LASTING HERITAGE (4)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Giving our firstborn a double portion and prepare him to take responsibility
a) In God's ideal society, the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance. With this double portion came special responsibilities to carry on the goals of the father within the family. The firstborn was responsible to provide for his mother until her death, and for his sisters until their marriages. Special training was given to the firstborn to do this effectively, and explainations were given to other family members to prepare them for this leadership.
b) If the firstborn son rejected God's leadership before the father died, the double portion was awarded to the next son who will receive the double portion.
i) 4 Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” 5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him, 7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
c) Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son failed to receive a double portion of inheritance, instead it was given to Joseph. Joseph then carried out the responsibilities of burying his father and looking out for the welfare of his family.
d) Esau was Isaac's firstborn son. However, he was rejected by God because he despised the spiritual responsibilities that cam with being the firstborn son.
i) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:13 NIV)
ii) 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Hebrews 12:16-17 NIV)
The End ...
1. Giving our firstborn a double portion and prepare him to take responsibilitya) In God's ideal society, the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance. With this double portion came special responsibilities to carry on the goals of the father within the family. The firstborn was responsible to provide for his mother until her death, and for his sisters until their marriages. Special training was given to the firstborn to do this effectively, and explainations were given to other family members to prepare them for this leadership.
b) If the firstborn son rejected God's leadership before the father died, the double portion was awarded to the next son who will receive the double portion.
i) 4 Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” 5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him, 7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
c) Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son failed to receive a double portion of inheritance, instead it was given to Joseph. Joseph then carried out the responsibilities of burying his father and looking out for the welfare of his family.
d) Esau was Isaac's firstborn son. However, he was rejected by God because he despised the spiritual responsibilities that cam with being the firstborn son.
i) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:13 NIV)
ii) 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Hebrews 12:16-17 NIV)
Comments
Post a Comment