with Elder Elico Manenji
_Genesis 36:1-19:The generations of Esau and his grand children in mount Seir._
The generations of Esau here are recorded to show how God fulfilled his temporary prosperity.
The two sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob mark the two camps this side of the earth, those who belong to the faith(children of Jacob from whom the Messiah would come from) and those who are bitter opponents of faith in Christ who are distinguished as the enemies of God who will be identified by great worldly glory and prosperity.
The children of Esau, Edom the Edomites were the bitterest enemies of Israel.
So Esau is the father of persecutors yet Esau was prospered in his lifetime more than his brother Jacob in earthly wealth for that was his inheritance.
Yet the children of God are prospered in the world to show their connection and trust in God as the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The saints are blessed so not to forget God but the wicked acquire riches to themselves so as to trust in their riches and forget God.
We see that the footsteps of God are to be traced throughout all human history.
These nations which lay outside the covenant people were yet under the care and control of that Divine providence which appointed their bounds of their habitation and watched over their growth and development as God always show mercy even to His enemies.
Text: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment...And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches...Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end"(Psalm 73:3-6, 12, 17).
God’s record of the wicked’s genealogy is but to brand them to those who read it so as all chose their path of life, either to be against God or for God to worship Him.
Godless people or hearts take strange wives like the Hittites, Hivites, Ishmaelites and whatever God says is against.
The Psalmist says, "You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none on earth that I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you"(Psalm 73:24-27).
_Genesis 36:20-43: The generations of Edom in mount Seir and the kings that ruled Edom._
The Edomites lived and mixed well with the Horites the original inhabitants of mount Seir so his posterity, the Edomites intermarried with them, they learned their way and customs and corrupted themselves.
Esau having sold his birthright and lost his heavenly blessing decided to dwell amongst the people of mount Seir and had it as his land than the land of Canaan.
He entered into alliance with the Hittites and he prospered and totally erased God in his heart and conscience.
Those that desert the Church of God are justly numbered with those that have never been in it, apostate Edomites stand on the same ground with accursed Horites so are those who were once in the faith but lost their faith at the coming of Jesus Christ.
The imitations of God's blessings are seen in Esau for kings reigned in his posterity long before the time of Moses.
The blessing of kings was made to Jacob when God said, *"I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins" (Genesis 34:11).
Yet Esau's blood line became royals long before any of Jacob's generations. Imitations are not originals, they don't last, external prosperity and honour does not last forever even when the children of the covenant are often perceived as cast behind and those that are out of covenant get the start in temporary blessings.
We may suppose it was a great trial to the faith of God's Israel to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom whilst they were bond-slaves in Egypt but those that look for great things from God must be content to wait for them for God's time is the best time.
Text: "For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them" (Proverbs 1:32).
Many a saints will loose their heavenly inheritance because of the love of prosperity.
The triumphing of the wicked may be quick but it is short, it is soon ripe and is soon rotten, but the products of the promise, are slow are sure and lasting, at the end it shall speak and not lie.
The prophet Habbakuk says, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry"(Habbakuk 2:3).
Appeal
When power is abused, it is just with God to weaken it by turning it into different channels. For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof, so sin brought Edom from kings to dukes, from crowns to coronets, from glory to disgrace. It is better to invest in God for His time is best.
The Scriptures say, "And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land"(Exodus 9:5).
The patriarch Job says, *"Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" (Job 7:1). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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