THE DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING

According to Jewish history and culture the double portion was given to the eldest son because he had the privilege and responsibility to make sure the father’s inheritance was shared to all members of the immediate family and to have extra inheritance to share with needy family members.

The birthright of the oldest son was greatly prized, but sadly there were some firstborn sons in the Bible who did not receive their double portion.

The challenge comes to us as God’s people who have also inherited a double portion in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is God’s firstborn and the Bible tells us we are “joint heirs with Him” (Romans 8:17). Because we are in Him, we inherit the double portion.

Are we walking in our double portion anointing or are we despising it?

Lets look at some exampes:

ADAM
Adam was the firstborn son of God in the natural. However, because of his sin and the fall in the garden of Eden, the great significance and honor of this title was given to another. It was given to God’s firstborn Son whose name is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:22: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

CAIN
Cain lost his privilege and honor of the firstborn inheritance (Genesis 4:10-16). Because Cain was cast out from the presence of God, it was possibly given to Seth as he is mentioned in the godly lineage through whom Christ came (Genesis 5:5, 6).

REUBEN
Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob, but he missed his birthright because he slept with his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22). Instead it was given to Joseph’s sons.

As we read Jacob’s blessing to Reuben, we feel the sadness in Jacob’s words as he sees the prowess in his son, but cannot give him what should have been his right.

Genesis 49:3, 4: “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: unstable as water, thou shalt not excel: because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.”

1 Chronicles 5:1: “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his fathers bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel . . . For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s).

We will look at more tomorrow.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell