Bible Reading: Genesis 25:29-34
Memory verse: John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
All men are predestined for success. A scripture used to justify the opposite mindset is Matthew 26:11 “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” This is a scripture that does not identify anybody as the “poor””. If Jesus did not put your name there, why play that role? This can also apply to any negative thing. Another example is the story of Esau. Esau personally had attitudes that disqualified him from his inheritance. First, he despised his birthright and was willing to sell it for a pot of hot pottage. He must have been bad mouthing the birthright for Jacob to ask him to sell it to him in exchange for food Hebrews 12:16-17, Genesis 25:29- 34. Second, he disregarded his parents’ wishes by marrying Canaanite women. This was completely contrary to God’s will for Abraham’s lineage. Although financially blessed, spiritually Esau lost out big time. It wasn’t God that made him godless but his choices did.
What can we learn from these? God does not predestine or remotely control you for failure or bad luck, your choices and attitudes do.
Our actions are not as important to God as our motives. Consider Jacob who tricked Esau, his eyes were on the eternal birthright (being in the lineage of the coming Messiah), this was why God kept him. When our heart desire is to fulfill God’s divine purpose and not to pursue fleshly lust like Esau, God will work with us to make us successful, like He did with Jacob. That is why today we say, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob instead of Esau.