REPENT...

So Jacob told his family and all the other people with him,"Destroy all these foreign gods that you have. Make yourselves pure. Put on clean clothes.

Genesis 35:2 ERV

Jacob and Esau

Have you heard the story of Esau and Jacob? Let me give you a recap...Isaac and Rebekah had twins (they fought even while in her womb). God had given her a revelation of them while she was still pregnant ( the leaders of two nations will come from you and they will be divided-one will be stronger while the older will serve the younger). Esau was the red head and a skilled hunter who the father Isaac loved; while the other was Jacob a quiet boy who the mother Rebekah loved (he held on to the heel of his brother when they were born). When Isaac was dying he was wanted to bless his son (as parents this is definitely where the problem started because of favoritism but I don't want to ruin the story for you). Let's go back a little Esau went out to hunt one day returned tired Jacob was cooking and bargained with Esau for his birthright/blessing (this is significant because as children our parents were supposed to give us gifts and blessings before they die-so Jacob is making a deal while Esau is desperate). Later in the storey when Isaac was about to die he asked Esau to make him his favorite meal so his spirit can be happy and content to bless him. The mother heard this told Jacob, he tricked the dad and received the blessing (reality is Esau had already gave it away-the trickery is in the way that even the mom helped in the deception). Esau and Jacob lived separate lives, Jacob left and went to the land his father told him to marry Rachel Laban's daughter, he got tricked by Laban and married Leah (the trickster got tricked). He worked for Laban for 20 years before he left not without a little hinderance but he returned to his brother. Who he thought would kill because of what he did 20 years prior he sent gifts/money and as his brother came to him he bowed to the ground seven times (this was significant to show respect, honor and repentence).

This here y'all is the meat of it for me, I have not been trained or taught to bow or prostrate before anyone. But I do have some friends and I have seen them prostrate before their parents, a pastor and other elects. This had me thinking of how much we have evolved as a culture but we have taken away the symbolic and significant actions that allow us to be able to have reverence and repentence. Because this is not apart of my culture this seemed so taboo but it is important-the act of reverance and honor. In all this can make submission to any authority hard if it is not apart of the culture or practice.

Jacob was so concerned about his brother killing him and his family he divided his family in two, then two more of that and once again (so if there is an attack some can live). But little that he knew his brother had already forgiven him. It didn't say in the Bible but I am almost sure Esau missed Jacob. Esau came and greeted his brother with a hug.

I don't know if you have siblings and of you do I am sure you can remember them stealing your toys, attention and maybe even your clothes. But nonetheless, you still loved them (well I hope you have forgiven them and still love them...lol), here we see a story like many others that had hate, anger, hurt, animosity and all the other adjectives that describe the emotions of that family but over time there was healing, growth and maturity; but let us not forget God!

When Jacob was returning this was based on God sending him back and in sending him back he had to make peace with his brother. Another part of his return was when his daughter was raped , his sons killed the men of that town and stole their belongings. Jacob was disappointed in his sons and God told him to leave but they had to purify themselves.

To be pure is to be undefiled or uncontaminated. How could they purify themselves if they conspired to kill (although they may think it was justified), had a massacre and now had to go before God.

Honestly, there has been so many times I have tricked someone/people, I was sexually immoral or I used profanity but I am so grateful that God is merciful and loving. God is not counting all our wrongs, he is not waiting for us to come to him so He can reprimmand us for the sins we have committed. The way He wanted to prove to us that the things we did does not matter but our heart matter, our future matters; He sent His son-Jesus.

Our life matters so much that there was significance in the sequence of birth (like the story of Esau and Jacob).

Now let's look at being purified by water in Baptism. When Jesus came he gave us a road map of how we should live, what we should do ( not that it is easy) but it gives us the guide. In Matthew 3 it talks about the days of John the Baptist. He preached the word of repentence-change your hearts, "repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. " Later in the chapter he says "I baptize you with water those who repent of thier sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soo who is greater than I am- so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire-Matthew 3:11 NLT

2 Timothy 2:21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. In Philippians 4:8 it says to think and dwell on things that are good and pure not gossip, slander and things that would make you upset (like your brother stealing you birth-right) cause when this dude came back home if Esau had dwelled on it he would still have resentment. Proverbs 16:2 says people maybe pure in their own eyes but the fruit is in the pudding; the test or puirty was clear when Esau could run and wrap his arms around his brother and looked back like who were all those people ahead?

Bro I sent gifts before me so you can receive me, no need.

God: I sent my son to take all of that away

Jesus: I came was baptized-got filled with Holy Spirit because this is what you are going to need for your faith journey but you will need to repent, come to me with a heart of surrender. Create in me a clean heart and renew the right spirit; sometimes I repeat that scripture over and over when people are actiong shaddy around me or when I have to honor someone that has miss handled me. A reminder of the story of Jesus He was grossly mistreated but He remained faithful and honored the system and people that were there.

My encouragement to you foor the journey ahead is to look at the problem solver not the problem, Jesus said please take this cup of suffering from me Father. Can you imagine the anguish He experienced? But let us not forget in that very same sentence He says not my will but yours be done, because but He was renewed with strength to continue the journey.

On our journey with Christ there can be times when horrific things may happen like Jacob's daughter being raped but God sent him back, a part of him returning was to have peace with his brother. The problem solvers solution was more grace and strength for the journey ahead. But be willing to surrender some things, attitude, culture influences, frustration and anger. Surrender to what God's plan is...from you there will be nations.

Look at the geneaology of Jesus if there was disobedience or time lag (because someone didn't feel like doing what God wanted) there would have been a change in the characters but not the climax of the story. The part we play in our story is significant; forgiving that famil member is significant, loving that hard to love person but staying away from them is significant. Remaining pure is significant to be worthy to be used.

#repentence #forgiveness #purity #obedience