Jesus Christ is our double portion. Exodus 16:5 tells us that on the sixth day the Israelites were to gather and prepare twice as much manna as they daily gathered because the seventh day was to be a day of rest, the Sabbath Day.
Jesus said in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life.” He compared the bread God provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness with Himself, the New Covenant living bread.
Jesus is the sixth day double portion and also our sabbath rest.
Hebrews 4:9 says: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Just as Canaan was the land the pilgrims of Israel sought to enter, so we also press toward a heavenly promised land called Heaven. However, we can experience, even in the midst of all the battles we face in life, an earnest (down payment) of all that He is by His Holy Spirit living in us.
Ephesians 1:13, 14: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
The Holy Spirit indwelling our weak, mortal bodies brings to us a foretaste of what is yet to come. The more we rest (trust, rely) and appropriate His double portion, the more effective we will be in our daily lives. There is a far greater anointing than any of the great prophets of Israel ever had in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:14-17 tells us how Esau despised his birthright and in so doing he despised the double portion.
What did Esau give away when he sold his birthright? Genesis 27: 27-29 tells us:
He gave away . . .
1. The kiss and blessing of his father
2. The dew of Heaven
3. The richness of the earth
4. Plenteous grain and wine
5. People to serve him
6. Nations bowing down to him
7. Lord over his brothers
8. The sons of his mother bowing down to him
9. Those who curse you will be cursed
10. Those who bless you will be blessed
Jacob had barely left his father’s presence when Esau came in from hunting. He also prepared food and brought it to his father.
Genesis 27: 32-34: “And Isaac his father said unto him, who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed ? yea, AND HE SHALL BE BLESSED. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry. . .”
We must never take lightly the birthright that has been given to Jesus, the head of His body, the church. The head of the body shares His birthright in all its fullness with his body, the church.
What a tragedy if we fail to appropriate our Savior’s birthright, the double portion of all the Father in Heaven has given to His Beloved son.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell