Hi friends, brothers and sisters! I want to talk to you about something the Lord was sharing with me and teaching me the importance of over the course of a month or more. I had heard a little and read this in the Word, but never really understood it or its spiritual significance. I hope to accomplish that in this writing and pray fervently that the Father will touch you individually about what it means overall, and to each of you in your own lives and faith walks. And, if you are not a believer, we not only welcome you but trust that the Spirit of Almighty God will allow this, in some way, to be planted within you as well.
The Hebrew word for BIRTHRIGHT is “bekorah” and it means the right to be recognized as the firstborn (son, within a Jewish family) and has to do with position and inheritance and blessing. The first time the Lord God mentions this in the Bible is in Deuteronomy 21:17, “… he shall acknowledge the firstborn… by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.”
Genesis 25:32 speaks of Jacob’s brother, “Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’” This scripture shows that Esau cared nothing for his birthright (inheritance, blessing), but two chapters later he is shown as now desperately wanting it, “Have you but one blessing, my father?” This Old Testament choice and tragedy is spoken of by our Lord Jesus in a New Testament parable (Luke 16: 23-24), “…being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.”
Humanity today is no different. We have not evolved. We have more information and knowledge, but our hearts are the same. We still look for, are only concerned with, and chase after what gratifies us and gives us pleasure in the short-term. We are selfish. We have no patience. We want to be satisfied now—so much so, that our possible reward and inheritance are of no importance to us now. We only seek it, as Esau did, much later (if at all) when we actually need it. By then, we can’t obtain it because it is no longer available though, like Esau and the rich man mentioned in Luke, we seek it with tears. (That stew that the former traded his birthright for better have been really, really, really good!) In Hebrews 12:14ff the Word tells us to STRIVE FOR HOLINESS. The passage reads, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or UNHOLY LIKE ESAU, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” Verse 16 describes him as unholy. Verse 17 is very similar to what we have already mentioned in Luke 16:19-31, especially 24-28.
Romans 8:29 relates, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He (Jesus) might be the FIRSTBORN among many brothers.” Colossians 1:15 reiterates the truth in this way, “He is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of all creation.” And we find in Revelation 1:5 these words, “And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the FIRSTBORN of the dead, and the Ruler of kings on earth.” So, my question was—and maybe yours is now—What does this even mean? Jesus is not the firstborn (the bekorah) physically because Adam was the first created, physical, flesh-and-blood being. Jesus is not, so far as we have discussed it, the spiritual firstborn because He is G-d and has always existed (John 1:1-4). Well…
Father God uses these instructional words in both Exodus 13:2 and in Luke 2:23, “The FIRSTBORN child (male) that opens the womb is mine.” (It is consecrated to Him.)
I don’t have children, I have never experienced the pregnancy and birth process firsthand, I am not an expert in human physiology and I am not acquainted with a woman’s reproductive system. So, when the Father says “opens the womb,” I thought it meant for the very first time. However, after a few days, He showed me that, biologically, the womb opens to give birth, then shuts, then reopens to give birth the next time, and the process repeats.
So, if there are five girls and then two boys (seven children in all), it is the first male child that opens the womb that He is referring to. The principle is still sound and good. That scripture is speaking to life in the physical realm, the here and now. That scripture was given to Israel at a time when they were a young (and immature) people. They didn’t and couldn’t discern spiritual things, so G-d gave them tangible and temporal examples to live by at first. So, the first male child being given over to G-d (like Samuel was from Hannah) is a consecration. It is also, the Lord showed me (excitedly) a form of the tithe. And when any tithe is given, it is the first and not the second or last. It is the best and not the lesser or the worst (Cain and Abel, Malachi 1:1-8).
The right of the firstborn, then, also applies. Christ is the firstborn of all creation and He is the spotless lamb—the first and the best! He is the first male child to open Mary’s womb. He is the first to open the womb of the spiritual realm also, not by existence but by coming alongside humanity in history and in His eternality past and future. This also explains why, in Ephesians 5:27, the Lord Jesus Christ is preparing us (His church) to be a clean and spotless bride, and He is going to present us this way to the Father. You see, we, HIS CHURCH, are His FIRSTBORN and we are the best of earth’s flock (because of the Cross and His blood, not by anything we have done!). That’s why we are called in Romans 12:1 to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. This is why we are called in Deuteronomy and in Peter to be holy!
So, another question you might ask is why this is important or significant? Again, we mention Romans 8:29 as it relates that our Savior is “the FIRSTBORN among many brothers” in the family of faith. He has given us salvation and forgiveness of sins in His name, we are baptized in His name, we are as dead, our lives belong to Him and He is our Shepherd—we hear His voice and follow where He leads us. Let’s emphasize His pre-eminence (His FIRST place) by looking a little deeper at what we mentioned earlier, Colossians 1:15ff (and following). We are told many things that explain He is the FIRSTBORN because…
1) By Him ALL things were created, in Heaven and on Earth
2) ALL things were created through Him and for Him
3) He is BEFORE ALL things (pre-eminent)
4) He holds ALL things together (without Him or separated from Him, things fall apart and die)
5) He is THE HEAD of the church
6) He is THE FIRSTBORN of the dead (He is resurrected!)
