Understanding
the Christian Birthright
Part1
Much of Christendom flounders in a sea of clichés like born again, children of God, Heavenly
Father, relationship, etcetera [moreover we quote those clichés and more
everyday with little or no thought to their meaning] simply because they have never had their birthrights properly
explained to them; much like an orphan or adopted child whose never ending
quest is to find their biological family. Hence they cling to every piece of biblical
driftwood in the sea of life ever trying to discover their identity. This study
seeks to provide permanent closure and assurance to those most precious souls; it
delves into the uttermost depths of the topic, explaining in detail the
intricate mechanics of the birthright.
Perhaps
the greatest challenge a writer has is the attempt to articulate his/her
thoughts in such a manner as to be understood by, at least, the vast majority
of readers. To accomplish this feat I indeed count it a victory, with the
understanding that all readers come with various backgrounds of theology, and
beliefs, some close to the author’s stand, while others more distant, and yet
others are left to wonder if this author ought not to await the proverbial men
in white jackets bearing a straight jacket!
Being brought up in a
Baptist family attending Sunday worship services, attending Sunday school and
being involved in various church activities in both Baptist, Pentecostal,
Charismatic, and non denominational for well over 60 plus years, I must confess
I cannot recall even once hearing a sermon or teaching [nor have I read any
teachings on the subject] of the believer’s birthright. Thus, I believe, a great majority of
Christians are unaware of their invaluable birthright. Isn’t that a tragedy?
And yet we are consistently taught, and rightly so, that we must be born again.
That’s
why I’ve prepared this study. Countless believers haven’t a clue as to their
divine birthright, its significance, purpose, details, inherent
responsibilities both individually and corporate to the Church and secular
world. Perhaps this might explain why the contemporary church as least appears
powerless.
The
subject will address the origin and practice of the birthright, its subsequent
duties and responsibilities of those blessed with to receive it; as well as its
inherent blessings and opposition. Parts of it, no doubt, will cause a mixed
response of acceptance, awe, relief, praise, and of course…rejection.
All that
said and done, however, the more I study the Christian birthright, the more I
understand how utterly precious it is. For it transcends all previous notions
instilled in me all my life. The sheer beauty of God’s love for His children is
manifest in the birthright. To contemplate that only His children are made
privy to all His unfathomable blessings it almost surreal.
On the
surface it may appear that all His creation has access to all his
blessings, however, it is only when one realizes that although His bountifully
blessings are made available to all, yet they are only enjoyed by those
who chose to receive the Birthright.
This study is designed to answer the following:
a. Exactly
what is the birthright and its Scriptural roots?
b. How
is the birthright acquired?
c. Why
should I be concerned about the birthright?
d. What
role do I, personally, play in the birthright?
e. What
about the NT priesthood and kingship and how do they affect me?
f. Much,
much more!
Admittedly, this is an
intricate study which all the more requires careful attention to detail and
grammar so as not to lose the reader in the process. As you will see, there are
so many intricate parts interwoven into one which makes it such a great and
wonderful study.
Consider
the human body as an analogy; so many intricate yet vital parts divinely
assembled to function together as one:
a) Nervous
system
b) Individual
cells
c) Skeletal
system
d) Muscular
system
e) Blood,
arteries, veins, and oxygen systems
f) Brain
and powers of reason, thinking, decision making (intellectual)
g) Digestive
system
h) Emotional
i) Much,
much more
Laying the Foundation
Old
Testament Birthright
The key
to understanding what we have in the New Testament is to first understand the
Old Testament roots; for literally all New Testament doctrine is rooted and
grounded in the Old Testament.
The Old
Testament (hereinafter referred to
as OT) Birthright was highly
revered and sought after. Jacob esteemed it so highly that he tricked his
brother Esau out of it Gen. 25:32 and later the blessing Gen.27:6-29; 31-40.
Our Heavenly Father was wise enough to use a term familiar to the ancients when
He told Pharaoh……Thus
says the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn Ex.4:22
When
Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. Hos.11:1
Types and shadows
Scripture uses various terms and phrases to
describe or compare one person, place, or thing
to another; specifically things of the flesh or natural man representing
spiritual things [He.8:5 …who serve unto
the example and shadow of heavenly things…] [the short of it is that spiritual matters are often best
understood by natural things] for instance:
·
Scripturally Egypt is a type of the
world. That is when referring to Israel’s bondage and slavery to Egypt it
typifies the world of slavery to sin. The more Israel grumbled the harsher the
slavery became.
·
The slavery and bondage of Israel in Egypt is
become the type or metaphor for humanities’ slavery to sin; and its inability
to free itself without divine help.
