100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,420I’ve got to have what I want. And I’ve got to have it now. Now you say what’s wrong with200:00:10,420 –> 00:00:20,959that? Well here’s the problem. In the course of your life, many impulses will come to you.300:00:20,959 –> 00:00:27,299Some will be good and others will be bad. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin400:00:28,219 –> 00:00:32,299Pick I’m glad you could be with us today. And Colin, I think that’s something that many500:00:32,299 –> 00:00:36,900of us can relate to. We see something out there that we want and we just go out and600:00:36,900 –> 00:00:39,840get it because that’s what our heart is telling us to do.700:00:39,840 –> 00:00:43,900Yeah. And we live in a culture where all the time we’re being told, well follow your heart.800:00:43,900 –> 00:00:48,259What could possibly be wrong with that? Well, the answer is if there’s something wrong with900:00:48,259 –> 00:00:53,259your heart, then it might be a very dangerous thing simply to follow your heart. And this1000:00:53,259 –> 00:00:57,660is the problem, that within the human heart there are some good impulses to be followed1100:00:57,660 –> 00:01:02,139because we’re created in the image of God, but we’re also fallen creatures and sin lurks1200:01:02,139 –> 00:01:07,519in the human heart. And if I don’t pay attention to that, then I’m going to end up taking a1300:01:07,519 –> 00:01:14,279plunge to disaster. And that’s the story we’re following. Here’s a guy Esau who simply follows1400:01:14,279 –> 00:01:20,580his heart. He acts on impulse and the outcome is disastrous. But very important to understand1500:01:20,580 –> 00:01:24,480that so that we don’t end up in the same place. Well, I hope you’ll join us today if you can1600:01:24,480 –> 00:01:31,160in Genesis 25 as we begin the message established true values. Here’s Colin.1700:01:31,160 –> 00:01:36,580Now we begin this story again in the maternity ward where Rebekah is having a difficult time1800:01:36,580 –> 00:01:42,320giving birth to twins. In fact, it’s been a difficult pregnancy because the bible tells1900:01:42,320 –> 00:01:49,059us these two boys were just playing together in her womb. It was the beginning indeed of2000:01:49,099 –> 00:01:54,779a struggle, the bible says, of two nations that would go on in tension with each other2100:01:54,779 –> 00:02:00,040for generations to come and it all began with the struggle between these two twins to be2200:02:00,040 –> 00:02:05,320born. It seems that the struggle was over which one was to be born first. And the two2300:02:05,320 –> 00:02:11,100of them are struggling inside the womb trying to get, as it were, in Pole position to be2400:02:11,100 –> 00:02:18,100the first one out. Well Esau won the struggle, but not by much because no sooner was he born2500:02:18,580 –> 00:02:25,580than Jacob came out and he came out arm first, clutching onto Esau’s heel. I guess that2600:02:26,259 –> 00:02:32,940the midwife was trying to haul Esau out, Jacob was trying to pull him back, but he was overwhelmed2700:02:32,940 –> 00:02:39,919and so Jacob ended up being pulled out at the same time. Well the point of this story2800:02:39,919 –> 00:02:46,919is that the firstborn, in cultures of those days, inherited a double portion of the inheritance2900:02:48,139 –> 00:02:54,199Now by any standards that was significant but for this family that was particularly3000:02:54,199 –> 00:03:01,199important because God had made special promises to Abraham, I will bless you and through your3100:03:02,020 –> 00:03:07,679descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. There was to be a line of3200:03:07,679 –> 00:03:14,460descendants from Abraham through whom God’s blessing would come to the whole world. And3300:03:14,460 –> 00:03:19,320the Old Testament as you know follows the story of that line of Abraham. Abraham’s3400:03:19,320 –> 