knew her part in helping the Israelites. And yet, her token of this agreement and her life line was a scarlet cord hanging in plain view. This is a marvelous picture of redemption. She put her faith in the grace of God and God provided a way out giving her a reminder by the scarlet, blood-colored cord, ever present before her; reassuring her, redemption was drawing neigh.

As the city fell, Joshua gave the spies the honor of bringing Rahab, her family and all her possessions out from the midst of the destruction and into the Israelite community ( Joshua 6:22-25 ). She trusted God to save her because she had insight into God’s character trusting solely in His goodness and His grace. God responded to her faith and forever commemorated her in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ ( Matthew 1:5 ). Her story is one of redemption and restoration and will forever be celebrated in the Hebrews Hall of Fame.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days” ( Hebrews 11:30 )

This account of defeat of Jericho truly belongs in the Hebrews hall of fame. This was a crowning moment for Israel as they trusted God to make good on His promise to them. After wandering the desert for forty years, due to their unbelief, the first mission in the Promised Land of Canaan was to conquer Jericho, a fortified city whose walls were thick and impenetrable.

Previously Joshua had sent two spies into Jericho to scope out the city and their report was vastly different than the report given back to Moses the first time spying out the Promised Land. Instead of doubt, dissension and unbelief, the spies told the people, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us” ( Joshua 2:24 ).

As they prepared to defeat the city, instructions were given about how to do it. The entire army was to march around the city every day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times.Then the priests were to blow their trumpets while the people shouted and the walls would fall down for them to enter and fight. The Ark of the Covenant would go before them to remind them of their covenant with God.

Joshua also gave further instructions, “Joshua had commanded the people, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” ( Joshua 6:10 ). This was wisdom on Joshua’s part after witnessing the repercussions on the entire nation of Israel, caused by the ten spies who had made negative reports. ( Numbers 13:26 - 14:4 ). The people of Israel had allowed these negative words talk them out of God’s promise and His best for them, As a result they ended up wandering the desert for forty years until that entire generation died.

Since the idea of marching around the city day after day, believing at the end, the walls would cave in to deliver it into your hands takes faith, Joshua was helping them along forbidding them to speak any doubt. In fact, I believe each day it probably got harder and harder to march around the city, I’m sure there were people camped on the walls shouting insults which only got worse with each passing day. I’m sure it would have been easy for the Israelites to talk themselves out of the victory even if only one person started voicing doubts. Instead they remained silent which allowed them to walk out their faith in what God had instructed them to do.

The result was complete and total victory. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, blew the trumpets and shouted their war cry as they entered and defeated Jericho, burning it to the ground. They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing, just as they were instructed. Only Rahab and the family that was with her was saved.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell and the people of Israel enjoyed great success. They took God at His promise and carried out His instructions and God did exactly what He promised He would do. What a great lesson in faith for all future generations to study and examine.

“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned” ( Hebrews 11:29 )

It takes faith to walk into the midst of the sea with water piled high to both your left and right side trusting that you will make it safely across. However, this is exactly what the Israelites did as they fled from the Egyptians. God demonstrated His power both to Israel and the nation of Egypt as He fully delivered His children from their captors.

As they fled, the Israelites looked back to see the Egyptians pursuing them. Crying out against Moses for bringing them to a place of sure death, Moses responded in faith “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” ( Exodus 14:13-14 ). He spoke in faith that the Lord would deliver his people before he knew what the plan for deliverance was.

The account of what happened next was amazing, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” ( Exodus 14:15-18 ).

The Lord responded to Moses faith and delivered His people as promised. Moses acted in faith by raising his staff and stretching out his hand over the sea and in return God moved the waters creating an escape path of dry ground. The angel of God blocked the way of the Egyptians so that Israelites could safely escape. After the entire nation was safely across, the Egyptians pursued, only to be drowned as the waters returned to their natural place. God’s power and glory was displayed as He delivered His people remaining true to His word.

Faith is what propelled Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and faith is what sustained them through their escape. God always responds to the faith of His children. “As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame” ( Romans 10:11 ).

“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel” ( Hebrews 11:27-28 )

Moses lived a life propagated by faith in an unseen God. This faith was the means to see what was invisible and hidden to others. In return, God revealed Himself constantly to Moses making provision for him. Because Moses had faith, he left Egypt undismayed by the wrath of Pharaoh who was trying to kill him ( Exodus 2:15 ). Instead he set his face steadily toward Him who is invisible and disregarded everything else.

