Read: Genesis 28:1-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14
Many scoff at the biblical mandate of not
intermarrying with unbelievers therefore piercing themselves through
with grievous wounds. It’s not enough to tell people, “No!”; “Don’t do it!” On
the surface intermarrying may seem harmless, but they need to know what
downfalls await them for violating this important lesson.
Many are
of the erroneous notion that God is out to deprive them of the “good” life.
When in fact it is just the opposite; He has declared laws to assure our
prosperity, success and abundant life. For in the beginning God created all
things good and for our good. It was when Satan entered to deceive Eve that sin
entered into the world and brought with it horrible curses. Therefore God instituted
laws that when we choose to obey counteracts and produces well on our behalf.
There are moral laws which tell us to treat our fellow human beings in the same
manner we should desire to be treated. Sanitation laws are designed to prevent
sickness and disease when obeyed. Many peoples and cultures have no sanitation
procedures in effect and experience rampant death producing results.
So also His laws against intermarrying with unbelievers
and partner-shipping with an unbeliever have the greatest potential of failing
with long term negative consequences.
Most
often 2Cor.6:14 is applied to marriage between a man and a woman, however it is
also applicable in business and other arenas of life. The metaphor is made of two oxen hitched or
yoked together; the one being smaller or weaker that the other that when put
together, because of their size and or strength differences they end up
fighting one another instead of working together as intended.
When it
comes to marriage or business the issues may shift from size and strength to
one of opposing beliefs, honesty, integrity etc. All this is what displeased
Esau’s parents he seemed hell bent on self destruction. It’s bad enough to be
yoked together with Christians who do not hold to the high biblical standards as
required by the Holy Writ. Understandably there are those who proclaim to be
Christian whose lifestyle is a living demonstration and those who proclaim
without possessing the birthright. There are also those of various stages of
growth in their walk with the Lord God; some are yet babes in Christ in need of
the milk of the Word, while others have progressed to adolescents, teens, etc.---yet
all need consistent nurturing from God’s word; whether personal or corporate we
all need spiritual nourishment to survive; some as babes, need milk or easily
digestible nutrition, while others have matured to a more substantial diet filled with spiritual nutrients best suitable
for their personal growth. You simply don’t throw a Porterhouse steak to a
nursing baby expecting their digestive systems to handle it. Likewise it’s not
beneficial to cast a babe in Christ into Revelation. It just doesn’t work that
way.
1-9
In the Genesis text we
discover that Rebekah (Gen, 27:46) is greatly disturbed at the decision of
Esau, her elder son, to marry outside the family line, intermarrying with those
outside their beliefs. Note: the emphasis is not necessarily “family ties” or
even ethnic lines but beliefs i.e.: Are they believers in the Creator God of
Abraham or of false gods and idols? If you recall Abraham was a worshipper of
the Living Creator God, while Hagar was of Egyptian heritage each having
diametrical moral and world views. It was into the Egyptian culture of beliefs
that Esau mingled himself in marriage.
In the case in point, Esau’s
intermarrying put great stress upon his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. So much
stress that Isaac purposefully took Jacob aside and admonished him to go to
Padanaram to his mother’s house and take a wife from family members; those of
like faith. This is not to be considered a relationship of incest rather it
serves to fortify a principle of not intermarrying with an unbeliever or
infidel thus insuring fidelity in marriage and things of the Spirit.
The overwhelming difference is:
·
Opposing world views
·
Opposing morals
These two are what cause division in families and
business partners. Thus if one is chronically attracted to an unbeliever or
covets money and is materialistic, then they have need of reexamining their
motives. Governments likewise are divided along these two opposing positions.
Quite notably this passage
is primarily directed toward those claiming to be prophets [may also be
rendered ministers] but may also apply to the observation of a prospective
lifelong soul mate. [There are those, who by pretence present themselves as
children of God without the credentials of birthright.]
Other points stand out:
·
Jacob had respect toward his parents
·
Jacob was obedient toward his parents
·
Esau, though knowing the family customs and
beliefs showed disrespect and disobedience and a tendency toward the fleshly
lifestyle and not that of the spirit. He was a carnal man.
