The Battle of the Ages

Today’s Passage – Genesis 25 – 26

Before I give you a thought from this morning’s passage, let me tell you how excited I am about the new series that we will be starting this evening (the Lord willing) in the Book of Proverbs. Since I have been a pastor here at Jersey Shore I have wanted to tackle the Proverbs, but frankly, I was not sure how to go about it. After praying about it, I have decided to do a topical study through the book:carefully examining each topic as we come to them. This morning I will be introducing the study by preaching on the Wisdom of God Through Solomon. I hope that those of you who are a part of the church will be faithful to study with us as we glean wisdom from God through this marvelous Book of Proverbs.

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.” (Genesis 25:22)

As I was reading this I could not help but think that it is a picture of the struggle that is within each of us. Here in this passage we see Rebekah with twin boys in her womb; and the Scripture tell us that they struggled within her. Now, we know from hindsight that these boys and their descendants would be struggling for a long time; in fact, they are still struggling today. However, we also can see how that these boys are a picture of the new nature which struggles against the old nature. You see, when we trusted Christ as our Saviour we became new creatures in Christ; but God did not remove our old, sinful nature. He is alive and well. That is why Paul talked often about crucifying the flesh. Look at some of the things that God used Paul to pen regarding this struggle:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18)

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:17)

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” (Romans 7:15)

All of these verses speak of the struggle that is within each one of us who are saved. In this New Year, as many of you already know, I have resolved to get as close to God as possible so that He will “[work] in me both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. I want to reduce the influence that my flesh has over my mind. I want my mind and body to be yielded to the indwelling Spirit of God. There will always be a struggle between the Jacob and Esau within us, but I want to see Jacob win more often.