p. 3 | The Birthright by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1911

The Birthright

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. N. HASKELL

The Abrahamic birthright consisted of three parts,—a double portion of the father's estate; the family priesthood; and last, but not by any means least, the great honor of becoming the progenitor of Christ. Isaac retained the entire birthright, but Esau sold his birthright to Jacob to satisfy his appetite (Gen. 25: 29-34), and Jacob possessed all the birthright except the double portion of the parental estate.

Reuben, Jacob's first-born, forfeited his right to all of the birthright. Jacob denounced him as “unstable as water.” He was guilty of a sin which showed plainly that he had no regard for the honor of the family from whom the Messiah was to come. Gen. 49: 4. On account of Reuben's grievous sin, the birthright was taken from him. But to whom should it be given? Among all the twelve sons of Jacob there was not one worthy of the entire birthright, not one with the integrity of character of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore the birthright was divided between Judah, Joseph, and Levi, giving to each one portion; and from that time on down to the birth of the Messiah “the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.” 1 Chron. 5: 1, 2; Num. 8: 14-16; Gen. 49: 10-12.

These three men developed Christian characters under entirely different circumstances. Judah “prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler,” or prince. 1 Chron. 5: 2. In the home life, surrounded by the same temptations as his brethren, Judah prevailed above them. By integrity of character he gained the confidence of all; so that Jacob, on his death-bed could say: “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.” Gen. 49: 8.

This confidence in Judah was shown when the ten brethren brought word to Jacob that the ruler in Egypt demanded that they bring Benjamin into Egypt. Jacob refused to let Benjamin go. Reuben said to his father: “Slay my two sons, if I bring him [Benjamin] not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.” Gen. 42: 37. His words had no effect upon Jacob; but when Judah said, “I will be surety for him,” Jacob consented for Benjamin to go. Gen. 43: 9-13.

When Jacob and his household neared Egypt, the aged patriarch, fearing lest his posterity might be swallowed up by the Egyptians, and remembering that shepherds were “an abomination unto the Egyptians,” saw that the only safe place for his household was in a grazing country, where they could follow an occupation that would separate them from the Egyptians. For this reason he “sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen.” Gen. 46: 28-34. Judah could be trusted by the entire family; he had prevailed above his brethren in the same surroundings where they had failed.

Joseph also was one before whom his brethren bowed down, but under entirely different circumstances. They bowed before Joseph on account of the position which he held, not because they loved and respected him. Joseph developed a Christian character among strangers. In the midst of Egyptian idolatry, he proved true to God. When tempted to sin, he replied: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Gen. 39: 9. He leaned upon God alone, and developed a Christian character when surrounded by heathen darkness. He had no earthly friend to whom he could turn for godly counsel in time of perplexity. God alone was his help. His father, Jacob, on his death-bed gave the secret of Joseph's strength in the following words: “His bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.” Gen. 49: 24. Joseph knew what it was to reach up by faith and take hold of the hand of the Infinite One reaching over the battlements of heaven to clasp the hand of struggling humanity. Judah developed a Christian character

at home with his brothers, while Joseph gained his victories separated from all kindred ties, and Levi won the mastery in the time of a great crisis. Levi's impetuous, fearless nature had led him to deceive and slay all the men of Shechem. Gen. 34: 1-31. Jacob was so grieved by the course of Levi that on his death-bed he said: “O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united.” His last words to Levi were more like a curse than a blessing. Gen. 49: 5-7.

The same fearless nature that, when directed by Satan, led Levi to murder the men of Shechem, enabled the Levites, when consecrated to God, to stand true to him in a time of crisis. It is comparatively easy to be true when everything moves smoothly; but when there is confusion, and the majority are on the wrong side of the controversy, and the honor of God is trampled in the dust, it requires a fearless trust in God to come forward, and, like the Levites of old, stand upon the Lord's side. It is such characters that God can trust. Just before his death, Moses, in blessing Levi, said:— “Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.” Deut. 33: 8-10. The Levites regarded the honor of God and his cause above every earthly tie, and for that reason they were chosen by the Lord to perform the service of the sanctuary.

The characters developed by Judah, Joseph, and Levi, which entitled them to the birthright, represent the Christian character needed by all in the last days. “The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, page 80.

The individual who lives a good life at home and among his neighbors, and yet in a crisis allows his sympathy to be on the wrong side, can never be trusted with responsibility in the cause of God. God wants men who will live a godly life in the home, represent him to the outside world, and in a crisis stand fearless for the right, in the face of death if necessary. This was the character of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who possessed the entire birthright. If we are Abraham's children, we shall do the works of Abraham,—represent our beloved Master at home and abroad, and fearlessly stand true to God in every crisis.

Portland, Maine.