BIBLICAL VIEW | BETRAYAL (1)

1. Introduction

a) Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a assumed trust, confidence, friendship, or contract, that automatically produces an emotional moral and psychological conflict within a relationship.

i) It creates unintended consequences.

ii) It calls for an assessment as to its actual reality, or if a misunderstanding, or misinformation.

iii) It creates emotions of anger, hurt.

iv) The possibility of "stabbed in the back" or "double-cross" are evaluated.

2. What does betrayal look like?

Psalm 55:20-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
    he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
    but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
    but underneath are daggers!
22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

3. Did Esau betray GOD? What were the results...

a) GOD had prepared a birthright for Esau. He was hungry, and sold it for a bowl of soup that he asked Jacob for.

b) Esau wanted to get the birthright back.

Hebrews 12:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

c) You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears."

d) There were consequences to his decision to sell the birthright. His evaluation of the value of the birthright was about the cost of a bowl of soup. He may have assumed he could reverse the transaction. As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal. Be careful. Esau had no regard for the good, truthful, and divine. He was worldly, secular, and profane.

e) When Esau finally realized what he had forsaken, he made an attempt to retrieve it. He sought for it with tears, but lacked sincerity, remorse. "He found no place for repentance." His heart had not changed. Words only are not good enough. Too many want God’s blessings, but do not want God enough to have their heart changed.

Jeremiah 12:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

Even your brothers, members of your own family,
    have turned against you.
    They plot and raise complaints against you.
Do not trust them,
    no matter how pleasantly they speak.

f) So often this happens in families

@1. Joseph sold out by his brothers

@2. Abel killed by Cain

g) Causes of betrayal are many

@1. Jealousy seems to be number one 

Comments