Genesis 25: 22-23: The war within

“22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to enquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the elder will serve the younger.’” NIV UK

We saw yesterday how Rebekah became aware of the babies jostling in her womb. She may not, however, have known at the time that she was expecting twins. But the Lord showed her that she was. Furthermore, the tussle between these two boys was to continue through their lifetimes, and between their descendants for generations to come.

‘That the younger son should rule the elder was contrary to human tradition and logic, but the sovereign God made the choice (Rom.9:10-12), and God never makes a mistake.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT)’, p.97.

This story pictures, for me, the inner struggle that takes place in the life of the Christian – a battle between the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God, the old self can be subdued by the Spirit. But there can be no doubting the intensity and ferocity of this war within.

‘’Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life’’ (Galatians 6:7,8).

The great preacher, John Stott, spoke in very clear terms about how we cannot repeatedly sow to the ‘flesh’ and expect to reap holiness. What you sow in the field is what eventually comes up. You can tell what was sown by looking at the crop

PRAYER: Lord, please strengthen me that day by day I may feed my spirit, and starve the carnal nature.