Basic HTML Version
124
The Beginning of the End
spiritual blessings of the birthright, resigned to the elder brother the
inheritance of their father’s wealth, the only inheritance Esau sought
or valued. No longer alienated, they parted, Esau settling in Mount
Seir. God, who is rich in blessing, had given worldly wealth to Jacob
in addition to the higher good that he had sought. This separation of
Jacob and Esau was part of God’s plan concerning Jacob. Since the
brothers differed so greatly in regard to religious faith, it was better
for them to live apart.
Both Esau and Jacob were free to walk in God’s commandments
and to receive His favor, but the two brothers had walked in different
ways, and their paths would continue to diverge more and more
widely.
Esau was not shut out from the blessings of salvation by some
arbitrary choice on the part of God. Only one’s own decision can
cause a person to perish. God has given in His Word the conditions
[96]
on which every soul will be chosen for eternal life—obedience to His
commandments through faith in Christ. God has chosen a character
in harmony with His law, and anyone who reaches the standard of
His requirement will enter into the kingdom of glory. Concerning
our final salvation, this is the only election brought to view in the
Word of God.
Every person is elected who will work out his or her own salva-
tion with fear and trembling, who will put on the armor and fight
the good fight of faith. Every one is chosen who will pray earnestly,
search the Scriptures, flee from temptation, have faith continually,
and be obedient to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God. The provisions of redemption are free to all; the results will be
enjoyed by those who have complied with the conditions.
Esau had despised the blessings of the covenant. By his own
deliberate choice he was separated from the people of God. Jacob
had chosen the inheritance of faith. He had tried to obtain it by
craftiness, treachery, and falsehood; but God had permitted his sin
to work out its correction. Jacob never swerved from his purpose or
renounced his choice. From that night of wrestling Jacob had come
away a different man. Self-confidence had been uprooted. Ever after,
in place of craft and deception, his life was marked by simplicity
and truth. The baser elements of his character were consumed in the