KWENU! Our culture, our future

The separation over birthright

Chinedu Maduabum

Onitsha, Nigeria

Introduction

The struggle over family will between Jacob and his brother Esau as recorded in the book of Genesis is one of most fiercely contested throughout bible history. The bible holds account of so many of such conflicts or sibling rivalry. Interesting examples are the cases of Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Joseph and his brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh to mention but a few. However and of all these rivalry that of Jacob and Esau is considered a locus classicus: The two boys were not just of the same parents, but twins.

It was a struggle that started from within their mother – Rebecca. It is a biological phenomenon that mothers experience movement in the womb, even kicking but in Rebecca’s case, it was an all-out war! Her condition or pregnancy was such a strange and extraordinary one that may have persuaded her to inquire from the Lord. Hence the Lord revealed to her of the emergence of two nations in her womb and that the former will serve the latter. As it turned out, Esau came out first, hairy and red while Jacob followed suit, with a smooth body, and holding the heels of the brother in the process.

The conflict escalated years after when the two boys had grown up, Esau became a hunter while Jacob a shepherd. In that particular incident, Jacob persuaded a starving and distressed Esau to sell his birthright in exchange for a bowl of porridge. However, it was at the blessing time that the separation actually took place. Jacob, in connivance with the mother tricked the father-Isaac and received the blessing of the firstborn. This was made possible by the covering of the Lamb’s skin when Esau was busy in the field, trying to hunt for an animal to prepare for Isaac so as to obtain the blessing. It was such a painful loss that Esau planed to kill his brother, thus, when Jacob learnt of it, he ran away and commenced a 20 year service at the house of Laban.

The entire scenario was indeed an allegory of a series of events in contemporary history that started in medieval Europe, particularly during the era of western monasticism. The reformational pullout concretely laid the pattern outline of two ministries: the physical and spiritual children or nations as recorded in the book of Romans 9: 7 – 16. And until recently when the separation finally took place they coexisted. Thus, it is the resolution of this article to unveil this mystery that was literally represented or epitomized in the house of Isaac.

The Natural Conditions

It is natural that some people are born hairy while others smooth. This does not however mean that those who are born hairy are of the lineage of Esau while the smooth ones of Jacob as the natural birth conditions of the boys turned out to be. Esau who unfortunately came out first was hairy while Jacob was very smooth. These natural conditions of their skin as we interpret in this article represent in the case of Esau a condition of self-righteousness. That is to say, a condition of human effort to please God at the same time, ignorant of the fact that it is antithetical to the will of God. The other case (that of Jacob) represents a “free” condition that is contradicting to an existing idea or practice but ironically conform to the will of God.

Thus as the two boys grew up, Esau was stronger and became a great hunter while Jacob became a shepherd – the same old profession of his fathers. It is this latter condition of their professions that laid the stage for the second confrontation.

The Exchange of Birthright

According to the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 21:17, birthright is the right to the first son to a double portion. In African cosmology and particularly the Igbo people, the first son (okpala) retains or inherits the father. He is to continue in the same sanctuary (Obi) of the father outside other family asserts. Esau clearly demonstrated little or no concern for it when he exchanged it for his immediate satisfaction. Esau in this pattern clearly epitomizes a condition of a group of people or nation whose ends are immediate and their will directed towards the satisfaction of those immediate ends. Jacob on his part represents a second nation: though tied to their temporarily existence, yet they are focused towards that which is eternal and absolute. Esau did not realise the gravity of his action until the blessing time when they were separated.

The Separation

The blessing of elders in antiquity was held at a very high esteem. Even presently in the African society but not as it used to be - no thanks to contemporary civilization. Esau and Jacob were very much aware of the depreciating condition of their father but while Esau was very conscious of it, Jacob on his part was less concerned so to say. This was evident when Esau was given a condition that will bring the best out of him so as to obtain the blessing. And while he was busy working it out in the field, Jacob who was less concerned had to be persuaded by the mother to trick the father using the skin of a slained lamb. This was the final stage prior to the separation. In this stage, Esau epitomized the nation that will be working or would have worked very hard in the field (earth) so as to be blessed while Jacob represents the other nation that will hold firm to the message and doctrine of the Lamb that was slain. And the bible makes us to understand that Jesus is the Lamb of God that was slained. It is this scenario that we are going to see how it was fulfilled beginning from the time of western monasticism.

