Inquire of the Lord to Receive More of His Grace

"22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.

23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25: 22-23)

 

In this verse, we learn what we need to inquire of the Lord when we struggle in our lives.

 

The LORD explained to Rebekah that there were two manner of people.

 

Esau represents people who live in the flesh, who live under law:

 

Jacob represents those how live by the Spirit, under grace, under the New Covenant.

 

For this reason, we learn that the elder we serve the younger, just as Moses is the servant (Hebrews 3: 5), yet Jesus the Son abides forever (Hebrews 7: 3):

 

"(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9: 11-13)

 

Most people have read this passage, and assume that God arbitrarily calls certain people while others are certain to be damned.

 

That is not true. We are not saved by our efforts, but by His grace. We do not earn it, but rather we receive it as a gift:

 

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 4-9)

 

With Ephesians (and the harmony of Scriptures) in mind, we then understand that election, grace, stands not on works (us) but on Him who calls (grace and truth in Christ -- John 1: 17)

 

When we struggle in our lives, there is still an element of the law, or ourselves, which remains. He invites us to come to Him boldly in time of need for His grace:

 

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 16)

 

and then

 

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)