·
Israel was in the world/Egypt and was
therefore “called out” and is become a metaphor for the church being “called
out” of the world. In essence you and I, as believers, are “called out” of the
world by the Lord God to be His sons by adoption. This also asserting God’s
love and foreknowledge of His beloved people even whilst they were in sin
devised a plan to “call” them and make them His heirs. See Rom.5:8.
Hence,
the OT birthright is become the
foundation for the NT birthright and
as such ought to be highly revered the more; not to the point of arrogance, but
of humility, love and obedience in the understanding of our God’s great love
for His creation that He should provide such a great and honorable position for
all those who choose to accept it.
If you recall the OT birthright consisted of three
primary parts:
1. Tribal
leadership: in the days of the Patriarchs God spoke directly with the leader or
head of the family. It also meant that the one who held the birthright was the
one through whom the covenant promise of Abraham, their grandfather, came.
2. Tribal
wealth: the eldest received the double portion whist the younger
received a single portion. In the case of multiple sons [including sons
of handmaids, concubines or slaves] the eldest still received the double
portion while the others received an equal share with each other. Birthright exceptions existed, as in
Esau and Jacob, Ephraim and Manasseh, and others whereas, for various reasons,
the birthright was given to
another. The underlying reason, though
not always evident, was based upon whether or not they had a mind for the
things of the Spirit; it was not based on how “nice” they were or the great
deeds they accomplished for humanity. Esau, for example, was referred to as a
fornicator and profane person in Heb.12:16, as evidenced by his lifestyle
beginning with his marriages to three Hittite women, and his statement to Jacob
Gen.25:32...And Esau said, I am at the point to die: and what profit
shall this birthright do to me? Thus demonstrating three points:
a. Esau’s
statement provided evidence of his lack of regard for the things of the Spirit.
b. The birthright is the single most hallowed
thing we own.
c. Even
in death we ought to hold fast to our birthright
all the more.
3. Spiritual
leadership: ultimately the Messiah would come through the holder of the birthright and bless the nations of the
earth. The holder of the birthright also
heard God’s voice and received His leading and guidance.
a. The
NT spiritual leadership attests to our desire and willingness to lead our
families in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
b. That
the Messiah will only come through and for those who’ve acquired the birthright.
c. Furthermore,
all “faiths” are not equal and not based and founded on the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and are therefore, “faiths” of works
and not of grace Eph.2:8-9. Even further, they are not eligible for the reception
of God’s birthright in as much as
they choose to remain in their “faith”.
All this gives testimony as to why we should give
precedence to receiving the birthright;
and not as Esau who was carnal minded giving no thought to the things of the spirit.
Ishmael and Isaac
While Ishmael was the
firstborn son of Abraham yet he was not eligible for the birthright simply because he was the son
of a bondwoman, Hagar, as he was not free as Sari. Though Isaac received both
the birthright and blessings [double
portion] of Abraham, yet Ishmael was still blessed [with an albeit lesser
or single portion] Gen.17:20 And as for
Ishmael I Have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him
fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and
I will make him a great nation.
Note: Scripture
uses Ishmael as a type of an unbeliever and as such is undeserving of the birthright. The birthright offers a blessing superior to that of an unbeliever who
unwittingly and subconsciously is perpetually striving for the believer’s
blessing and position of said birthright.
That’s why the person, regardless of religious affiliation, is in God’s eyes an
unbeliever, uncircumcised in heart, and hell bent for destruction while
simultaneously striving for a birthright that
does not and cannot belong to them lest they be “born again”.
Note also: the
whole on-going conflict in the middle-east boils down to one thing and one
thing only.
·
One party, Ishmael, craves to have what the
other party, Israel, possesses and because of that Ishmael’s descendants want
Isaac’s descendants, Israel, dead; the goal being that Ishmael’s descendants
would then acquire that which is divinely given to Israel.
It has always been a problem and always will be
regardless of what the nations attempt to do to resolve it. Only the Lord God
can and will bring eventual permanent resolution; and He will in due time.
Esau and Jacob
Esau and Jacob were the twin
sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau, being the eldest, was the natural heir to the birthright and family blessing simply
because he was the first to come forth from his mother’s womb. However, Jacob,
the younger, tricked his elder brother into relinquishing the family birthright by selling it to him for a
bowl of stew, all the while Esau perceived that he was at death’s door because
he was weak and famished for lack of food.
Note: a
thought to ponder…did Jacob actually trick Esau out of the birthright and blessing or
was he rather taking occasion for Esau’s lack of spiritual fortitude?
