Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

First born birthday boy

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-10
Jacob called his sons and said to them, "Gather together and listen to Israel, your father ... you, Judah, shall your brothers praise - your hand on the neck of your enemies. You have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts, who would dare rouse him?"

In The Birth Order Book, Kevin Leman says that firstborn siblings tend to be reliable, conscientious, structured, cautious, controlling achievers. Diligent and wanting to be the best at everything they do, they excel at winning the hearts of their elders.

Today is our oldest son Chris' birthday. He's 35. I think Leman's description captures much about him as a child and as a grown-up. Our three children are wonderful and very different from each other.

As I read Jacob's words for his sons I remember that I'm a firstborn sibling too. My sister and brother and I are also very different from each other.

Judah was not the firstborn, but Jacob spoke to him as if he were. Oh, the power he described ... "your hand on the neck of your enemies ... you have grown up on prey, my son." The lion sleeps tonight, but make no mistake, he is still a lion.

The idea of being praised by my brothers, as his father prophecied for Judah, appeals to me! But it is hardly a given. It's not my right, nor Judah's, nor Chris's. Jesus was born in the house of Judah. He was firstborn. And this praise wasn't his right either.

What did he say about this? Matthew 11: "Go and say what you've seen: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at me."

Even as they saw all that Jesus achieved, it was only those whose eyes were opened by God who could see Jesus clearly, and not be jealous or greedy in his presence. Can you recognize a bit of that in yourself? Until I'm released by God's gracious touch, I can quickly fall into coveting what others have.

It doesn't matter where I am in the family. My birth order presents me with gifts and difficulties, but it's always the touch and release that comes from God which lets me become the person God made. Until then, as Biff Rose sang, "I'm just the shell of a man; if you hold me to your ear, you can hear the ocean roar."

May your name be blessed forever, Lord, as long as the sun remains. May your justice flower with profound peace, till the moon be no more. May you rule - you, Lord - from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth. Let us each find our place in this world you've made. May your name be blessed forever.

Devotions Archive

First born birthday boy

Thursday, December 17, 2015