People are known by whether or not they fear the Word of God, which teaches us to live in peace with the Lord and to close the gaps so that the devil cannot tempt us with evil desires. Those who do not bow to God's commandments do not love Him; therefore, they are vulnerable to the devil's actions because they have closed themselves off to the One who could protect them: the Lord. A person's wickedness is the cause of so many bad things happening to them.

Esau, Jacob's brother, did not have good character. Seeing that his parents did not approve of the daughters of Canaan as wives for him, Esau chose to marry two of them in order to provoke his parents, revealing the cruelty and wickedness of his heart. This man could not be the one through whom Jesus would be born to save us, because his lineage was not suitable.

Those who listen to the enemy's words need to know that this will hinder them from receiving heavenly blessings. On the other hand, those who submit to God's plan are part of the group of the blessed, guided by the Holy Spirit. Strive to have nothing in your life that condemns you and prevents you from receiving help from Heaven. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, were led to hate Israel. The result: no one knows where they are (Jeremiah 49:7-13).

Jacob, unlike his brother, always meditated on the Covenant made by God with his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. Take note: reward or punishment does not occur only in this world, but mainly in the world to come. Those who do good and love the Lord will rise with the Church on the day of the rapture, but those who have done evil will go through the great tribulation and, after being judged, will go to the lake of fire and brimstone (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

Now, why don't those who insist on sinning ask themselves where they will go after death? It is not possible to deceive the Lord. At the Judgment, no one will be able to claim that they have done nothing wrong. All humanity lives, moves, and has its being in Him. The wicked will be punished and sent to the place where the fire never goes out (Revelation 21:8). Watch, pray, and believe in the Scriptures; thus, you will live with Jesus.

The fight between Esau and Jacob began while they were still in Rebekah's womb. She asked God the reason for this dispute, and the answer was: And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25.23). It is said that Esau was born after Jacob, but being stronger, he pulled his brother and came out first.

Jacob did not lose the birthright by strength, but he was born with his hand grasping his brother's heel, which is why he was given a name meaning “supplanter” (Genesis 25:24-26). Esau, returning hungry from a hunt, traded his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew prepared by Jacob. Later, wanting to recover what he had lost, he begged God, but was rejected (Genesis 25:27-34; Hebrews 12:16,17). Be careful not to lose your blessing!

           In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares