November 9

Disappointment

When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!” (Genesis 27:34).

Scripture: Genesis 27:30-40

Song: “Onward Christian Soldiers”

After William Wilberforce became a believer he spent the rest of his life seeking to abolish England’s involvement in the slave trade which was more than just a profitable business; people thought that the entire British economy depended on it.

Opposition to Wilberforce was fierce and threats were made against his life. Since he was an evangelical, high society ridiculed his devotion to Christ. To complicate matters he was frail with severe health issues and poor eye sight. At times it seemed he would die before his bill would pass.

Eleven times he introduced legislation to abolish the slave trade and eleven times he was defeated. How often he must have cried out in anguish. But unlike Esau who was seeking his own blessing, Wilberforce was crying out to God for the sake of others. His cries of anguish were for those who had no one to call on for help; no one to defend them. So in spite of the overwhelming odds against him, Wilberforce continued to press on in the strength of the Almighty until finally in 1807 the bill to end the slave trade passed by an overwhelming majority.

It is easy to cry out like Esau but Jesus calls us to a higher blessing— the blessing of joining His suffering so others might have life.

Lord, lift my eyes off of myself so I can follow Your call for the sake of others. In Your name, amen.