One benefit of trying to read the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation year after year is that you will probably read the book of Genesis multiple times in your life (more than any other book in the OT). It’s a benefit because as the old adage says, the more you look, the more you will see.
One fascinating theme often repeated in the book of Genesis is how the firstborn does not receive the blessing, but another son down the line does. Abel was blessed, not Cain the firstborn (Genesis 4:3-5). Isaac was blessed, not Ishmael the firstborn (Genesis 17:19-21). Jacob was blessed, not Esau the firstborn (Genesis 25:23, Genesis 27:27-29). And finally at the end of Genesis, Ephraim was blessed not Manasseh the firstborn (Genesis 48:5, 15-20).
That’s not to say the firstborn wasn’t blessed at all, yet the kind of blessing he should receive as the firstborn often ends up to another child down the line, and he ends up with somewhat a lesser blessing. Now that’s really weird, because a reader in their culture would expect that the firstborn is the one who deserves the blessing and should receive the blessing. After all, he is the one expected to receive the inheritance of his father when the father passes away.
Why this repeated theme?
I propose three reasons.
First, it illustrates that our blessings are never deserved.
Second, it instructs us on the kind of blessing we receive from Christ.
Third, it illuminates the kind of thanksgiving we should be giving.
First, it illustrates that our blessings are never deserved.
Some people (I myself included) like to think that the reason God is blessing me is because I have some sort of special status or ability. Growing up being told that since I am saved, I am chosen by God for a purpose – a history maker if you will – and that inadvertently made me think that what made me deserving of God’s salvation and blessings is that purpose He has. I mean, come on, if you think you are meant to be the next Paul Washer, you kind of feel that it is the reason why God is keeping me and blessing me.
Yet my past reflections of Genesis tells me the opposite: I am blessed, because I don’t deserve it. I never did. Like Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Ephraim, the only contribution I had to be a recipient of God’s favor and mercy is by being born – and being born in sin as a matter of fact. My deserving of God’s provision and protection had nothing to do with it being given to me freely and abundantly by God. He blessed me, has chosen to, because He is good, and He did so out of the freedom of His will.
God also reminds Israel later in Deuteronomy of this reality – that they themselves were not chosen because of anything in them, but because of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 9:4-6: “After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
So yes, I have no reason to think that God owes me blessings. I have no reason to demand that he bless me because I am a pastor. I have no reason to expect that He should be hearing my prayers because I am a dedicated usher or choir member, never late for practices and commitments. I have no right to resent God should He choose to withhold His heavy hand upon my frail body all because I am applauded by men as a faithful godly servant leader.
He owes me nothing, yet He still blesses me.
Second, it illustrates the kind of blessing we receive from Christ.
Think about this for a moment. What if Ishmael receives the blessing as culturally expected? Isaac will have a lesser blessing (a curse even). Same with Esau right? If Esau had received the blessing, Jacob would not have it. Isaac made it clear that only one main blessing can be given to a son, there cannot be two equal heirs to the inheritance (Genesis 27:35-37). This means that if the firstborn is blessed, the second (and other) child will never have access to that kind of blessing.
The same with Christ, the firstborn (Colossians 1:15-17). He was blessed beyond measure (Philippians 2:5-6). Yet He did not consider that blessing as something to be grasped, but took on our nature, our cursed nature (meaning the bane of death, not of sin). He took upon our curse and died that you and I might be blessed beyond measure. And thus He is the firstborn among the dead, and we who are born again in Him are also fellow inheritors with Him.
If Christ had not taken up our curse, if He had remained in His blessed beyond measure state, that we would never experience that blessing beyond measure – eternal life and inheritors of God’s kingdom. All we would have is the temporal, perishable blessing of YOLO, matcha green tea, and Netflix subscriptions. After that, we would have perished for eternity – cursed as we deservedly are.
Yet Christ took up our curse, that whosoever believes in Him will no longer be cursed (John 3:16). You heard it right – whoever you are, whatever your past is, the blessings given to Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Ephraim point us to Christ! He is the blessed firstborn who took our curse that we who are cursed might be blessed. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Oh that means that whenever I see remnants of the curse around me and in me – my sin, my flesh, and the devil – all accusing me and marking me as cursed and wretched. May my eyes see Jesus Christ – the firstborn, having taken up all the curse – and since He has done that, I now stand blessed – blessed beyond measure.
Third, it illuminates the kind of thanksgiving we should be giving.
Yes, I’m blessed not because I deserve it, but because God has given it to me mercifully by placing my curse on Christ that I may be free.
Now what?
Now I live thankfully from the heart.
Real gratitude requires the recipient to understand how great his problem is and how great the Giver’s gift is to deal with the problem.
Not being entitled or deserving tells me I have nothing in me to gain or purchase God’s blessing.
Christ taking upon himself the curse I should have remained on me tells me how good and merciful God is to save me when I don’t deserve to be.
Now I want to walk a life of thanksgiving. That means, no more returning to the things that got me cursed in the first place – the sin in my heart and by my hands. That also means presenting my body for His use – His glory. Whether it be arranging chairs before fellowship time, visiting brothers and sisters to exhort them, preparing for preaching and teaching, watering the plants, coding a website, listening to complaints and cries of the hurt and hard-headed – Lord, use my body to be a blessing to others, and not a curse.
I also want to worship with lyrics of thanksgiving. That means no more thoughtless repetition of lyrics while my mind is flying away someplace else. No Lord, help me to worship you with a grateful heart. Help me o Lord, to draw near to You, with full gratitude.
For I am an Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and an Ephraim – one who was not deserving to be blessed by You Lord.
But You did.