The Two Nations

In this global setting, we expect to see by the analysis of this article so far, two groups of people that will be identified by the message and doctrine they preach. One will focus on the message of salvation by works or self-righteousness while the other group will rely heavily on the message of grace that was concretely established by the ministry of Jesus Christ some 2000 years ago of dated history. Christ in his appearance fulfilled the pattern of global Isaac or the cross bearer some 100 scores from Abraham. And it is expected that at about 60 scores the two nations should emerge. See my article: The Three Great Pillars on the site www.kwenu.com for more details. We expected therefore to see in history at about 1200AD or thereabout, the manifestation of two ministries, born out of one system. One that will represent the physical children on the one hand and the other the spiritual children on the other hand. Thus, it was around that period that the likes of John Wyclliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, Zwingli and associates who were once priests and monks, rose and opposed the existing practise of monasticism.

From the 4^th century when the first western monastic institution was founded in Constantinople to about 13^th – 14^th century, the entire religious world in Europe was dominated by a very ascetic standard of living. That is to say, a condition that does not allow oneself, physical pleasures especially for religious reasons; related to a simple and strict way of living. It was a very long period of about 700 – 900 centuries under the cloud of a life that is confined or controlled by rules and regulations instituted by man as a means to obtaining spiritual salvation. It was universally accepted and became the culture and practise of the religious world. The rule of St Benedict of Nursia (480 – 543) was highly instrumental in shaping the religious world within that long period. It was a period that reflected the long period within the womb of Rebecca. It has been explained earlier that the struggle was around the tale end of Rebecca’s pregnancy. Thus, about the 13^th century, John Wycliffe who is highly regarded as the morning star of the reformation and a priest himself rang the first bell.

Wycliffe re-echoed the message of righteousness by faith as concretely taught by Jesus Christ at a time when it was no small undertakings to do so. It was a confrontation that would be comparable to the story of David and Goliath in the bible. He is remembered for translating the bible from Latin to English. This greatly and divine work of Wycliffe gave rise to others like John Huss and was climaxed by Martin Luther. The latter is known in history as the father of reformation. They all continued, through divine providence in the teaching and doctrines of the Lamb at a time when apostasy had developed to the union of church and state. Thus, the two nations were identified, setting the stage for another period of what is known as the inquisition in Europe.

The Inquisition

This was an organization set up in the post-reformation by the Roman Catholic Church to punish and persecute people who opposed its beliefs. The persecution according to history was very hot from the 15^th- 17^th century. It was an organization whose target was directed towards the termination of the new wave or better still the renewed wave of doctrine set by the fathers of reformation. The Roman Catholic Church continued forbidding, summoning, excommunication, interdicts, hangings and burnings as long as and as fiercely as it was possible wherever there were believers of the new teachings.

The persecution was so tense that many clearly demonstrated or fulfilled the pattern that was epitomized by Esau when he had to chose between his immediate existence and survival as against the eternal and absolute. Clearly, many people chose to abandon their faith or better still, exchange their “birthright” as a result of distress, persecution and materialism. Clearly, theses group of people lost the right and of the true gospel and in trying to please God, started a new evangelical or missionary movement that took them to all parts of the world (field), particularly Africa and West Africa to be precise. However, and in the midst of this heated persecution, the likes of John Wesley and associate were outstanding. Wesley continued to teach and preach in the same format and manner like the others before him. In one of his teachings, he said,

“The grace or Love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is free in all, and free for all…it does not in anywise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver, not anything he has done or anything he is … it does not depend on his good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions…”

These words clearly gives us a picture of a teaching and message that is opposed and contradicts the teachings of Christianity but absolutely conforms to the will of God for mankind.

At this stage therefore when the inquisition had reduced, most Christians under the auspices of state church, embarked on missionary mission so as to “please” God, having lost the right to preaching the true gospel as a result distress and persecution. However, those who continued like Wesley did so according to the ministry of the shepherd, gathering and protecting the folds at the appropriate times according to the will of God. Thus, setting the stage for the final show down. And as Esau worked hard to please the father, so also there were missionary works all over the world in the name of Christianity.