Because of this lifestyle of faith, Moses oversaw and instructed the people of Israel to carry out the Passover. This would be the breaking point for Pharaoh but a glorious triumph for Moses. The angel of the Lord was going to pass through the land and strike down the firstborn, both men and animals, it was a sign of judgement on Egypt ( Exodus 12:12 ). However, God instructed the Israelites to slaughter a passover lamb and mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood. The blood was a sign for them, when the Lord saw the blood the destroyer would pass over that house and everyone inside would be safe ( Exodus 12:13 ). Moses, by faith, relayed this message to the Israelites and the entire nation did what Moses instructed ( Exodus 12:28 ).

Because of this marvelous act of faith, when nothing like this had ever taken place before, the entire nation of Israel was spared and they learned to trust in God. Egypt was not as fortunate. The Bible records, “At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead” ( Exodus 12:29-30 ).

As a result, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and told them to leave taking with them the entire nation, their families and all their livestock. Amazingly, the Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed towards the Israelites as well and they gave them articles of silver, gold and clothing. In fact, they plundered Egypt ( Exodus 12:35-36 ). They took with them the spoils and wealth of Egypt, just recompense for hundreds of years of hard labor.

By faith, Moses kept the Passover and saw the deliverance of his people in a mighty act of God. Simple trust and confidence in God was all it took to bring them out. God is always faithful to His word and desires it to come to pass. What an amazing truth!

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” ( Hebrews 11:24-26 )

God will always reveal himself to those whose hearts are sensitive and looking for him. In fact, God made a habit of revealing to the Old Testament patriarchs his plan of salvation through the promised Messiah. When Moses got a glimpse of this promise, the scriptures record that he chose to be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoy his position among the Egyptians. He considered disgrace for the sake of Christ of far greater value. This shows that he was looking forward in faith to something far greater than the pleasures of this life.

To the outside world, this seems absurd. He was rescued by the daughter of Pharaoh as a baby, raised under Pharaoh’s influence, wealth and position. In every sense of the word, he had it all. He had power, authority, riches and family connections. But this doesn't compare or hold a candle to what God offers. Moses willingly gave it all up to be associated with the mistreated people of Israel and the sake of Christ.

This is amazing, this shows that Christ Jesus is and will always be the pinnacle of history. His work on the cross was so wonderful that Moses looked forward to it and it changed the course of his life and what he considered valuable. The world and all its splendor didn’t compare to the riches of glory.

God, true to His wonderful nature fulfilled His promise to the people of Israel in Moses’ lifetime. He saw firsthand the marvelous works of God in bringing the people out of bondage and into the promised land. “During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them” ( Exodus 2:23-25 ). He even used Moses as the means to bring it all to pass.

The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is a wonderful type and shadow of the deliverance from bondage of sin and death that Christ Jesus frees us from. Moses looked far into the future and saw what would be which is why he disregarded everything for the sake of Christ. Faith was the substance that brought him through until his reward. Today we celebrate his faith as recorded in the Hebrews Hall of Fame and are thankful for his foresight in trusting God to fulfill His wonderful promises.

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” ( Hebrews 11:23 )

It takes faith to ignore and disregard an edict of the king to do what is right. As the Israelites flourished in Egypt the Egyptians became increasingly aware of them, setting out to rule and oppress them. At first the king instructed the midwives to kill each baby that was born a boy. “The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live” ( Exodus 1:15-16 ).

However, the midwives feared God and did not do what the king instructed. When confronted by the king the women replied, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive” ( Exodus 1:19 ). God showed favor to the midwives giving them families of their own. After this, the king stopped giving mere suggestions and ordered the people, “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live” ( Exodus 1:22 ).

When Moses’ parents became pregnant, giving birth to a son, his mother hid him away for many months until it was no longer possible to do so. Then she coated a papyrus basket in tar and set it afloat on the Nile. She would not bow to the king’s order and kill her son. By faith, she provided a means to save him by placing him securely in the same waters that were meant to kill him.

As his sister kept watch over the basket, Pharaoh's daughter found the babe floating on the river and drew him out. She had compassion on him knowing he was a Hebrew child. Moses’ sister was sent to fetch his real mother so she could continue nursing him. “When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water” ( Exodus 2:10 ).

By faith Moses’ parents disregarded their lives to save their son who would grow up to deliver his people from slavery. The Nile was meant to be the tool to kill him, but God used that very thing to be the means for his deliverance. Even the meaning of his name reflects the miracle that occurred because God was faithful to His promise of sending a deliverer to the Israelites.

When we step out in faith, God will always meet us to carry it through. He will use the very things intended for harm to save us. Like Moses’ parents, we too can participate in His mighty works by being sensitive to His leading in our lives. What an amazing truth!

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones” ( Hebrews 11:22 )

Speaking something about the future takes faith. Joseph is a great example of this. When the end of his life was drawing near he remembered the promise that God made to Abraham about the land he was to inherit and gave instructions for the Israelites to leave Egypt in pursuit of it.

