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<2018.07> Come Near, My Son

2006 Latin American Bible Study Meeting
April 20, 2006, Morning
And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry.  Luke 15:21-24
Who Has Made Both OneThrough the book of Genesis, we can see what was in the heart of God as He created the heavens and the earth, and how the method and order He used to bring this about presents an image of the way in which He guided the course of history in this world in order to call forth one particular nation. First we saw how God divided the light from the darkness and called the light Day and the darkness Night. Then we discussed the second day, on which God created the firmament and divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. We also thought about Cain and Abel and saw that Abel appears as the righteous one of the two; we saw that after Abel died, God gave Adam a son by the name of Seth to take the place of Abel; we saw how Abram was called out of Ur of the Chaldeans and led to the land of Canaan; and we examined the relationship between Ishmael and Isaac. In the letter to the Galatians it says in reference to Isaac, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise” (4:28). Through passages like this, we can discover Jesus Christ, whom the Jews rejected, and we can know for certain the fact that our personal sins have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus.  Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob.
Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.” So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.  Genesis 25:21-26
In this passage it says, “one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.” This is the relationship between the Israelites—the nation who first received God’s commandments—and the Church that would later arise through realization of the truth of the cross of Jesus. Now we can see how the Israelites serve the Church, but in the book of Revelation we find that when the Church comes down to this earth with Jesus Christ, as His bride, having first been raptured, it will be served to perfection; being united with Jesus Christ as one body, the Church will be served by all the nations of the earth. The Jews did not know this fact even though they read about it and studied it in God’s word. The Bible says the secret of the Church has been hidden ever since the beginning. (see Colossians 1:26) It was the apostle Paul who revealed this secret of the Church. Tremendous secrets regarding the Church are contained within his letters, from the letter to the Romans to the letter to the Hebrews. Such matters are also hidden away in the book of Genesis.
So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.  Genesis 25:27
Esau was a hunter and spent his time in the fields, while Jacob dwelt in tents with his mother.
And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.  Genesis 25:28This verse appears to be showing us a historical fact that would later come about. Like Esau, the Israelites have continued to wander from place to place. There was a time when they established a nation in their land, but historically, this nation has always been driven out of their land, being forced to leave it behind as though wandering out in the fields. Jacob, on the other hand, dwelt in tents and was loved by his mother Rebekah. He spent a good deal of time in tents with his mother. In a similar way, the Church nurtures the born-again Christians.
Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  Genesis 25:29-34
Esau and Jacob were twins, but Esau, who had been born first, sold his birthright to his younger brother. The firstborn received twice as much as the other sons (see Deuteronomy 21:17), but Esau was so hungry that he acted rashly and since he did not attribute much value to his birthright, he sold it to his younger brother. Then in Genesis chapter 27 we see how Jacob, the second son, usurped the blessing that Esau, the elder son, should have received from his aged father Isaac. When Isaac was old and could not see well, he called Esau and said to him, “I may die at any time so now I am going to give you the blessing. Go out into the field, hunt some game and from it make me the savoury food I love.” The boys’ mother, Rebekah, overheard these words, so when Esau had gone out into the field to prepare to receive the blessing, she called Jacob and said, “Your brother has now gone out hunting. I’m going to prepare the savoury food your father loves and you must take it in to your father and receive the blessing instead of your brother.” Jacob replied, “Mother, I’m afraid that if I do that and get found out, I will be refused a blessing and bring a curse on myself instead. My brother is a hairy man and I am smooth-skinned.” But Rebekah said she would take full responsibility if he should be found out. This is an image of the Church. Then Rebekah put the skins of the kids of the goats on the hands and neck of the smooth-skinned Jacob.
So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”  Genesis 27:18-19
From a human point of view, Jacob lied, and yet he had definitely bought the birthright from his elder brother Esau. The Bible says nothing about Jacob’s fault. On the other hand, The Bible says here to beware lest anyone be profane like Esau who sold his birthright for a morsel of food to fill his stomach. It says that Esau’s action was profane.
Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.  Hebrews 12:16-17
If you read this account as though it were just a story, it does not seem particularly significant. It may seem only natural that Jacob, having bought the birthright from Esau, should go into his father with the skins on his hands and neck and receive the blessing. This passage talks about the fate of Esau who lost his chance to receive the blessing. It exposes the ignorance of the Israelites who were God’s chosen people and yet they crucified Jesus Christ whom God had promised to them, not recognizing Him even though they saw Him with their own eyes. On the other hand, in Jacob who received the blessing, we have an image of the assembly of those who have been blessed, having discovered Jesus Christ through the words of the Bible even though they are Gentiles and have lived their lives removed from God’s word.
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands.  Ephesians 2:11
It was the apostle Paul who wrote the letter to the Ephesians. In this letter, the relationship between the Gentiles and the Jews is very clearly defined. In chapters 1 and 2 in particular, the apostle Paul, as a Jew, addresses the Gentile born-again Christians. In the Bible it is important to distinguish carefully who is saying what and to whom. You must not mix everything up as you read. When it says here, “you, once Gentiles in the flesh,” this “you” is addressed not to the Jews but the Gentiles.
That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  Ephesians 2:12
“At that time” refers to the time when the Gentiles were dead in trespasses and sins. Now we are able to know many things through the book of Genesis, but “at that time” those many things had no connection with Gentiles, indeed Gentiles were not even able to know them. Such were the circumstances in which the Gentiles were found during the times of the Old Testament.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:13
But here it says, “now.” Now an opportunity has been given for anyone and everyone who believes in the name of the crucified Jesus Christ to become a child of God. These words are given to the Church which has been given this opportunity.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.  Ephesians 2:14
When it says “our” here, it is talking about born-again Jews and born-again Gentiles together. When we consider the history of the Church until now, we find that the majority of those who have been born again have been Gentiles. In the days of the early Church, however, the work of salvation began amongst the Jews and then it was declared to the Gentiles. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” He was t
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