The Firstborn Son: A Curse, a Gift, or a Calling

by Ezechiel Bambolo Jr.

This book brings an incredibly fresh perspective unlike any other before it to this topic of the firstborn. It challenges fathers, sons, mothers, and similar authority figures to embrace a long existed yet abandoned concept of the firstborn son that will serve us all effectively. The firstborn son has a covenant relationship with God the father for stability of the family and society (see Numbers 8:16-17, Romans 8:28-30, Colossians 1:15-16). The proper embrace of the institution of the firstborn son is crucial to thoroughly restoring the ill-beating heart of our society to its perfect rhythm. God's perspective is paramount. As opposed to an all-theoretical approach, challenging real life experiences of the author provide measurable results that can be methodically tracked to observe the expected progress when practiced. Key subject matter experts have also provided their approval of this material as you will notice on the book's reviews.
Ezechiel "Zeke" Bambolo, Jr. was born in Liberia, West Africa, and came to the United States in 1991. Regardless of social and emotional trials, he became a very successful collegiate athlete and student. Ezechiel is a firstborn son whoaccepted the challenge of his father and embraced God's core values for this strategic role. He restored his family from utter chaos, destruction, and loss of a civil war after being forced to leave them in the danger of the war. Now married for over twelve years, he is a father of two beautiful children. He has spent over fourteen years in corporate America as an awardwinning consultant. Ezechiel serves as a deacon in his church and has been fully engaged in men's discipleships and accountability groups for over ten years.

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2011

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book covers a lot of ground and issues. It is absolutely and extremely relevant for today. It addresses social and moral issues at many levels and across many sections of society. It deals with the core moral issues of our day and provides a positive view and the tools to make corrections in our own lives. We many not be able to change the world, but we can allow ourselves to be changed by a loving God through Jesus Christ to be the men and women we need to be to our family, friends and children. Zeke does an excellent job of covering a wide variety of today's issues, citing a variety of statistics that show the serious moral decline in our society and making them relevant and personal.

Zeke's personal experiences range from extreme (staring down the business end of an AK47 with a ruthless rebel on the other end) to mundane (dealing with siblings, marriage troubles, finances, etc.), but they are real. I've had the absolute pleasure and blessing of knowing Zeke and his dad for years, and have seen first hand the wonderful qualities and sincere love these men have for others. The things that Zeke says about his dad are not exaggerated or pumped up, if anything, much, much more could be said about his father. His dad and I are not far apart in age and both of us are teachers and believers, so we connected quickly. You can tell there is something amazing in the hearts of these men, the peace, the love, the absolute calm and sincerity. What you will read in this book is from the heart and mind and will provide you with what you need to replicate it. I had no idea of some of the horrible experiences these dear brothers had been through, they don't make a big deal about it because they're not victims, they are victors, as we can be!

This book is a worthwhile read even if you aren't a Christian or a firstborn son because it provides real world ways of dealing with problems and shares experiences many of us could not begin to comprehend or know about. You will read about the experiences of a man from Africa who had to face numerous challenges that many of us would have compromised on without giving it a second thought. And he will share where he failed and how the failure was overcome.

I particularly enjoyed the way that Zeke develops his personal experiences, opening the story, then coming back filling in details as he developed his topics. He describes how his moral training provided him a stable basis to deal with not only the comfortable and secure life in Liberia as a youth, the devastating Civil War in Liberia, to finding himself separated from his family by coming to America and facing racism in the center of the cesspool and shame of white supremacy, and the all the other temptations and distractions of the west.

His moral compass was set by a faithful and loving father. Something that our society has mostly lost touch with. It's not just the firstborn sons that face this dilemma, but all of us. Zeke shows how it can be managed simply, securely and faithfully.

Zeke observes, identifies and addresses many issues that impact each of us at a personal level and how that extends to those around us.

I'm a firstborn son from a broken home (divorce is a horrible thing) and I had to assume responsibility for my sibling and mother at an early age, and then adjust to a step father when my mother remarried. The concept of firstborn isn't normally something we consider in our society, but it's there, and Zeke is the first to openly address it and provide badly needed answers and the foundation to build on it. We live in a confused society, darkened by liberal secular humanistic moral relativistic thinking that has not set free, but enslaved those who embrace its lies and absurdity.

One truth expressed in the book is found in (I Cor. 2:14): "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned"

Zeke deals with many secular issues from a spiritual perspective. The logic is simple, it's solid and it's pragmatic. But there is also
a very real truth in that even if a non-believer follows the wisdom shared by Zeke in this book, without the Spirit of God or a faith in
Jesus Christ, they will be able to (mostly) live a moral life on their own strength and have some semblance of success. But the stakes are eternal, and Zeke addresses those in this book, showing his own personal shortcomings and failures and how the Lord was able to work through His Word and others to get Zeke's life focused on the things that are important. Zeke covers those issues in a chapter dedicated to establishing one's priorities. So even
if you're not a believer, there is material in this book that will help you and guide you to do the "right thing". I'd say much of this is
just plain common sense, but common sense isn't very common any more. It is of course hoped by the author that you will trust Jesus as he does
to live a life of peace, strength and courage to fulfill our God ordained roles in our families.

Below are some of my favorite quotes that addressed moral issues that I am passionate about (there is much more that will likely scratch your itch!):
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"Religion is primarily based on man's attempt to reach God on such human created terms. You will never be able to do enough. You'll be asked to work to earn your salvation, whereas God has provided salvation as a free gift based on man's public proclamation and the condition of the heart (see Romans 10:9)." - "Zeke", Ezechiel Bambolo Jr, The Firstborn Son, 2011, isbn 978-145750-369-6 p.111

"Here is a baffling truth... the Holy Bible has been around for thousands of years. It is overwhelmingly the most sold book ever, and it has never required editing or augmenting of its content due to the challenge of its fundamental truth. The many men who wrote the Bible could not have been humanly inspired only. Man's nature is naturally innate and selfish." Ezechiel Bambolo Jr, isbn 978-145750-369-6 p 117

"...the description of the various other religions, cults, occults, and conspiracy theorists, as opposed to true Christianity? ...The collective group of cults and so on is more concerned with personal self-help development and satisfaction. True Christianity and the Holy Scriptures urges believers to exercise our faith in service towards others and for the development of others." p.126

"The people that are allowed to pour into me the qualities of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and love have to be an extremely selective group." p 129

"90 percent of the Holy Bible has been written to Christians as an immensely rich resource for victorious living. Yet, Christians live the most defeated lives all wrapped up in sinful indulgence. ... Due to the defeated living Christians exhibit, we fail to set fear for God in the hearts of sinners." p 152

"First of all don't think that the Western Hemisphere, even the great USA, is immune from the deterioration of its streets to utter chaos and lawlessness. ... Far too many of us (Christians included) are absolutely oblivious to the fact that our societies and communities are heading directly into such chaos due to the absence of moral absolutes." p157

"One key ingredient of the legacy handed down by my parents is their everyday commitment and service to the Word of God and the church... It demands a deliberate, daily and active study of God's Word so as to clearly distinguish and refute the intelligent subtleties of false doctrine. The dangers we face also come from within the body of Christ, although they are not the true body. (see Galatians 1:6-10)", p165

"Are you reading, studying, and testing the Word of God to see how true it is and thereby living by faith, or are you living simply what is preached from the pulpit?" p 166

p.167 - "First and foremost, test and prove everything against the Word of God and Scriptures of the Holy Bible."