Hebrews 12:14-17
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
12:15 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;
12:16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
12:17 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.
Hold up!
It is by faith that we will see the Lord, by faith that we will approach our Maker and our Redeemer. Why would the apostle bring the concept of holiness into the equation? As a matter of fact, he also includes our striving to be at peace with EVERYONE!
As a side bar to this topic, the striving for peace with everyone does not mean that we are at peace with everyone. Peace is dependent on two parties, and the apostle is simply placing our responsibility for peace making on us. We are to strive for peace with everyone.
This is a forgotten discipline in the Christian faith, for we think we have rights, and can be easily offended by others, harboring resentment and anger, and thinking we are in good standing with the Lord. Striving for peace does not provide any shelter for the believer to harbor ill feelings towards any.
Now to the actual attainment of peace with everyone, some may reject any effort to bring peace into a relationship. We are not responsible for their actions, but we are to seek peace with all continually. This means the rejection of an offer of peace does not provide us the freedom of harboring ill feeling to the one who rejects us. We are to strive!
Back to our topic!
We are to strive for peace and the holiness (or the sanctification) believers are to grow in. As the alternate option to seeking peace and sanctification, the apostle brings to the audience a reminder of an Old Testament character who eventually sold his birthright for a single meal. A single meal! How could anyone do that? (Does anyone hear the Lord’s reproach to the disciples when he spoke of the “flesh being weak”?)
Let’s take a moment to consider the example the author brings to our attention.
The apostle speaks of failing to obtain the grace of God, which is the equivalent of a root of bitterness springing up and causing trouble. In Esau’s case, this root of bitterness may very well have been the result of his own decisions, for he did decide to sell his birthright to Jacob. A major regret! Out of that decision, Jacob, through deception, attained Esau’s blessing. Birthright and blessing lost, for without the birthright, the blessing would be hobbled. Jacob needed the birthright to get the upper hand and continue with his dominance over Esau.
If someone stole that which was rightfully yours, or at least traded you stew for riches, would you not experience a root of bitterness erupting in your heart? Out of this bitterness, Esau’s immediate and extended family were impacted, with an extended separation from each other. The bitterness continues to fester, and as we know, what is in the heart comes out. This bitterness most certainly controlled Esau in many ways, and affected many he came into contact with.
He did seek to find restoration, to find his place in the family, through seeking the blessing from Isaac. But he was rejected. He found no chance to repent. Now wait a minute. It looks like he sought it with tears, and he desired to inherit the blessing. Why was he rejected?
The cast had been set. The birthright had been sold, and the blessing had been granted. His chance to repent had passed. He may have been sincere, truly seeking restoration, and yet the conditions of the situation did not allow the blessing to be taken from Jacob and granted to Esau.
As we go about our daily lives today, consider Esau and his decision making process. He prioritized a breakfast over a birthright. Out of that thought process, he also lost the blessing.
Now it turns out that Esau came to grips within himself later in life as we can see in a future meeting with Jacob. As we see in Genesis 33, Esau sought reconciliation with Jacob, Esau exhibited the desire to find peace with the one who abused his weakness and stole his blessing.
Genesis 33:4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Yes Esau, due to his foolishness in his youth, lost out on his rightful potential as the patriarch of the nation of Israel. The nation that sprang from his seed was known as Edom, and became a thorn in Israel’s side. But Esau, it appears found peace in himself and from that peace actually sought peace with Jacob, the one who abused and cheated him of his rightful place in the family. Let’s remember that Jacob was the very focus of Esau’s bitterness, the reason Esau allowed bitterness to fester in his life. Yet he sought peace later in life, with the very one who could be blamed for the bitterness.
If someone has hurt you badly, taken advantage of you, emotionally scarred you, seek peace with that person. This is the call of God on your life.
We are to be peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Considering the Bible 