7) ALL things are reconciled to G-d through Him
8) John 15:4-6 states, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Apart from Him or without Him we wither and die, and are thrown into the fire
9) John 14:6 cuts to the point, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except THROUGH ME.”
And a great truth found outside of Colossians which should be linked to the above references is found in Revelation 1:5. It rings with these words which convey that He is “The FIRSTBORN from the dead.” He tells us in verse 8 that He is “the ALPHA” (the beginning, the firstborn). Therefore, the right of the firstborn has physical, temporal implications (authority, headship, a double-portion of the inheritance) but much more so spiritual and eternal ones. And the idea and practice of a firstborn, then, is more positional in both senses.
In the case of Jacob and his brother Esau, Esau was born first physically, but he “sold” or willingly gave away his birthright to Jacob, his younger brother. This act was irreversible and irrevocable especially since Jacob had already received the blessing from their father.
Cain was born before Abel, but Cain gave his offering out of duty and obligation (not the right motive in God’s eyes) and did it whenever he got around to it (not first or immediately; like Esau, it wasn’t important to him). Yet Abel’s offering pleased the Lord (his heart and attitude and motive were right; he gave the best and he gave it right away).
Joseph had two sons: Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh was the firstborn son naturally, but scripture says in Genesis 48:14, 19-20 that Israel (renamed from Jacob, Joseph’s father) made Ephraim the firstborn instead. Verse 20 says, “Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.” In birth order, Manasseh was first. But positionally and in God’s eyes, Ephraim was put first.
What, as Christians, is our birthright? Positionally (that means our place and standing before Almighty G-d), we are His legitimate sons and daughters. This was obtained and given to us through the cleansing of our hearts by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. While our temporal, earthly and perishable bodies sin (Romans 8:10,23), G-d looks at us through the redemptive power and work of King Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). We still fight with and struggle against sin, but G-d sees us as righteous and blameless. Is Heaven our birthright, our blessing? No. The Word of the Lord says, “And this is eternal life, that they (we) know You the only true G-d and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Our birthright, our inheritance, our double-portion is to KNOW HIM. That should be all-sufficient! That should be a wonder to us!
We must NOT be like Esau or like the rich man in the flames who see more pleasure and worth in this life and in “the fleeting pleasure of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-26). Let us pursue and obtain our BIRTHRIGHT now, and only by grace, through faith, in the Savior of the world—JESUS CHRIST! He must be our birthright! He must be our inheritance! He must be our blessing!
My brother was the firstborn physically, but I have received the birthright through faith and redemption in Jesus. Manasseh was born first physically, but Ephraim received the birthright, the inheritance through Jesus Christ. Cain was born naturally before Abel, but Abel received the eternal inheritance through God the Father (and Jesus Christ, His Son). Esau came into the world first, but Jacob received the birthright, inheritance and blessing through Jesus Christ. Do you see that recurring phrase, that common thread—through Jesus Christ? That is the essence of the Gospel, that is what the world must decide when it comes to the eventual crossroads in their lives (is it myself and my deeds or is it Jesus), that is the plain truth and stabbing conviction in Ephesians 2:8-9.
“Bekorah,” the right of the firstborn, is often expected or taken for granted, even and especially in our American culture. What we absolutely must not overlook in our natural vs. supernatural correlation, is that the underlying, intrinsic meaning or understanding is that the receiver is to be in right relationship with the giver. A father and son who are estranged from one another, have strife among them or don’t speak to one another are not in a right relationship with each other so far as the father seeing fit to bestow an inheritance upon his rebellious son. Nor should the son expect to get anything from his father while he is contentious.
James 4:4 says, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be (or already is) a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of G-d.”
Birthright for the Christian, the believer, is life (intimacy with God)
Birthright for the unbeliever is death (separation)
Matthew 7:23 reads, “…and then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Romans 8:29-30 imparts, “For those whom He foreknew (before + had close relationship with, trusted in, believed) He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He (Jesus) might be the FIRSTBORN among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified he also glorified.”