00:03:24,839son was Isaac and then when Isaac and Rebecca had their two sons the obvious question was3500:03:24,839 –> 00:03:31,320through which branch of the family would God’s promises continue into which line would the3600:03:31,320 –> 00:03:38,320savior of the world be born? Well that is what this story is all about. Now as we introduce3700:03:38,559 –> 00:03:45,559Esau we’re told first in Genesis chapter 25 in verse 27 that he was a skillful hunter3800:03:46,559 –> 00:03:53,559and a man of the open country. He loved to hunt, loved to go on a fishing expedition3900:03:53,600 –> 00:03:59,059nothing better than to stalk a deer on his own out in the country and if you went out4000:03:59,059 –> 00:04:06,059a meal with Esau don’t expect him to order a salad. He’s not that kind of guy. Steak4100:04:06,160 –> 00:04:13,160done, rare. That’s Esau when he’s in a restaurant. It seems too that Esau had a big personality.4200:04:14,360 –> 00:04:20,380His muscular appearance, his very distinctive hair gave him a striking presence and notice4300:04:20,380 –> 00:04:26,820in verse 27 we’re told that Jacob was quiet and it seems almost that that’s a contrast4400:04:26,820 –> 00:04:33,079with Esau who was evidently the life and soul of the party. Esau always had stories coming4500:04:33,200 –> 00:04:39,200back from the hunt. People laughed at his jokes. And so here we have a man with everything4600:04:39,200 –> 00:04:45,940going for him, born into a situation of great privilege. He’s fit, he’s adventurous, he’s4700:04:45,940 –> 00:04:56,399skillful, he has the world at his feet. And Esau took a plunge to disaster.4800:04:56,660 –> 00:05:03,160Now, here’s the story. One day Esau had been out hunting, and he came back, absolutely4900:05:03,160 –> 00:05:09,119starving. He was ravenous. And it so happened that his little brother Jacob was cooking5000:05:09,119 –> 00:05:13,299some stew. Now, you know what it’s like when you come back from work, if you’ve missed5100:05:13,299 –> 00:05:18,000lunch, the traffic has been backed up, you’re absolutely starving. And you come home, and5200:05:18,000 –> 00:05:23,700there’s this marvelous, marvelous smell of wafting cooking, coming and meeting you at5300:05:23,700 –> 00:05:32,519the door. Maybe you don’t know what that’s like, but very wonderful. And Esau comes home,5400:05:32,519 –> 00:05:37,059absolutely ravenous. He smells this marvelous stew, and he says to his brother, verse 30,5500:05:37,059 –> 00:05:43,959I’ve got to have some of that red meat. Now, Jacob knew something that others have discovered.5600:05:43,959 –> 00:05:51,179When a man comes home hungry and you’ve got food, you can ask for almost anything. So5700:05:51,179 –> 00:05:58,640Jacob said, well now, sell me your birthright. Now, that was a dirty trick, it really was.5800:05:58,640 –> 00:06:02,359Jacob shouldn’t have done that. But we’re going to stay with Esau’s side of the story5900:06:02,359 –> 00:06:09,119today. So don’t get distracted onto Jacob. Esau said, verse 32 of Genesis 25, look, I’m6000:06:09,119 –> 00:06:15,279about to die. What good is the birthright to me? In other words, he was saying, hey,6100:06:15,279 –> 00:06:21,040who cares about a stupid birthright? I’m dying for something to eat. That’s all that6200:06:21,059 –> 00:06:26,619matters to me. Well, Jacob wasn’t satisfied with that, so he pressed it further. Now,6300:06:26,619 –> 00:06:34,579swear to me first, he said. And so, verse 33, Esau swore an oath, that’s a binding promise,6400:06:34,579 –> 00:06:41,579selling his birthright to Jacob. Now, it’s interesting that Esau had no idea at this6500:06:41,579 –> 00:06:46,420point of the significance of what he’d done. We’re just told in verse 34 that Jacob6600:06:46,420 –> 00:06:53,359gave Esau some bread, and some lentil stew. He ate it and drank, and then got up and left.6700:06:53,359 –> 00:06:58,679We don’t read about him having any regrets. We don’t read