“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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