That's Despicable
The Scripture says that Esau came in extremely hungry and famished. He had his camo on and had been waiting in a tree making duck calls for hours to no avail. So, he runs back home and finds Jacob making stew. Jacob demands Esau swap the birthright for the food. Esau agrees because he's starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For me though, the most astounding part of this story is what scripture says about it later: Esau "despised" his birthright.
What? He didn't actually despise, it did he? He was going to die! What other choice did he have?!
However, there are some interesting points to the story. First, birthright was not a commodity. There's noplace for it on the DOW. It can't be traded; it happened by birth. Your birthright has nothing whatsoever to do with you. You didn't choose to be born. Therefore your birthright is given to you, and you can't change your birth order.
Another interesting point in the story is seeing where Esau's heart and mind is. Esau doesn't call out his brother's deceit. He does not get out of the tent and run to momma. Esau doesn't ask a servant to microwave a couple hot pockets (Esau could eat at least two). He settles for what was immmediately pleasing to him: Jacob's stew.
Esau took what God had said was non-negotiable and exchanged it for an immediate pleasure. Oh, I wish I could say that wickedness was limited to Esau! But we are guilty of the same sin. We are heirs to the kingdom of heaven, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God! Our birthright has been promised us spiritually by the one whose promises are always true! Yet, we exchange the truth of God for fleeting pleasures and negotiate the non-negotiable.
Created over 1 year ago
