The Birthright

“And she bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” (Genesis 4:2)

We are all familiar with Cain and Abel and what they did.  But this Scripture gives us a little insight. Cain was the eldest and expected the privileges of the eldest. In olden times, the eldest had the privilege of the birthright. The birthright gave the eldest the family authority and responsibilities in the absence of the father. He would receive twice the inheritance the others received. The eldest most likely was favored by the parents and the family.

Both Cain and Abel were instructed about the Lord and His requirements for sacrifice. They both knew they had to sacrifice. But Cain who was a tiller of the ground and who was probably used to doing things his way thinks he can offer God what he wants.  When his sacrifice isn’t accepted by the Lord, he’s offended. But the Lord tells him that he knows to do right but chose not to. “If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at the door; and its desire is for you, and you shall rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7) His jealousy is kindled against Abel and he kills him. (Genesis 4:8) Sin did take a hold of him. He first was offended that God didn’t accept his offering. And even after the Lord spoke to him about his sin, he felt so privileged that jealousy took over him against his brother.

But we are not going to study jealousy as a sin. Certainly, the sin of jealousy was the reason for Cain’s actions. And surely there is enough text to study it. But let’s look at the birthright and as it pertains to us. Yes! ...to us. Jesus is the only Son of God, His firstborn and will inherit all the Father has. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus was God’s only Son. Other Scriptures are John 3:14; John 10:36; John 3:18; 1John 5:20; 1John 4:9; Colossians 1:15; John 3:13; to name a few. Jesus is the First-Born of the Father and the First-Born from the dead. “And He is the Head of the body, the church, Who is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead, that He may be pre-eminent in all things.” (Colossians 1:18) As Father God’s only Son, God has given Him the kingdom of God. And as children of God, we share in the inheritance. “And I appoint a kingdom to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:29-30)

Who will inherit the kingdom of God with Jesus? Paul made it clear who wouldn’t inherit God’s kingdom. “Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor abusers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1Corinthians 6:9-10)

James tells us who inherits the kingdom of God. “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5) I always wondered why it was the poor who would be rich in faith. Jesus said it would be hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, so much less inherit the kingdom of God.  When the rich ruler wanted to know how to have eternal life, he went away sad because in his heart, he loved his riches more than God and wasn’t willing to let go of it. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you that a rich man will with great difficulty enter into the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 19:23) Jesus said it would be very hard for them, but not impossible. “But Jesus looked on them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) The rich are confident and hopeful in the world because their riches have always made a way for them. It’s hard for them to not depend on what their riches have afforded them and the doors that it has opened. Coming to Christ is surrendering everything, material and non-material, status, position and authority. It’s hard for a rich man to first surrender and then to become a bond servant to the Lord.

The poor on the other hand, need hope and receive the Good News readily. It’s not that they have nothing to lose. It’s that they have nothing, and the Gospel offers them hope, help and a future of glory. And the Gospel offers so much more here on earth and in the world to come.

We are changed because of our faith to children of God. “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,” (John 1:12). And we become the children of Abraham because of our faith of righteousness through Jesus. “For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is made of no effect; because the Law works out wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith so that it might be according to grace; for the promise to be made sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it has been written, "I have made you a father of many nations") —before God, whom he believed, who makes the dead live, and calls the things which do not exist as though they do exist.” (Romans 4:13-17) We become heirs of the promises made to Abrahm as his seed of faith. “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)

And because we are children of righteousness, we inherit with the Son of God. “ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) And we become joint-heirs with Jesus. “And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)

We see that the birthright of Jesus as God’s First-Born inherits the kingdom of God. And as children of God through faith in the righteousness, the divinity and the Lordship of Jesus, we become joint heirs with Jesus.