Do Not Take What God Has Not Given


Do Not Take What God Has Not Given

"Don’t try to start a fight. I am not giving you so much as a square inch of their land. I’ve already given all the hill country of Seir to Esau—he owns it all." (Deut. 2:5 MSG)

As I read this verse, I had questions. For instance, When did God give the hill country of Seir to Esau? I remembered Esau crying with a bitter cry for just one blessing, and Isaac telling him that everything had already been given to Jacob.

"Isaac answered Esau, ‘Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren I have given to him for servants; and with corn and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?’ And Esau said to his father, ‘Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me—even me also, my father!’ And Esau lifted up his voice and wept." (Gen. 27:37–38 KJV)

Yet in Deuteronomy, God declares that He gave Seir to Esau. This reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s question in 1 Corinthians 4:7:
"What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" (1 Cor. 4:7 NLT)

So, is it possible to take what God has not given? Absolutely. People fight for things and sometimes gain them, but outside of God’s will they cannot carry His blessing. On the other hand, there are things God has given that we must fight for in order to possess them.

The lesson is clear: Take only what God has given you. Leave what He has not.

Have a fruitful day,
(Dr.) Emmanuel Okoro
(aka Dr. Lift)

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