In Matthew 7:23 above, the word “knew” signifies a deep relationship. The word in the Greek here is GINOSKO and, according to my Expository Dictionary from Christ’s side of the relationship rightly means He knows “our inner being in intimate, omniscient detail.” From our side of the relationship, it means we not only believe in Him (know that He is G-d, that He is G-d in bodily form, that He came from G-d, that He is coexistent with G-d, is the Alpha and Omega…) but we trust Him and Him alone for the salvation of our eternal souls. As Peter said in two instances, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living G-d” and “Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
In Romans 8:29 that we mentioned earlier, this idea of foreknowledge is not a Calvinistic notion of the salvation of a limited number of souls based on the Lord G-d purposely creating some to be predestined for eternal life and others eternal death and torment. This contradicts and flies in the face of such verses as “G-d so loved the world (everyone) that whosoever (anyone) believes in Him (trusts in Him alone for the forgiveness of their sins and the redemption of their heart, soul and body) should not perish (‘depart from Me you workers of lawlessness’) but have eternal life.” And John 17:3 reveals, “And this is eternal life, that they know (that Greek word ginosko) You, the only G-d, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” But this is a detailed, loving, salvational, redemptive, personal, life-saving and life-giving knowledge of us whom He died in the place of, and for us who have been convicted of our sins, had godly sorrow for our transgressions against Him (our HOLY G-d), confessed these sins, repented from our old lives, turned to and placed our faith in Him for the regeneration of our souls (our secret hearts), for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the wonderful free gift of eternal life in Him! He is our G-d, He is omniscient, He knew us even before we were formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). This is the foreknowledge the Bible speaks about. G-d is from eternity to eternity. He has no beginning and He has no end. The “fore” (pre, before) plus the “knowledge” (intimate relationship, ginosko) shows that He knew who would repent and choose life, in and through Him, in advance of our decisions and our births. And it was because of this omniscient foreknowledge that He could predestine us to be conformed to the image of our Savior Jesus Christ!
• That’s why King David was able to shout in wonder the words recorded in Psalm 139:3-6 which exclaim, “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high; I cannot attain it.”
• Apart from the Messiah, we have no “rights.” We have no liberty, control, authority or power. We come into this world with nothing but a stained, blemished, wickedly- and sinfully-disposed nature. We leave this world with nothing less and nothing more without the intervention, the seeking and saving of the lost by Him who loves us supernaturally. On the other hand, once we have been reborn by the Spirit of G-d, John 1:12 states emphatically “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in (and trusted in) His name, He gave the right to become children of G-d.” This is the BIRTHRIGHT of the Christian! It is his or her blessing, inheritance and double portion! It is only through this intimate knowledge of our Savior and this trusted relationship with Him that we can have our “bekorah,” our birthright.
How do we so easily, apathetically and eternally dismiss or cast off this wonderful thing known as a birthright, as Esau did? As Cain did? As Manasseh did? What do we sell or trade it for? Why is it so meaningless to us while it is available, yet so paramount to us once it is no longer within our grasp? The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (it is here), Jesus said. He also said He is coming soon. Take hold now while it is within your reach. Lay hold of your birthright! Grasp it! And when you get it, embrace it. Do not let go of it; it is only given once. Almighty G-d will not take it back from you, but you can lay it down and walk away from it. Hebrews 6:4-5 talks about this. A birthright is given upon the death of the one who bestows it. An inheritance is only procured upon the death of the Trustor and it is only done once. That is why Hebrews 6:6 warns that it is impossible if we “then have fallen away, to restore them (us) again to repentance, since they (we) are crucifying once again the Son of G-d to their (our) own harm and holding Him to contempt.” The Messiah willingly laid His life down for us and, just as a man can only die once, our Christ will not die again because HE IS RISEN AND ALIVE! Esau later sought his birthright with tears. The rich man in torment later sought this birthright, but an impassable chasm separated him from Abraham and Lazarus.
Don’t be a fool. Secure your birthright while there is still time. He will come at a time and hour we do not know. And, for the believer, do not take it for granted. Don’t trample it under your feet. Do not feed it to the dogs. Embrace it and treasure it, and tell others how to obtain it. Help them. Do not hide it; hang it around your neck. Do not walk away from it; walk in it. Share your inheritance, your riches, with others. Scripture says that you have freely received, now freely give. Amen and amen! Glory and praise and honor to the Most High Jesus Christ!
Again, as we mentioned in the very beginning, the “bekorah”—the (Hebrew) birthright—is important. By definition, it means “the right to be recognized as the FIRSTBORN.” And this is significant because it places upon us a certain position and inheritance. It is also extremely noteworthy that “the firstborn son of a king inherits the throne.” This is not only true in Jewish history and the Bible, but in the kingdom of G-d. He, being King of all creation and the universe, gave Jesus Christ reign, power and authority over all of Heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:18) AND, since He is King of kings and Lord of lords, our birthright from Him is to reign with Him as sons of His kingship (Revelation 20: 4-6, Psalm 8, 2 Timothy 2:12 testify to this).
So Cain was born first (natural), but Abel was the FIRSTBORN (supernatural) in our Father G-d’s eyes and he received the birthright
So Esau was the first out of the womb (natural), but the right of the FIRSTBORN (supernatural)—the birthright—was Jacob’s
So Manasseh came into the world first (natural), but Ephraim inherited the BIRTHRIGHT (supernatural)
So my brother was before me physically (natural), but I have been given the gift of the BIRTHRIGHT (supernatural)
So Ishmael was born through Haggar first (natural, the seed of the flesh), but Isaac came through Sarah and was chosen by G-d to receive the BIRTHRIGHT (supernatural, the seed of the promise)
Of course, it is not always this way in the world and with every pair of brothers, but the Lord G-d chose this manner and explains why in Romans 9:11, “Though they (Esau and Jacob) were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that G-d’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls.” Like our salvation, it is a GIFT OF GRACE! Praise His holy name!!!
Christ View Versus World View 