Blessed in the Garments of the Firstborn
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As we saw last week, difficulties arise when we attempt to read the story of Jacob and Esau as a traditional morality tale. In reality, the book of Genesis does not present Jacob as a hero to be emulated, but as a great sinner in whom God’s mysterious grace is richly on display. And as we’ll see in Genesis 27, Jacob actually deceives his father by clothing himself in his brother’s garments and calling himself “Esau.” So then, why does God allow him to receive his brother’s blessing? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace.
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People are always trying to make biblical characters into good guys. We’re always holding out for a hero, looking for good features in these individuals so we can imitate them. So we “Dare to be a Daniel” and attempt to “take on the Goliath’s in our lives.” But, often the negative presentations of characters in Scripture are themselves instructive for us. The negative characters show us what Jesus is going to have to be. This story is showing us their need of a savior, and why all of us stand in need of redemption.
Iain Duguid
Recommended:
Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace
Author: Iain Duguid
Time and time again, God uses insignificant and desperately sinful people to fulfill his marvelous plans. In short, he uses people like us! We find vivid examples of this truth in Isaac and Jacob, two men who couldn’t live up to Abraham’s example, let alone God’s standards – yet God never abandoned them. Iain Duguid’s study of their stories in Genesis shows us how the gospel triumphs not through human effort but through God’s relentless grace. His exposition and application will encourage readers who grapple with their shortcomings in the light of Christ, as well as aid teachers in tracing the golden gospel thread woven through the Old Testament.
Is Jesus in the Old Testament?
Author: Iain Duguid
Many Christians find the Old Testament to be a difficult book and ultimately ignore large parts of it often because they simply are not sure what to do with it. Yet Iain Duguid maintains that the Old Testament is for Christians too. What is more, Christ is present throughout the Old Testament—in fact, when rightly interpreted, the whole book is about him. Duguid explores what it means to rightly see Christ in the Old Testament and looks at some specific ways the Old Testament prepares us to see and understand Christ’s ministry in the gospels.
More from this Series: Gospel in Genesis
- The Gospel in Genesis Listen Now ›
- Failed Bible Heroes Listen Now ›
- Abraham, Sarah & Hagar Listen Now ›
- Grace & Works Contrasted Listen Now ›
- The Sacrifice of Isaac Listen Now ›
- Grace & Election in the Story of Jacob Listen Now ›
- Blessed in the Garments of the Firstborn Listen Now ›
- Stairway to Heaven Listen Now ›
- God’s Grace vs. Human Striving Listen Now ›
- Wrestling with God Listen Now ›
- The Gospel of God’s Weakness Listen Now ›
- John Lennox on the Story of Joseph Listen Now ›
- The Search for the Historical Joseph Listen Now ›
- Coming to Grips with the God of the Old Testament 1 Listen Now ›
- Coming to Grips with the God of the Old Testament 2 Listen Now ›
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