Two Nations, Two Men,
Two Paths That Would Affect the Whole World

Esau and Jacob were the heads of two types of the Children of God. Genesis 25:23 says:

“And the LORD said unto her (Rebekah), Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people … the elder shall serve the younger.”

Rebekah had conceived, by the Power of the Lord, twins in her womb, Jacob and Esau. Esau was the firstborn, then Jacob. The Birthright went to the firstborn, unless God intervened and changed the order, according to His Purpose.

Esau represented the Unprofitable Servant of God (or Old Testament Israel); and Jacob represented the Profitable Servant (or the New Testament Church). Jacob represented the Children of Promise, even the Church of the Firstborn (of Christ); which is explained in Romans 9:6-33; Romans 10; and Romans 11; especially Romans 9:6-8, 23-24. (Also see Colossians 1:16-21.)

Esau is typed out “the children of the flesh”; Jacob typed out “the children of the promise”:

“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” (Romans 9:8)

“For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.” (Romans 9:9)

“And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;” (Romans 9:10)

“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” (Romans 9:11)

“It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.” (Romans 9:12)

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9:13)

Then Paul explained God’s Purpose (Romans 9:14-21), God’s Sovereignty, just as the Potter hath power over the clay and the vessels the Potter makes:

“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:” (Romans 9:22)

“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9:23)

“Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:24)

The Spiritual significance is too vast to explain the details in this devotion. However, in the above, a brief explanation was given. Many people feel that Esau represents the “lost man” and Jacob represents the “saved man.” But the truth is that these two men represent the Unprofitable Servant and the Profitable Servant; even Old Testament Israel and the Church of the New Testament.

It had to do with their Position to Christ. Old Testament Israel lost their position as wife of Jehovah (and thus lost their firstborn status and all that pertained to the rights of the firstborn, the Birthright), giving place to the Church.

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew 21:43)

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32)

Cain was the firstborn; but he lost his Birthright because of disobedience (sin) (Genesis 4:6). Ishmael was the firstborn; but the Covenant was confirmed to Isaac by God’s Decree. Esau lost his birthright to Jacob; because he had no vision, he loved the things of this world more than the spiritual implications associated with the Birthright.

The primary focus of this devotion is an attempt to present these two men to cause the so-called ‘Christian’ of today to examine himself to see if he “be in the faith” or not:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

(Also see Romans 8:2, 10.)

This devotion is not dealing with who is saved and who is lost. But rather, who is Empowered (or filled) with the Holy Spirit of God; for all who are Regenerated are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.

When a man is Empowered by the Spirit of God, it means he is Controlled by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18). It means that your body, soul, and spirit are surrendered to, submitted to, and endeavoring to obey His every Command, with all endurance in the same

It is when you stand on the east side of Jordan, and are prepared, at Christ’s Command, to set your foot into the water of the Jordan. And at His Command, you step into Jordan, and see it part to give you a path to go over and receive your promised Inheritance in the Land of Promise. This action proves you have Perception of the Value of your Inheritance and the Power to Perform in the Overcoming Power of Christ.

So many so-called Christians of today have the ‘Grasshopper complex’ (Numbers 13:33) – as did the spies who reported to Moses, when they went over into the Land of Canaan and spied out the Land that God had promised to the Children of Israel (or of Jacob):

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33)

Their attitude spells doubt and defeat in the daily life of God’s Children. This attitude is depending upon the flesh and not living in the Spirit.

But Joshua and Caleb reported:

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

“Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.” (Numbers 14:9)

“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” (Numbers 14:24)

If the Spirit of God dwells in you; then you have the Power of God living in you. (See Romans 8:1-16.) The problem is – Are you daily yielding to the Spirit of God and standing on His Promises and walking by Faith?

Children of God, you have the Victory in Christ:

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Therefore, stand up in the Power of Christ and be an overcomer over the flesh, sin, and its deception. Believe God and be diligent in your obedience (Hebrews 11:6). And you shall overcome – not if, or maybe – but you shall overcome. This action proves to you and to others that you are a Jacobite; that you have the Birthright; that you are a Possessor of the Inheritance, even of the Spirit of God (Galatians 3:16, 18).