The Missionary Movements

The main aim and objective of European Missionary was to travel throughout the world and teach people about Christianity. This is not a bad idea but having lost the birthright by rejecting the true gospel of salvation by grace and not of works lest any man should boast, European Christians who were now operating under the umbrella of union and state churches embarked on missionary movements so as to obtain the blessing.

Esau by profession was a hunter who was always in the field, hunting for animals for his immediate consumption. Hence, the missionary movement was designed to function perfectly in the field - the bible enables us to decipher that the earth is the field and we are like seeds planted in it. Thus, when the missionary movement started, it became obvious that the “hunting” profession of Esau had reached its climax before the separation. That is to say, a ministry that will go around making members for their personal and family interest

However, it was during the time of the rise of Pentecostal movements, which is also an offspring of European missionary that the pattern of the blessing became apparent. As in the literal pattern, Esau was given a condition in order to be blessed so also is the emphasis of Pentecostal message on do’s and don’ts. It is not as if previous movements like the protestants, Methodist, Baptist to mention but a few did not emphasize on salvation by merits, As a matter of fact, it is the foundation of their doctrine. However, the Pentecostal movement added more panache into the entire system. Apart from throwing more emphasis on do’s and don’ts, they brought in new styles of evangelical ministries.

It is an outfit that glaringly portrays the “hunting” profession for material benefit. It is an outfit that multiplies the sorrows of the members they make. Since the early 20^th century, Pentecostalism has worked so hard to obtain the blessing of bringing forth the children that will inherit the land but as in the literal pattern when Esau lost it to the “free” Jacob, so also did it happen in Awgbu a small village in Anambra State – Nigeria when the Riches of Christ Pentecostal movement was used to cause the separation in the year 1986.

THE SEPARATION

It was therefore in 1986 that the separation finally took place. The Lord, once again descended with a loud voice to the audience of a young man who was also a member of the movement fulfilling Amos 3:7 that the Most High will have to speak to his prophet before He does a thing. Thus, the following words were echoed.

“There shall be a revival across this country, and this revival shall usher in the New Generation into their ministry for the ministry of the old Generation is in conclusion, the ministry of Moses is in conclusion, I AM RAISING UP JOSHUA who Will lead my people into the Land”.

That year therefore marked the end of the coexistence between Jacob and his brother Esau or better still the end of the coexistence of the two nations: the physical nations from the spiritual nation. Thus, as Esau in the literal pattern took to an Ishmaelite after he discovered that the Canaanite wife (Christianity) was not the right choice, so also did the Riches of Christ Church through their General Overseer took to Judaism a religion that literally represents Ishmael. See my article: The Rife In The House Of Abraham on the site www.kwenu.com for more details. It was then that Jacob left the system to commence his 20 - year service that will see to the manifestation of the Twelve (12) Tribes of Israel. I will fully treat the year 1986 and the manifestation of the tribes of Israel in a subsequent article.

CONCLUSION

Having now gone through the whole patterns in this article, it should be now clear that no one has ever been saved, nor could any one be saved presently on the grounds of good works. Esau was better morally than Jacob but it was Jacob who got the blessing. Throughout the three stages that characterized the entire scenario, Esau in the eyes of man should be justified. However, the bible makes us to decipher that the ways of the Almighty is different from that of ours. He can only be found in simplicity not in complexity. From the time of monasticism to the Pentecostal age, He has always distinguished himself in simplicity. And in this, He made foolish the wisdom of this world, for He has chosen the weak things of the world to conformed the things which are mighty, and the base things of this world … that no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:20, 27 –29).

Since Salvation and inheritance do not depend therefore on what we do, then we come to the conclusion that the Lord only is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Those He would save were saved from the foundation of the world (Acts 15:8). He does not adjust his list of saved ones on daily basis, as it is widely preached throughout Christendom. For those he predestined, them He called and them He justified, and them also He glorified (Rom 8: 30) everything being in the past tense.

It is therefore on this background that Jacob was chosen as against the morally good Esau and so also shall all that must inherit the land be saved lest any man should boast of having assisted the Almighty in His project.

He who has ears let him hear.