The "red pottage," from which Esau obtained the name of Edom, was made of lentils steeped in water. Lentils grow in a pod, like beans or peas, and are of a tawny, or brownish red color. THE BIRTHRIGHT. What was that birthright which Esau despised, and which Rebekah coveted for her favorite son Jacob? The birthright, in general, denotes the peculiar privileges of a first-born son. In temporal things, it was the right of inheriting a double portion of the property, and of succeeding the father, as head of the family-the ruler and priest of the household. But it was also an emblem of spiritual blessings; of a heavenly inheritance, and membership in the church of God, which is styled the church of the firstborn. The birthright sold by Esau included the promise of the Messiah to be born in his line, and the possession of the land of Canaan for his posterity. "Thus Esau despised his birthright." GEN. 25:34. "Lest there be any profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." HEB. 12:16. By the contrivance of Rebekah, Isaac was deceived, and led to bestow on Jacob the birthright, accompanied with the solemn prophetic blessing, which could not be revoked, of glory, honor, and prosperity to his descendants-all which the patriarch had designed to bestow upon Esau. Here was wrong-doing on all sides in Isaac, in Rebekah, and Jacob; but God overruled it for good; making the designs and actions of each and all concur in the accomplishment of his purposes, yet not holding them blameless. It was wrong in Isaac to determine to bestow the blessing on Esau, in opposition to the revealed will of God, that "the elder should serve the younger." It was wrong in Rebekah to prompt Jacob to deceive his father, and to contrive the means of obtaining the blessing for him by fraud. It was wrong in Jacob to concur in the evil devices of his mother, and seek to supplant his brother by cunning and falsehood. "These things are written for our admonition." We draw from this narrative a lesson of great consolation. We see a divine hand at work amidst the crimes and follies of men, bending their crooked arts to the accomplishment of holy purposes. God will make all things, good and evil, work together to promote his glory and perform his will. These are blessed conclusions, satisfying and refreshing the mind when wickedness seems to prevail on the earth. After these things had taken place, how did Esau regard his brother? "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." GEN. 27:41. JACOB'S FLIGHT AND DREAM. Lo, Jacob, from his brother flying, No slumbering camel near him lies; In fervid haste to do God's will, "And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. "And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. "And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had used for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it." GEN. 28:16-18. The oil Jacob had probably taken with him, as an article of food to be used on his journey. Reposing sweetly at heaven's gate, Why should the good man ever fear, His tent, where'er 't is pitched, is near Take Jesus for thy Saviour, then Thou sleepest under angels' wings, |