Wise and Foolish Choices: “She Went to Inquire of the Lord” (Gen 25:19-34)

“But the children struggled together within her; and she said, If all is well, why am I like this? So she went to inquire of the Lord” (vs22)

In this word, we see wise and foolish choices. Rebekah wisely sought God and loved what He loves. Esau gave away Christ and foolishly lost his soul.

First, we see Rebekah's wisdom in seeking God. She said, “If all is well, why am I like this? So she went to inquire of the Lord” (vs21-23). When we lack peace, when conscience is dirty, when fears abound, and when things aren't how they should be, wisely inquire into what is wrong, and God will answer. James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:5-6).” Don't live like misery is your lot, when peace is promised. Live by faith, leaning on and relying upon God for everything. Get rest, for it is promised. God's remedy is in His word. Hold His promises as things to experience.

Secondly, see Rebekah's wisdom in loving Jacob. I know Esau may be "the man around town", the envy of the world, and the most skilled hunter (vs27). But God gave victory to Jacob, even as He rightly expresses what pleases and angers Him. He had said, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the others, and the older [Esau] shall serve the younger [Jacob]” (vs23). Therefore we read of Rebekah's wisdom and Isaac's folly or ignorance in the matter, “And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (vs27-28). We're wise to love what He loves, fighting on God's side, because what He's blessed cannot be cursed; it prospers in the end.

Thirdly, we see Esau's foolishness. He sells his birthright and gives up on eternal life for the short lived, momentary pleasures of sin. Like his name, Edom, which means red, he loved the red stew, a common meal, more than eternal life, Christ, and his own soul. He said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me? (vs32)” He trusted in the “now", did not see the eternal, and foolishly perished without wisdom.

Finally, God has made us wise. If something is wrong, seek Him. James says again, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13). When He reveals His will, then follow Him, expecting blessing where He says. If you're tempted to quit the race and squander your soul, look at Esau, “who for one morsel of food sold his birthright” (Heb 12:16). He sold everything for a temporary need that God was meeting daily. Be wise. Fools go to hell.

Wisdom and Denying the Faith (Todd Nibert)

IF ANY LACK WISDOM

“If any of you lack wisdom.” And what wisdom is James revering to? He calls it in James 3:17, “The wisdom that is from above.” James then proceeds to describe and define this wisdom to us. “It is first pure.” It is without the contamination of error. It is true to the word of God. If it is not pure, it is not from above. But James does not stop there. “It is then peaceable.” It is not looking for a fight. “Then gentle.” The word means moderate, not insisting on the letter of the law, not insisting on holding someone’s feet to the fire. It is then “Easy to be entreated.” That means compliant and approachable. “Full of mercy and good fruits.” Those who possess the wisdom that is from above are always merciful. “Without partiality”…the word here means uncertainty. While the wisdom that is from above is not arrogant, it is still certain with regard to God’s truth. “Without hypocrisy”…the wisdom that is from above does not pretend!

James says… “If any of you lack wisdom.” If this seems to be something you do not seem to have much of… “Let him ask of God.” This is not something we can ever attain to. It is the gift of God. “Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” He will not withhold this wisdom from the one who desires it, nor will He upbraid you for asking. What an encouragement this is! I certainly feel as though I have a deficiency in wisdom. But He has promised to give this wisdom to those who ask for it. It sounds to me like it is time to start asking!

WORSE THAN AN INFIDEL

“If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

In the context, Paul was speaking of the church providing for destitute widows. He said their children should take care of them. And if a man shirks his responsibility to provide for his mother, aunt, children, or anyone in his house, by that action he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. This one who claims to be a follower of Christ denies the faith. Not by embracing false doctrine. But by his life. And in doing so, he is worse, more evil than the man who makes no profession of faith. While our character and conduct have nothing to do with our justification before God, our character and conduct have everything to do with the reality of our relationship with God. It would be better to not believe than to have a faith that does not effect my actions.

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“Stopped” (Job 38:4-11)

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? "Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’”

God is in control of every detail of life, and He is above us. So, we are RIGHT to submit to His wisdom: He knows how to make a beach, and yet have an ocean that doesn’t conquer it.

He knows how to allow SIN in this world, and CONTROL it for good. He knows what He is doing, and we are insignificant in wisdom… like the worm arguing with God, even so it is with man: we know NOTHING, except what He teaches, which is wisdom.  If we had power and wisdom, then we could do as we fit, we could argue and bring Him before judges, but we DON’T, and He is SUPREMELY wise and good. We shall see His ways WORKED out, even as we’ve seen Him wisely rule history. He gave His Son to DIE, so that sinners could be JUSTLY redeemed. None of the saints understood the purpose, but that didn’t make God unwise, even as it is now -  “Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself… And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lu 24:25-27, 32)

Thus, you and I may not SEE what He’s doing, but He’s doing what He has said, which is JUSTICE and goodness only. He will never make a mistake or act in a way that doesn’t glorify the PERFECTION of His character as WISE, mighty, holy, and loving.  God is to be submitted unto, even as you submit to the doctor, the lawyer, or the teacher in school, accounting their wisdom greater than yours.  But know, He is PERFECT and to trust Him is to be wise!