that he was angry. He didn’t6800:06:58,679 –> 00:07:07,200seem to have given the matter another thought. Now, before we see how the story ended, I6900:07:07,200 –> 00:07:15,440want us to understand Esau’s problem. And it comes at three levels. The first and most7000:07:15,459 –> 00:07:24,640obvious problem was that Esau was a man who acted on impulse. He made a major life decision7100:07:24,640 –> 00:07:30,640with hardly a moment’s serious thought. Quick, he says, verse 30. I’ve got to have some of7200:07:30,640 –> 00:07:36,459that red stew. Quick, quick. That’s the operative word. I’m famished. And he swore an oath,7300:07:36,459 –> 00:07:39,959verse 33, selling his birth right.7400:07:39,959 –> 00:07:47,940So Esau wasn’t a great thinker or a great planner. He tended to go with the flow. He7500:07:47,940 –> 00:07:54,459would often say, live for the moment, no doubt. When he felt hungry, all that really mattered7600:07:54,459 –> 00:08:01,480to him was that he should get some food. Now, this wasn’t the only time that he acted7700:08:01,480 –> 00:08:06,720on impulse because it does seem from the story that he acted in the same way when it came7800:08:07,440 –> 00:08:14,440a marriage partner. The Bible records, you may remember, a long story about how Abraham7900:08:14,440 –> 00:08:20,160sent out his servant to find a wife for Isaac. And there’s a long story about Jacob’s search8000:08:20,160 –> 00:08:27,100for a wife and his love for Rachel. But when it comes to Esau’s choosing of a partner,8100:08:27,100 –> 00:08:33,340we’re just told in a couple of sentences in Genesis chapter 26 and verse 34, he married8200:08:33,960 –> 00:08:40,960two Hittite women. One was called Judith, and the other was, would you believe it, called8300:08:40,960 –> 00:08:47,739Bess Math. That’s an extraordinary name. You would have to be impulsive, would you not,8400:08:47,739 –> 00:08:54,739to marry a woman called Bess Math. I mean, can you imagine this on Valentine’s Day? My8500:08:55,599 –> 00:09:02,599dearest darling Bess Math. It just doesn’t have that ring. Well, the only kind of ring8600:09:03,700 –> 00:09:08,700that we have in the bible on this is that his marriage to these two women was a sources8700:09:08,700 –> 00:09:15,700of great grief to Isaac and to Rebecca. And certainly, Esau did not operate on principle8800:09:18,340 –> 00:09:25,340in this choice. He did not act on the principle of finding a wife from among God’s people.8900:09:26,359 –> 00:09:30,380It seems therefore that what happened here was that Esau, this Canaanite woman, who was9000:09:30,380 –> 00:09:35,700an absolute stunner, didn’t stop to think. She swept him off his feet, and, hey, Presto,9100:09:35,700 –> 00:09:38,479before you know it he was married. He acted on impulse.9200:09:38,479 –> 00:09:45,479Now here is a man, then, whose whole approach to life is I’ve got to have what I want and9300:09:46,919 –> 00:09:52,900I’ve got to have it now. He operated on the level of impulse.9400:09:52,900 –> 00:09:59,900Now, you say, what’s wrong with that? Well, here’s the problem.9500:10:00,900 –> 00:10:06,919In the course of your life many impulses will come to you.9600:10:06,919 –> 00:10:13,840Some will be good, and others will be bad. There are many good impulses.9700:10:13,840 –> 00:10:18,840You see someone who is cold in the street, you give them some money or a cup of coffee,9800:10:18,840 –> 00:10:23,880that’s an impulse of compassion. It’s a good and wonderful thing.9900:10:23,880 –> 00:10:29,039Esau had good impulses sometimes. He chose at one point in his life to forgive10000:10:29,340 –> 00:10:33,640his brother. It was a wonderful thing, it was a good impulse.10100:10:33,640 –> 00:10:37,520But the problem with acting on impulse is that our impulses10200:10:37,520 –> 00:10:44,520are a mixture of good and bad. In fact most temptations come in the form10300:10:44,719 –> 00:10:48,780of an impulse. In fact that