The Gem Of Worth

Would Abraham have slain his special son,
Had the Lord not just in time stayed the knife?
Isaac, of the birthright many have won,
Their names written safe in the Book of Life;
Isaac, whose seed* hold truth in inner parts;
Yea, instead of engraved words on stone,
God's Spirit dwells in their believing hearts,
Exuding love and grace from flesh and bone!
Yes, the Chosen sire would have giv'n his boy,
Just as God sacrificed His only Child;
For true faith tested will all doubt destroy---
Obey! No matter what, or grace defiled!
Many Esau's have spurned the gem of worth,
Their porridge of choice mirages of earth!

*progeny

Abraham was chosen by God to sire the Jewish race. Sarai, his wife, was too old to bear children, but God gave them Isaac when she was 90 and he was 100. To test Abraham's obedience, God commanded him to sacrifice (slay) Isaac; he was stopped by God in the nick of time. Isaac fathered twins, Esau and Jacob, with Esau being older by a few seconds. In their culture, the older son inherited; therefore, Esau would have sired Israel, God's Chosen People, who would produce Jesus, the Savior. However, Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Thus, Jacob (or Israel, to which God changed Jacob's name) is the father of racial Jews and spiritual father of Christian believers.

I know how confusing this story sounds to readers who are not familiar with the Bible. If you are confused, you can read it in detail in the book of Genesis, the first book of the Holy Word. People who have lived since the time of Esau have had a similar choice to make---either to choose the way of this world or the way that Jesus offered. Most of them, like Esau, have chosen the attractions offered by the world, such as wealth, power, food, sex, etc., rather than a life of obedience that offers rewards after life in this world. If they only could realize that they are rejecting the 'gem of worth' in favor of temporary pleasures! Plus, as we saw in yesterday's blog, the Christian life on earth itself offers more happiness than the life of the non-Christian!