These points are evident in Jacob’s life as opposed to
his brother Esau. That is why Eph.6:1-3 admonishes children to obey, honor, and
respect their parents. Long life and well being is the product of respectful
and obedient children.
Aside
from the text declaring Esau to be Isaac’s favorite and Jacob Rebakah’s
favorite the text appears to have treated both boys equally. Both were reared
to love and know the Lord God; both were acutely aware of the importance of the
birthright thereby instilling upon them Godly principles and morality. However,
though one has the very best of upbringing it is not insured of a person’s
outcome. It merely assures that the parents did all they knew to do.
8-9
Reiterates Esau’s choice of
wives and their ancestry, all the way back to Ishmael, Abraham’s son of the
bondwoman the son with whom the birthright did not fall, the son of the flesh.
Therefore it is of utmost importance to teach our children to marry only devout
Christian partners. Matthew 7:15-23 outlines the basic premise on which to
discern between a believer and a nonbeliever. To observe their works; what fruit
do their works produce?
·
Esau did not please, honor, respect, or obey
his father Isaac.
·
It may be
safe to assume that intermarrying with unbelievers may be traced back to
Ishmael as the son of a bondwoman; i.e. before you and I received the
birthright to become the sons and children of God, we were all sons and
daughters of the bondwoman---hence slaves to the flesh and sin.
10-15
Jacob’s
ladder
A favorite psalm is derived from this passage: “I am
climbing Jacob’s ladder…” I used to sing that song over and over as a youth,
but with no understanding.
I find it a bit curious that
Jacob, upon setting up camp for the night, took stones to provide for him a
pillow. Surely he had in his provisions a pillow to lay his head on, but he
chose rocks! I’ve been camping before in the mountains and I know for sure a
rock is not very comfortable to lay on, much less your head for a pillow. However,
Jacob was a herdsman and well inured to the hardships of the outdoor life,
therefore it was no big deal to him. Being
raised as a “city slicker” I’m accustomed to “roughing” it at the local
Marriott! Long gone are the days of my youth pitching a tent under the stars
with pine boughs for a mattress on the cold hard ground with a feather pillow
for my punkin’ head!
Jacob was evidently quite at
home and comfortable in camping out for he wasted no time falling asleep and
dreaming. He dreamed of a ladder
reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. And the Lord was standing above declaring His
presence affirming His promise to Jacob, the same as to Abraham and Isaac. If
we desire the blessings of Abraham we must obey God’s Word!
16-22
When
Jacob awoke he immediately sensed the presence of the Lord God, and was fearful
not in the sense of being “scared to death” but in a sense of awe and
reverence. God’s presence will do that for you and me as well. What an awesome
thing to be in the presence of the Holy One and know it! Isaiah was in His
presence and fell at the altar worshipping! Isaiah 6:1-13
Realizing His presence Jacob
vowed to ever give his live to the Lord; built an altar or a pillar of
remembrance and vowed to pay a tenth [tithe] unto the Lord of all received of
the Lord. It’s an important precept for you and me to keep today. Tithing is
very much an integral part of worship; for it carries the tangible aspect of
trust…trusting Him with your very all. When you give it thought ten percent is
really not very much to worship Him with. It is in fact but a token of what He
hath bestowed upon us. Plus the added benefit He promises to supply all our
needs according to His riches in glory.
Faith
Building Practice and Review
1. What
are a few of the pitfalls of intermarrying with unbelievers?
2. What
two opposing views are evident with the intermingling of believers with
unbelievers?
3. The
church was rife with what predominant issues?
4. Why
is it so important to choose a partner from the house of God?
5. What
is the importance of tithing for the believer?
6. Why
is Ephesians 6:1-4 so important for our children?
Knowing
God
A brief [not complete, add
to the list] synopsis of the persona of God:
·
Love
·
Gracious
·
Merciful
·
Righteous
·
Longsuffering
·
Gentle
·
Faithfull
·
Compassionate
·
Forgiving
·
Friend
The ultimate goal of Bible study is to
know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study, identify the
attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God extending His
forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same for you.
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