is exactly what temptation is,10400:10:48,780 –> 00:10:53,320an impulse to do something that God said you shouldn’t do.10500:10:53,320 –> 00:10:57,599And it happens to all of us. It’s interesting that the New Testament10600:10:57,599 –> 00:11:02,520in Hebrews chapter 12 which was read for us tells us that Esau was10700:11:02,520 –> 00:11:06,799a sexually immoral man. It’s not surprising.10800:11:06,799 –> 00:11:11,919It’s just the characteristic of a man who acts on impulse10900:11:11,919 –> 00:11:18,919transfer to yet another area of life. He got into the habit of doing what he felt11000:11:20,400 –> 00:11:23,760and it led him to disaster.11100:11:23,760 –> 00:11:26,799You’re listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible11200:11:26,799 –> 00:11:31,679and a message called Establish True Values, the story of Esau.11300:11:31,679 –> 00:11:34,799Just one of eight characters we’re hearing about in our series11400:11:34,799 –> 00:11:39,700deck chairs on the titanic, how to avoid a plunge to disaster.11500:11:39,700 –> 00:11:42,520And if you ever miss one of the series or if you want to go back and listen11600:11:42,520 –> 00:11:43,039again11700:11:43,039 –> 00:11:46,140you can do that by coming online to our website11800:11:46,140 –> 00:11:49,559open the Bible dot org dot uk11900:11:49,559 –> 00:11:53,559There you’ll find all the messages that have already being broadcast. You’ll also find them12000:11:54,200 –> 00:11:57,880on all the main podcast sites, search for Open the Bible UK12100:11:57,880 –> 00:12:01,039and subscribe if you want to get regular reminders.12200:12:01,039 –> 00:12:04,559Also on our website and available as a podcast you’ll find12300:12:04,559 –> 00:12:09,000Open the Bible Daily and that’s a series of short two to three minute12400:12:09,000 –> 00:12:12,080daily reflections based on Pastor Collins teaching12500:12:12,080 –> 00:12:16,859and read in UK by SoumAkleesh. There’s a fresh one on our website and12600:12:16,859 –> 00:12:21,840podcast every day and many Christian find it’s a great way to start the day.12700:12:22,200 –> 00:12:26,979Back to the message now where in Genesis chapter 25, here’s Colin12800:12:27,140 –> 00:12:29,719He got into the habit of doing12900:12:29,719 –> 00:12:34,159what he felt and it led him to disaster.13000:12:35,719 –> 00:12:38,159That was the first level of Esau’s problem,13100:12:38,159 –> 00:12:39,659but let’s go a little deeper now.13200:12:41,320 –> 00:12:45,739Why did he live at the level of impulse?13300:12:45,919 –> 00:12:47,000Why would he do that?13400:12:48,919 –> 00:12:51,679And the Bible gives us a very clear response to that question.13500:12:51,880 –> 00:12:55,599Because he was confused about values.13600:12:55,599 –> 00:12:58,260Look at verse 34 of Genesis 25.13700:12:58,479 –> 00:13:03,299Esau despised his birthright.13800:13:05,000 –> 00:13:08,679Now think about that, he is the first born son13900:13:08,679 –> 00:13:12,679of the family that God has chosen to bless.14000:13:13,520 –> 00:13:17,119Hard to imagine a greater privilege in all of the world than that.14100:13:17,960 –> 00:13:21,440Priceless gifts from God are placed in his hand14200:13:21,440 –> 00:13:23,559from the earliest days of his life,14300:13:23,559 –> 00:13:27,119but he couldn’t see their value.14400:13:28,080 –> 00:13:31,359All that mattered to Esau was the next meal,14500:13:31,359 –> 00:13:34,080the next fishing trip, the next pay packet,14600:13:34,080 –> 00:13:37,799the next contract, the next game, the next relationship.14700:13:37,799 –> 00:13:40,619That was what he lived for, it was all that he could see.14800:13:40,619 –> 00:13:43,659Nothing else really mattered.14900:13:44,640 –> 00:13:47,700And of course, Jacob knew that Esau15000:13:47,700 –> 00:13:49,500didn’t care much for his birthright,15100:13:49,500 –> 00:13:52,099you can’t hide that sort of thing.15200:13:52,099 –> 00:13:53,880They would