Who are the firstborn?

This week, from September 2 to 9, God the Father (Isaac) will ask the Church (Rebekah) to bring its firstborn to take possession of his rights. Esau or Jacob?

Abraham became the firstborn of God and received his inheritance.

Abraham then passed it on to his son Isaac. He left all the blessings that he had received from God to his firstborn, Isaac.

But Isaac had twins with Rebekah—Esau and Jacob, and Esau was the firstborn.

Isaac was going to leave everything he had received from Abraham, and all that he had conquered with God’s help, to Esau.

However, on a particular day, Esau showed that he despised the blessing and exchanged his birthright for a bowl of lentils. In fact, Esau did not only despise the blessing, he despised his father.

While he was in his mother’s womb Esau was strong, but outside of it he was weak, and this happens with many people behave. They seem to be strong and faithful inside the church, but when they are faced with the temptations of this world, they are weak.

When Isaac asked Rebekah to bring his firstborn to him, she called the one who valued that right to stand before his father. She did not call the one who despised that right.

Our mother (Church) is not calling those who despise God, but only those who value their right to stand before the Father.

Jacob valued it, and so he was called. This is why we call upon the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. It was should be the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau”. But we call upon the “God of Jacob”—not the “God of Esau”—because Jacob valued Him.

From September 2 to 9, Rebekah (mother and Church) will call the firstborn to stand before Isaac (father, God) to take possession of all the rights that are reserved for the faithful, for the firstborn.

Who are we, Esau or Jacob?

Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is no transgression,” the same is companion to a destroyer. Proverbs 28.24

God bless you,

Bishop João Leite