LIVE BY YOUR SWORD (part 1)

But Esau urged his father, "Have you only that one blessing, father? Bless me too!" Isaac, however, made no reply; and Esau wept aloud. Finally Isaac spoke again and said to him: "Ah, far from the fertile earth shall be your dwelling; far from the dew of the heavens above!" By your sword you shall live and your brother you shall serve; but when you become restive, you shall throw off his yoke from your neck." Genesis 27: 38-40.

Esau, the eldest of Isaac's sons had sold his birthright for a pot of porridge to his brother Jacob. Consequently by necessity, the blessings he was entitled to were passed on to Jacob. Even if Jacob did not trickingly acquired the final blessings of his father it would still have come to him, for his brother had lost the birthright. Esau may have physically received the blessing but technically and functionally it will come to Jacob in the daily realities of life.


Immediately Jacob received the blessing from Isaac, Esau came in. But the blessing had been given to Jacob. Esau pleaded to at least receive some words of blessings from his father. After some pleading, his father opened his mouth to bless him. The blessings begin with some very harsh words depicting the kind of life Esau will live.

Esau will be far away from the dew of heaven. When the dew falls it will not come upon his life. The life of Esau will be one of struggles and hardships. Esau will meet daily troubles and his life will be insecure. His life will be barren and filled with tears. Good will be far away from him. Where others are making progress, he will not make progress. Esau indeed will be laboring under a curse. Esau will know pain and stress. Esau was to serve his brother. This indeed was a disgrace for him. He was the eldest but because he sold his birthright he is now serving his brother as a slave.

Reading only the first part of the words Isaac pronounced upon Esau, it would seem there is no hope for Esau. But as you come to the last part of Isaac's prayer, Isaac says: "By your sword you shall live and your brother you shall serve; but when you become restive, you shall throw off his yoke from your neck."

It is not all gloom and doom. There is hope in the horizons. There is light ahead in the tunnel. There is an exit nearby. A time will come, Isaac seems to be saying to Esau, you will get tired of your sufferings and hardships, then you will grow restive and you will break loose from your brother's control. You will regain your freedom. You will get your independence. You will break the yoke over your neck.

Esau will break the yoke from over his life by his sword, which his father told him to live by. Esau from the beginning had been a hunter who lived by his sword. That sword also will become his instrument of freedom. Your instrument of freedom is not far away. You can discover it right in your hobby, occupation, work and daily career.

Potentiality Action Key: Your instrument of freedom and victory is right there in what you neglect or despise. It is right there in your daily work.



TAKE MY WORD TO THE WORLD.

OMOROVIE M. IKEKE.
Author of more than 25 books.
Buy his latest book: "YOU ARE TALLER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS: MOVING AHEAD WITH POTENTIALITY THINKING." click and buy at http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/20784