have spoken about it before15300:13:53,880 –> 00:13:55,679and Jacob knew that at the right time15400:13:55,679 –> 00:13:58,020and for the right price, it was for sale15500:13:58,020 –> 00:14:00,859and he was waiting for the right moment to come.15600:14:02,099 –> 00:14:05,299The reason that Esau acted on impulse15700:14:05,299 –> 00:14:09,739was that he never saw the value of his birthright.15800:14:10,820 –> 00:14:13,380And under a particular set of circumstances,15900:14:13,400 –> 00:14:16,179a plate of stew seemed more important to him16000:14:16,179 –> 00:14:19,780than a place in the purpose of God.16100:14:20,799 –> 00:14:22,340And when Jacob offers him the stew,16200:14:22,340 –> 00:14:24,780he says, look, I’m about to die.16300:14:24,780 –> 00:14:29,640What good is my birthright to me?16400:14:31,179 –> 00:14:36,179He took a plunge to disaster because he acted on impulse16500:14:37,020 –> 00:14:40,219but the reason he was a man who acted on impulse16600:14:40,679 –> 00:14:41,979was that he was at a deeper level,16700:14:41,979 –> 00:14:45,280a man who was confused about values.16800:14:46,760 –> 00:14:49,179But let’s go one more time a level deeper16900:14:49,179 –> 00:14:50,119and ask this question,17000:14:50,119 –> 00:14:53,460why was he confused then about values?17100:14:55,500 –> 00:14:57,539And the New Testament gives us a very clear answer17200:14:57,539 –> 00:15:02,539to that question because Esau was godless, godless.17300:15:04,520 –> 00:15:07,340That’s the stunning word that the New Testament uses17400:15:07,340 –> 00:15:08,419to describe this man.17500:15:08,419 –> 00:15:12,940Hebrews 12, 16 see to it that nobody in the church17600:15:12,940 –> 00:15:17,940is godless like Esau who sold his inheritance rights17700:15:19,380 –> 00:15:23,340as the oldest son for a single meal.17800:15:24,979 –> 00:15:26,400Now do you see the pattern here?17900:15:26,400 –> 00:15:28,940These things tie together.18000:15:28,940 –> 00:15:30,359It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking18100:15:30,359 –> 00:15:32,739about an individual or a family18200:15:32,739 –> 00:15:35,099or a nation, the pattern is always the same.18300:15:35,140 –> 00:15:36,799You lose touch with God18400:15:37,900 –> 00:15:39,979and you become confused about values,18500:15:39,979 –> 00:15:41,619become confused about values,18600:15:41,619 –> 00:15:43,219you start acting on impulse,18700:15:43,219 –> 00:15:46,020start acting on impulse and you will eventually18800:15:46,020 –> 00:15:48,080take a plunge to disaster.18900:15:50,919 –> 00:15:52,940Now of course that plunge to disaster19000:15:52,940 –> 00:15:55,000may not be immediately obvious.19100:15:56,219 –> 00:15:58,840The person who is confused about values19200:15:58,840 –> 00:16:01,440like Esau very often can go for years19300:16:01,440 –> 00:16:03,760without ever realizing what they’ve lost.19400:16:04,500 –> 00:16:05,900It’s the fascinating thing19500:16:05,900 –> 00:16:08,179at the end of Genesis chapter 25.19600:16:08,179 –> 00:16:11,960Esau sold his birthright and had no clue19700:16:11,960 –> 00:16:14,859that he’d given away the most important thing in his life.19800:16:16,739 –> 00:16:17,859So let’s for that reason,19900:16:17,859 –> 00:16:22,140take up the story and see where it ends.20000:16:22,140 –> 00:16:23,859Will you turn forward a page in your Bible20100:16:23,859 –> 00:16:27,280to Genesis and chapter 27.20200:16:27,280 –> 00:16:29,380And we’re going to follow the story here20300:16:30,359 –> 00:16:34,619of what happened at the end of Isaac’s life.20400:16:34,619 –> 00:16:39,340Isaac the father is an old man now and he’s about to die.20500:16:40,539 –> 00:16:44,359But before he died, he knew that God would enable him20600:16:44,359 –> 00:16:48,539to speak God’s word of blessing.20700:16:48,539 –> 00:16:51,099In other words, he would be given the special gift20800:16:51,099 –> 00:16:53,400to speak like