Jacob and Esau

In Bible Class someone once said, “Esau seems to have a much better character than Jacob. I don’t understand why God would choose Jacob over Esau. How does this work?” I thought that this was a good observation and a very good question. If Jacob and Esau were businessmen and Jacob was a Christian and Esau was not, I would do business with Esau rather than Jacob. The reason is obvious. I would trust Esau much more than I would Jacob. This sounds like a paradox, doesn’t it? But this is part of the beauty of Scripture—it reveals the hearts of men and declares the faithfulness of God.

The Hebrew writer said, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1). This is why God remembered Jacob. Jacob believed the blessing and the promise of God to his grandfather Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-6) and he wanted it so bad that he was willing to lie, cheat, and steal for it (Genesis 27, 25:27-34). Esau did not think very much of God’s promise and this is why he was called “godless” (Genesis 25:27-34, Hebrews 12:16-17).

We often think of ungodliness only as evil and wicked people. It includes that, but in a broader definition, a godless person is someone who does not believe in God. With this definition, a “good” person can be godless, while a person with a less than sparkling character can be a person of faith. While I wrestle with this definition, I can almost grasp how grace was extended to Jacob.

Jacob’s behavior was not the thing that impressed God. Jacob is mentioned with the people of faith in Hebrews 11 just because he believed God. This is the thing that was outstanding to God (Hebrews 11:6). This is why the Scripture tells us repeatedly that “the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 4).

My life’s struggle seems to be somewhere in between the conflict and contrast of Jacob and Esau. Sometimes I see myself as Esau with God nowhere in sight. But then there are other times I believe God. But I don’t think that my faith is even as “pure” and “noble” as Jacob’s was. The reason why I believe is because I often feel like there’s nothing else for me to grab on to except the promises and goodness of God; it’s kind of like the last resort.

However, my faith journey is not over yet and I am hoping, really hoping that at the end of the road is a God who is not ashamed to be my God.