Explore the Bible Series for February 24: Do you help or exploit?

Posted: 2/13/08

Explore the Bible Series for February 24

Do you help or exploit?

• Genesis 25:29-34; 27:6-8, 15-19, 34-36

By Donald Raney

First Baptist Church, Petersburg

Perhaps more than anything else (with the possible exception of sporting events) political campaigns spark numerous and often passionate water cooler and coffee shop discussions. One does not have to participate in one of these long before hearing, “they will say anything to get your vote.”

Such a comment clearly reflects the almost universal cynicism concerning the motives and agendas of others. These feelings are directed not only at politicians, but also people who work in retail, banking, insurance and even occasionally the church. Such feelings of distrust or skepticism most often arise from real life experiences or observations of people in positions of influence taking advantage of others for personal gain.

Since the beginning of history, humanity has gotten increasingly adept and creative in the art of exploiting our fellow humans. Within the pages of the Bible, we can see this characteristic most clearly demonstrated in the story of Jacob and Esau. The Bible says even before birth Jacob, whose name means “deceiver,” constantly was seeking to gain an advantage over his twin brother. The story of his life provides every generation living lessons in interpersonal relationships.

Choose to freely help (Genesis 25:29-34)

Although they were twins, Esau was the older son and, within their culture, that entitled him to a double portion of the family estate when the father died. Jacob was deeply jealous of the birthright and constantly looked for opportunities to claim it for himself. One day that opportunity came when Esau returned from hunting hungry and asked Jacob for something to eat.

My mother always told me I should never go grocery shopping hungry because I would leave with twice as much as I needed. Physical hunger is a powerful force which can rob a person of clear reasoning and cause him or her to rationalize almost anything in its drive for satisfaction.

Jacob sensed Esau’s desperation and took full advantage by selling him a pot of stew for his birthright as the first-born.

Many times in life we meet people who have a need which we can meet. At those times, the temptation can be great to offer our help in exchange for some possession or returned favor.

Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus ever ask for something in exchange for helping someone, and Matthew 5:42 calls all believers to do the same. God gives each of us abilities and resources in order that we might selflessly help others, not to use to exploit others.

Rejoice in the good fortune of others (Genesis 27:6-8)

Although he had sold his birthright, Esau still could obtain his father’s blessing which his culture said would secure a prosperous future. The day came when Isaac intended to give Esau his blessing. Apparently Esau was away from home and Rebekah informed Jacob of Isaac’s plan. Rather than finding Esau and sharing in the good news, Rebekah and Jacob conspired to insure that Jacob would receive the blessing.

While we do not like to admit it, we can often find it difficult to truly rejoice in the good fortune of someone else. It is part of our sinful human nature that on some level, we feel envious and question why it could not have happened to us. We may even quietly maneuver our self into position so that it will the next time.

Jacob had the birthright. He did not need the blessing. Yet his hunger for more saw an opportunity to get more, even if it meant deceiving his own father. One sure way to avoid developing a heart that exploits others is to build a habit of genuinely rejoicing with others in their good fortune.

Act with integrity toward others (Genesis 27:15-19)

As mentioned, gaining the family blessing would require Jacob to deceive his own father. Isaac suffered from failing eyesight and could only distinguish between his sons by feel and scent. This means the deception would require considerable secretive planning and effort.

It has been said integrity is how you act when no one else is around. Exploiting others requires much plotting and acting away from the eyes of others. It requires that we lie and deceive. It is precisely a lack of integrity which has led to so much wide-spread cynicism concerning politicians and other leaders.

Yet in Matthew 5:37, Jesus calls us to live lives of integrity towards others. If we desire to follow God’s commands and live lives that value others and offer real help when it is needed, then we must recapture the meaning of integrity.

Avoid harming others (Genesis 27:34-36)

Soon after Jacob’s deception of Isaac had resulted in Isaac giving him the blessing intended for Esau, Esau returned home. It did not take long for him to learn what had happened. Not only had Jacob swindled him out of this birthright as the eldest son, now he had robbed him of his father’s blessing. Esau could only blame himself for the loss of the birthright, but now Jacob had taken advantage of their nearly blind father while Esau was not around to steal this sacred gift from a father to his son.

The loss of Isaac’s blessing hurt Esau deeply and, understandably, that hurt led to anger and destroyed the relationship between the two brothers. For the next several years, Jacob would live on the run from Esau. Though he possessed the birthright and blessing of his father, he would be denied the opportunity to live in his father’s home and would not be there when his father died. This certainly not only hurt Esau, but his parents as well.

In our quest to fulfill our own plans, we often can deliberately or unintentionally do harm to others. Matthew 7:12 instructs us to treat others as we would like to be treated. The story of Jacob and Esau provides us with a concrete example of the results when we fail to be intentional in our efforts to avoid harming others.