a prophet,20900:16:53,400 –> 00:16:56,479words that God would actually give him21000:16:56,599 –> 00:17:00,320that would predict the future and would certainly come true.21100:17:01,440 –> 00:17:04,180Isaac was close to Esau.21200:17:04,180 –> 00:17:07,420And so he wanted that God’s special blessing would be on him.21300:17:07,420 –> 00:17:09,339So one day he said to Esau,21400:17:09,339 –> 00:17:12,040now you go out and catch some game,21500:17:12,040 –> 00:17:14,439prepare some food and then come in21600:17:14,439 –> 00:17:16,459and I will give you my blessing.21700:17:17,640 –> 00:17:20,640Rebecca overheard what Isaac had said21800:17:20,640 –> 00:17:22,959and she rushed over to the younger boy, Jacob.21900:17:23,680 –> 00:17:25,880Look, Jacob she said,22000:17:25,880 –> 00:17:29,640your father’s ready to announce God’s blessing22100:17:29,640 –> 00:17:31,400and he wants to give it to Esau.22200:17:32,339 –> 00:17:35,239You can go in and pretend to be Esau22300:17:35,239 –> 00:17:38,219and then the blessing will be yours.22400:17:39,280 –> 00:17:42,199I’ll never work, said Jacob.22500:17:42,199 –> 00:17:43,040Why?22600:17:43,920 –> 00:17:45,800Well, I’m nothing like Esau.22700:17:46,800 –> 00:17:47,959He’s as hairy as a goat.22800:17:48,959 –> 00:17:52,319And my skin is smooth, Dad only needs to touch my arms22900:17:52,439 –> 00:17:53,920and he’ll know I’m not Esau.23000:17:53,920 –> 00:17:56,619Don’t you worry, says his mother.23100:17:56,619 –> 00:17:59,099Well, Rebekah had thought of everything.23200:17:59,099 –> 00:18:01,479She took some hair from a goat skin23300:18:01,479 –> 00:18:03,500and covered Jacob’s arms.23400:18:04,439 –> 00:18:07,760She dressed him in Esau’s clothes23500:18:07,760 –> 00:18:10,079and then Jacob took his mother’s stew23600:18:10,079 –> 00:18:11,579into his father’s room.23700:18:11,579 –> 00:18:13,760The old man was blind23800:18:13,760 –> 00:18:18,239and had only the most limited awareness of vision.23900:18:19,239 –> 00:18:21,839Who is it, said the old man24000:18:21,839 –> 00:18:23,680as Jacob came into the room.24100:18:24,859 –> 00:18:27,260Esau, he said.24200:18:28,119 –> 00:18:29,760Sit up and take some food24300:18:30,839 –> 00:18:32,400and then give me your blessing.24400:18:33,959 –> 00:18:37,239Come near and let me touch you, my son,24500:18:37,239 –> 00:18:41,640to know whether you are Esau or not, verse 21.24600:18:42,819 –> 00:18:44,760So Jacob went right up to his father.24700:18:44,760 –> 00:18:48,119He must’ve been trembling, you would think, wouldn’t you?24800:18:48,140 –> 00:18:50,900The old man touched his hands.24900:18:52,640 –> 00:18:56,439The voice is the voice of Jacob, he said,25000:18:57,439 –> 00:18:59,459but the hands are the hands of Esau.25100:19:01,000 –> 00:19:02,819Once more, Isaac asks him,25200:19:02,819 –> 00:19:05,280are you really Esau verse 24?25300:19:06,280 –> 00:19:08,359I am, said Jacob.25400:19:10,000 –> 00:19:13,439Then Isaac began to speak out words25500:19:13,439 –> 00:19:15,680that God was giving him.25600:19:15,719 –> 00:19:18,280Words of blessing poured out from his mouth.25700:19:18,280 –> 00:19:20,959Look at them in verse 28 and 29.25800:19:21,920 –> 00:19:26,319May God give you of heaven’s due and of earth’s riches25900:19:26,319 –> 00:19:29,020an abundance of grain and new wine,26000:19:29,020 –> 00:19:32,640may nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.26100:19:32,640 –> 00:19:35,560Be Lord over your brothers26200:19:35,560 –> 00:19:38,959and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.26300:19:38,959 –> 00:19:43,660Then this, may those who curse you be cursed26400:19:43,660 –> 00:19:46,540and those who bless you be blessed.26500:19:46,540 –> 00:19:48,439That was God’s promise to Abraham26600:19:49,540 –> 00:19:52,319and now it belongs to Jacob.26700:19:53,619 –> 00:19:57,140It was the word of God and it had been spoken.26800:19:58,939 –> 00:20:01,760Isaac