“I AM WEARY”
Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. As they grew up the scripture
states: “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved
Jacob” Gen.25.29. This favoritism caused problems in the family. On one
occasion when Esau came to Jacob, asking for a dish of venison stew, Jacob convinced
him to sell him his birthright for the stew. We then read, “thus Esau
sold his birthright” Gen.25:27-34.
Many good lessons could be learned from the way Esau “despised”
(disregarded, cared nothing for, slighted, spurned) his birthright. But I want
to look at another lesson from an incident that occurred a little later because
of this.
As Isaac grew old he sent Esau to hunt game and make him some “savory
food” that he loved. Afterward he planned to give him his “birthright”
Gen.27:3-5. This was overheard by Rebekah. So she schemed with Jacob to steal
Esau’s birthright Gen.27:6-29. This was accomplished and created more
friction in the family. “Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with
which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, ‘the days of
mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob’
” Gen.27:41.
When Rebekah learned of Esau’s plan, she persuaded Jacob to flee the wrath
of Esau, and go to her brother Laban in Haran. She explains Jacob’s departure
to Isaac by saying, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of
Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like those who are daughters
of the land, what will my life be to me?” Gen.27:46. I am not certain
whether she was more concerned with finding a wife for Jacob than in helping
him escape his brother’s wrath, nonetheless, her statement reflected her
weariness with the events happening at this time.
Moffat’s translation of Gen.27:46 reads: “These Hittite women tire
me to death. If Jacob marries a Hittite like these women, some native girl,
what good is life to me?” Regardless of past deceptions, Rebekah, at this
time, felt a heavy burden on her soul by Esau’s foolish action. So it
is today. There are many things people do that “tire” or “weary”
others, especially righteous ones. I want to note something that “wearies”
me.
“I am weary” of the immoral practices of sexual perverts being legalized.
Lesbianism, homosexuality, as well as heterosexual sins, are condemned in scripture
Rom.1:26-27; 1.Cor.6:9-10. Yet our society has been duped into accepting such
sins as simply an “alternate life style,” “safe sex,”
“free love?” People are told that anything is alright as long as
it doesn’t hurt someone else. People refuse to be restrained from immorality.
Jude 7 could be describing America. “As Sodom and Gommorah, and the cities
around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual
immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire.” In v.10 he refers to them as “brute
beasts, in that they corrupt themselves.” Peter adds, as “natural
brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they
do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will
receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it a pleasure to carouse
in the daytime…having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from
sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices,
and are accused children…while they promise them liberty they themselves
are slaves of corruption” 2.Pet.2:12-13, 19a.
People need to wake up to what is happening to our nation. The words Isaiah
wrote 700 BC aptly describe American today. “Alas, sinful nation, a people
laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They
have forsaken the Lord…”the whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faints, even from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness
in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores” Isa.1:4, 6. The press
and entertainment media have cooperated with a devious, humanistic mindset among
the leaders of many of our educational institutions to wear down a tolerant
society’s resistance to immorality. That which was abhorred by much of
society in times past is now not only being tolerated, but embraced. They do
not care that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to
any people” Prov.17:34.
“I am weary” of many who profess to be Christians who do not practice
what they profess. There are local congregations of the Lord’s church
who have a large number of nominal Christians, sometimes referred to as Sunday
morning Christians, the one hour, one dollar a week type. I have been a member
in various congregations over my 60+ years preaching. I have listened to brethren
pray, “I thank God that we are able to meet here for worship and Bible
study without fear of molestation, and I pray that it will ever be so.”
And then for no good reason they miss the next opportunity for such worship
and study. In some places where I have been I found members who had not attended
a service in months or years, yet when I asked why they had quit, they became
indignant for they still considered themselves a part of the church. Many do
not want to live the committed, faithful life of a true child of God, yet when
death approaches, they pray like Balaam, “Let me die the death of the
righteous, and let my end be like his!” Num.23:10. I am so glad that God
will be the judge, and me. “Let us not be weary in well doing for in due
season we shall reap if we faint not” Gal.6:9.
By Tommy Thornhill
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