The NT refers to Esau as a fornicator or profane person Heb.12:16
[fornicator: given to lewdness; male prostitute (one who prostitutes himself
for gain] [profane: void of religion or piety; irreverent and showing toward
God]; in short Esau did not have a mind toward faith in God or spiritual
matters. On the other hand Jacob demonstrated the exact opposite; while he
sinned yet he still had a heart for the things of the Spirit. Even from their
mother’s womb the brothers struggled, and at birth Jacob had a firm grip on
Esau’s heel which demonstrates the internal battle we all have within…the
flesh/natural man, Esau, or the spiritual man, Jacob.
Note: though
tricked out of the birthright and
blessing from his younger brother, Esau still received a blessing from his
father Gen.27:30-40:
a. Fatness
of the earth
b. Dew
of heaven
Which coincides with Jesus’ statement in Matt. 5:45b…for He maketh the sun to shine on the evil
and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Herein lays
the blessing of all unbelievers.
Reuben‘s loss of birthright
Gen.49:3 Reuben, thou
art my firstborn [as such entitled to the birthright] my might;
referring to his birth in Jacob’s prime of life] and the beginning of my strength, the Excellency of dignity [referring
to the priesthood], and the Excellency of
power [the judicial office of king]. History does not record a priest,
king, judge, or prophet coming from the tribe of Reuben.
Gen.35:22 And it
came to pass, when Israel dwelt in the land, that Reuben went and lay with
Bilhah, his father’s concubine: and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob
were twelve. This act also testified to his profaneness.
1 Chron.5:1-2 Now
the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's
bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and
the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2For Judah
prevailed above his brethren, and from him came the chief ruler, but the
birthright was Joseph’s),…
Not only did he lose the birthright, he also lost the priesthood
to Levi: And behold I have taken the
Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that
openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore let the Levites be
mine.
13 Because
all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in
the land of Egypt I hallowed unto all the firstborn in Israel, both man and
beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD. Num.3:12-13; 8:18
Reuben’s denial of the birthright as well of his other
brethren, underscores the doctrine of election
of grace, As opposed to being elected on the basis of a man’s worth… none
of us are worthy in our own right. If you recall Samuel’s choice for king was
tainted by the people’s choice1Sam.8:5-22. However, God’s choice was David
1Sam.16:7-13.
It is only by God’s grace that we are adopted
into His family, for God looks upon the heart and not a man’s influence or
affluence. God saw insurmountable flaws in the hearts of Reuben and his
brothers.
Note: the
OT birthright was given only to the male. While the NT concludes male and
female as equal therefore are both recipients of the NT Birthright, blessings and inheritance as joint heirs with Christ.
God calls both genders “sons”.
Ephraim and Manasseh
The birthright was so valuable that great means were taken to secure
it; Gen.48:10-22 Jacob/Israel, being blind, put his hand upon Ephraim’s head
for the blessing instead of Manasseh, the eldest, to which Joseph attempted to
correct his father, but Israel corrected Joseph.
Jehoram: received the kingdom by judicial authority of his father Jehoshaphat,
king of Israel.
2Chron.21:3
And
their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious
things, with the fenced cities of Judah: but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram
because he was the firstborn.
Adonijah vs. Solomon
David excluded Adonijah in favor of Solomon because
he attempted to take matters into his own hands by self-proclaiming himself to
be king whist David was in his old age. 1Kings 1:5; 11-53. This becomes a
lesson to each of us not to attempt to elevate ourselves to spiritual offices
without or against God’s ordained purpose for us.
The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born"
and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah (Rom. 8:29; Col.
1:18; Heb. 1:4-6). As first-born He has an inheritance superior to his
brethren, and is the alone true and high priest [Christ].
Rom.8:28-29
And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His
purpose. 29For whom He did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might [you and I] might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Col.1:18
And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Heb.1:4-8
Being made so much better than the
angels, as he by inheritance obtained a much more excellent name they.5For unto which of the angels said he at any
time. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” and again, I will be to
him a Father and he shall be to me a son? 6And again, when he bringeth in the firstborn into the world, he saith,
And let the angels of God worship him. 7And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his
ministers a flame of fire. 8But
unto the Son he saith, Thy throne O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of
righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
Faith Building Practice and Review
1. Why is so important to
study the Old Testament?
2. What are types and shadows?
3. What are their
purposes?
4. What are the three
primary parts to the birthright?
5. Why was Ishmael denied
the birthright?
6. Why was Esau denied
the birthright?
7. Why did Jacob obtain
the birthright?
8. For those to whom the
birthright was denied, what did they receive instead?
9. Compare the previous
question with Matt.5:45.
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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