thought he was giving this blessing to Esau26900:20:01,760 –> 00:20:04,819but he had given it unwittingly to Jacob27000:20:04,819 –> 00:20:06,579which was God’s purpose all along.27100:20:06,579 –> 00:20:08,739He had spoken the word of God27200:20:08,739 –> 00:20:11,619and God’s word stands forever.27300:20:12,420 –> 00:20:17,420So now try to imagine the scene a few moments later27400:20:17,859 –> 00:20:22,140when our man Esau arrives back27500:20:22,140 –> 00:20:26,239with the game, the meal that he’s prepared27600:20:26,239 –> 00:20:27,400ready for his father.27700:20:28,219 –> 00:20:31,500Verse 32, sit up dad, got some food.27800:20:31,500 –> 00:20:33,219I’m here to receive your blessing27900:20:34,660 –> 00:20:36,660and as the old man hears another visitor28000:20:36,660 –> 00:20:40,219unexpectedly coming in, he says, who are you?28100:20:41,180 –> 00:20:43,339I’m your first born son, Esau.28200:20:44,739 –> 00:20:49,099He says, who was it that hunted game then28300:20:49,099 –> 00:20:50,739and brought it to me?28400:20:52,459 –> 00:20:56,300Suddenly both of them knew it was Jacob.28500:20:58,800 –> 00:21:02,079Then we’re told verse 34.28600:21:04,140 –> 00:21:08,900When Esau heard this, he burst out with a loud28700:21:11,140 –> 00:21:14,140and bitter cry28800:21:16,420 –> 00:21:19,540because he knew he had lost everything28900:21:21,260 –> 00:21:23,000that really mattered.29000:21:23,000 –> 00:21:24,760You’ve been listening to Open the Bible29100:21:24,760 –> 00:21:26,380with Pastor Colin Smith29200:21:26,380 –> 00:21:29,079and a message called establish true values.29300:21:29,079 –> 00:21:30,900The story of Esau.29400:21:30,900 –> 00:21:33,199And next time we’ll continue to look at Esau29500:21:33,199 –> 00:21:36,800and how we can avoid his plunge to disaster.29600:21:36,800 –> 00:21:40,060Our series is called Deck chairs on the Titanic.29700:21:40,119 –> 00:21:42,280How to avoid a plunge to disaster.29800:21:42,280 –> 00:21:44,219And if you ever miss one of the series,29900:21:44,219 –> 00:21:45,319you can always catch up30000:21:45,319 –> 00:21:47,619or go back and listen again online30100:21:47,619 –> 00:21:52,020at our website, open the Bible.org.uk.30200:21:52,020 –> 00:21:53,199Here’s Pastor Colin30300:21:53,199 –> 00:21:55,760to talk about a special offer this Easter.30400:21:55,760 –> 00:21:58,160Hi, I’m Pastor Colin Smith.30500:21:58,160 –> 00:22:00,199You know Easter is a wonderful time30600:22:00,199 –> 00:22:02,599for conversations with friends and family30700:22:02,599 –> 00:22:04,579who may not yet know the Lord.30800:22:04,579 –> 00:22:06,339And that’s why Open the Bible30900:22:06,400 –> 00:22:10,400is offering churches a unique opportunity this year.31000:22:10,400 –> 00:22:14,099We put together a free Easter event package31100:22:14,099 –> 00:22:16,199for your church to use.31200:22:16,199 –> 00:22:19,979It includes a link to show the film Heaven How I Got Here,31300:22:19,979 –> 00:22:22,640the story of the thief on the cross.31400:22:22,640 –> 00:22:24,239The film presents the gospel31500:22:24,239 –> 00:22:26,219through the eyes of the thief on the cross.31600:22:26,219 –> 00:22:28,420And it’s a compelling drama31700:22:28,420 –> 00:22:30,260that churches are using the film31800:22:30,260 –> 00:22:32,599as an event to which their congregations31900:22:32,599 –> 00:22:35,619can invite friends, neighbours and family.32000:22:35,699 –> 00:22:36,880Along with the film,32100:22:36,880 –> 00:22:39,680Open The Bible has resources to help you,32200:22:39,680 –> 00:22:43,439including an event guide, a discussion guide,32300:22:43,439 –> 00:22:46,780artwork for flyers, posters and social media,32400:22:46,780 –> 00:22:50,380as well as discounts on books and booklets to give away.32500:22:50,380 –> 00:22:52,619You can find more details on our website,32600:22:52,619 –> 00:22:55,819openthebible.org.uk.32700:22:55,819 –> 