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place” ( Genesis 50:24-25 ).

Whether or not Joseph understood the implications of these instructions doesn't really matter, Joseph gave them in faith so as to participate in the plan of God. Over four hundred years later this mass exodus took place just as Joseph prophesied or spoke forth.

Interestingly, Moses is the one who completed Joseph’s instructions, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place” ( Exodus 13:19 ).

All of this originated by faith and one man of God having the courage to speak it so future generations would know what they were supposed to do. Joseph reminded the children of Israel of God’s promise and encouraged them to pursuit it even when all seemed impossible because of their captivity. Today we call this history because it happened just as Joseph instructed.

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff” ( Hebrews 11:21 )

When Jacob’s time was near an end, he took aside Joseph’s sons to bless them. He had claimed Joseph’s first born sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own. As was the custom, when Joseph presented before Jacob, he placed Manesseh, his first born, toward his right hand and Ephraim towards his left. But Jacob in faith choose Ephraim, though he was younger, to inherit the blessing.

“Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth” ( Genesis 48:15-16 ).

At hearing this and seeing that Jacob had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, Joseph was displeased. Trying to correct it, Joseph told him to put his right hand on his firstborn. Jacob confirmed that Manesseh would also be a great people, but in faith, he pronounced his blessing on Ephraim.

Throughout Israel’s history, the tribe of Ephraim flourished. From the rule of the Judges onward, this tribe became synonymous with Israel as it was the largest of the ten northern tribes. This was prophesied by Jacob, showing divine inspiration by choosing the younger son over the older. Moses also blessed this tribe in a similar manner. “About Joseph he said: “May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh” ( Deuteronomy 33:13-17 ).

Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son forfeited his birthright by sleeping with Bilhah, his father’s concubine ( Genesis 35:22 ). By Jacob adopting Joseph’s two sons as his own and giving them a portion, he basically gave Joseph the double portion belonging to the first born son, which would have been Reuben. After that, Judah, another son, became tribal leader in Reuben’s place ( Genesis 49:8-10 ). He also inherited a wonderful blessing that the Messiah would come through his line ( Genesis 49:10 ).

All of these things happened by faith and Jacob pronounced his blessing under the divine inspiration God. He looked far into the future and worshipped the Lord in anticipation of bringing it all to pass, just as it had been spoken.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future” ( Hebrews 11:20 )

Isaac acted in faith by pronouncing blessings on both of his sons. He looked far into the future and spoke about what would be. Jacob received a favorable blessing ( Genesis 27:27-29 ) while Esau received what he deserved ( Genesis 27:39-40 ). Although Esau was the first born son, Jacob was the one who rightfully received the blessing as first born. Isaac, by faith, gave Jacob what was rightfully his.

When Rebekah was pregnant with twins, she inquired of the Lord because the babies jostled within her. Before the twins were born, the Lord had spoke concerning them. God told Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” ( Hebrews 11:20 ).

As life unfolded, Esau chose to sell his birthright as the firstborn son to Jacob for a bowl of stew. He came in famished from the field and agreed to sell it in exchange for food ( Genesis 25:29-34 ).

Hebrews 12:16 calls Esau godless and sacrilegious. Selling his birthright for a single meal shows how he disregarded and despised it. Then when it mattered, when the blessing was to be passed down, he wanted to regain his inheritance but was rejected.

When the time came and Isaac was going to bless Esau, Rebekah remembered what the Lord told her about the twins and encouraged Jacob, who rightfully possessed the birthright after Esau sold it to him, to obtain his father’s blessing. Jacob prepared a meal, dressed as Esau and went before his father and Isaac blessed him ( Genesis 27 ).

When Esau found out, there was pleading and many tears but Isaac replied to him, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?” ( Genesis 27:37 ). Isaac abided by his blessing. He did not go back on his word which confirmed the word the Lord spoke to Rebekah when pregnant with the twins. He also confirmed that the birthright rightfully belonged to Jacob.

Isaac then blessed Esau saying, “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck” ( Genesis 27:39-40 ).

After this happened Esau was enraged and vowed to kill Jacob who fled at his mother’s request. The amazing thing is that God then confirmed this blessing to Jacob by calling himself the God of Abraham and Isaac, then He confirmed an oath to Jacob similar to that which Abraham enjoyed, “There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” ( Genesis 28:15 ). God confirmed that what Jacob did in obtaining his birthright was righteous.

By faith, Isaac looked into the future and pronounced blessing on both of his sons. To Jacob he pronounced blessing, favor and that the nations of the world would serve him ( Genesis 27:27-29 ). To Esau he pronounced strife and hardship for generations to come ( Genesis 27:39-40 ). And both came to pass just as he said ( Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13 ).