00:22:59,619Again, that’s openthebible.org.uk32800:22:59,619 –> 00:23:03,540And again, this is all available for free.32900:23:03,599 –> 00:23:06,339We hope this film will be helpful to your church33000:23:06,339 –> 00:23:09,780and that many in your community will hear the good news33100:23:09,780 –> 00:23:14,420of how Jesus has opened heaven for all who believe in him.33200:23:14,420 –> 00:23:17,579Open The Bible is supported financially by our listeners,33300:23:17,579 –> 00:23:20,099and if you already give to Open The Bible,33400:23:20,099 –> 00:23:22,479we’re very grateful, thank you so much.33500:23:22,479 –> 00:23:24,380If supporting Open The Bible in that way33600:23:24,380 –> 00:23:26,459is something that you’re thinking about doing,33700:23:26,459 –> 00:23:27,319this month,33800:23:27,319 –> 00:23:29,760if you’re able to begin a new direct debit33900:23:29,760 –> 00:23:32,219of £5 per month or more,34000:23:32,219 –> 00:23:34,859or a one-off gift of £50 or more,34100:23:34,859 –> 00:23:38,699we’d love to say thank you by sending you a free gift,34200:23:38,699 –> 00:23:40,900and that consists of a copy of34300:23:40,900 –> 00:23:42,500Heaven, How I Got Here?34400:23:42,500 –> 00:23:44,219The Story of the Thief on the Cross,34500:23:44,219 –> 00:23:45,979the book by Colin Smith,34600:23:45,979 –> 00:23:48,099and also a small booklet entitled34700:23:48,099 –> 00:23:50,520How Can I Be Sure of Heaven?34800:23:50,520 –> 00:23:52,859I’m with Open The Bible’s executive director,34900:23:52,859 –> 00:23:54,040John Martin.35000:23:54,040 –> 00:23:57,140John, what is the connection between these two books?35100:23:57,140 –> 00:24:00,339Well, Colin wrote Heaven, How I Got Here?35200:24:00,420 –> 00:24:02,719Off the back of preaching on the subject35300:24:02,719 –> 00:24:04,219of the Thief on the Cross.35400:24:04,219 –> 00:24:05,280And that’s a short book,35500:24:05,280 –> 00:24:08,660and that’s very easy to read yourself or to give away.35600:24:08,660 –> 00:24:11,380But we also wanted to write something even shorter35700:24:11,380 –> 00:24:14,079and pithier that could potentially be given35800:24:14,079 –> 00:24:16,880to a friend or neighbor or a relative.35900:24:16,880 –> 00:24:19,979And so we wrote how can I be sure about Heaven?36000:24:19,979 –> 00:24:22,199That’s a question lots of people ask,36100:24:22,199 –> 00:24:23,979and again, it looks at it through the story36200:24:23,979 –> 00:24:24,939of the Thief on the Cross,36300:24:24,939 –> 00:24:26,859but just takes it from a slightly different angle36400:24:27,339 –> 00:24:30,660and just has sort of three points to walk you through36500:24:30,660 –> 00:24:31,979what it means to be a Christian36600:24:31,979 –> 00:24:33,359and what it means to have assurance36700:24:33,359 –> 00:24:35,420that you are indeed going to Heaven36800:24:35,420 –> 00:24:37,900because you’ve been forgiven by Jesus.36900:24:37,900 –> 00:24:40,819So those two books, Heaven, How I Got Here,37000:24:40,819 –> 00:24:43,339and How Can I Be Sure of Heaven,37100:24:43,339 –> 00:24:45,979along with an open the Bible pen and bookmark37200:24:45,979 –> 00:24:48,380are our gift to you if you’re able to set37300:24:48,380 –> 00:24:51,859up a new direct debit in the amount of five pounds37400:24:51,859 –> 00:24:53,280per month or more.37500:24:53,280 –> 00:24:56,699Or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month37600:24:57,599 –> 00:24:59,300or to give full terms and conditions37700:24:59,300 –> 00:25:01,739and to give online, come to our website37800:25:01,739 –> 00:25:04,680opensbible.org.uk37900:25:04,680 –> 00:25:07,319For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,38000:25:07,319 –> 00:25:10,300I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.38100:25:13,900 –> 00:25:18,500Esau plunged to disaster because he gave in to his impulses.38200:25:18,500 –> 00:25:22,500Find out how to avoid that next time on Open the Bible.