Hello Friend,
This is a bit of a long one but let’s plow on, shall we?
Gen 25:29-34
29 One day Jacob was cooking stew when Esau arrived home exhausted from the hunt.
30 Esau: “Boy, am I starved! Give me a bite of that red stuff there!” (From this came his nickname “Edom,” which means “Red Stuff.”)
31 Jacob: “All right, trade me your birthright for it!”
32 Esau: “When a man is dying of starvation, what good is his birthright?”
33 Jacob: “Well then, vow to God that it is mine!” And Esau vowed, thereby selling all his eldest-son rights to his younger brother.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread, peas, and stew; so he ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the loss of the rights he had thrown away.
Birthright is the right or privilege that one is entitled to at birth. In the bible, this is a favoured position belonging to the first born, and comprised a double share of all his father’s properties and assets.
After the death of the patriarch, the first born or heir would take over as head of the family and look after the family property, thus assuming responsibility of the siblings and widows. In essence, he had power and authority over the rest.
There are instances, however, where this right was diverted. The stories of Esau, Reuben, Ishmael, Shimri, and Solomon, are a few examples. Today, I want us to glean some lessons from the life of Esau.
Be careful what you do when tired
Life happens and must go on, and so jobs must be done, and callings, fulfilled. This is not without the added complexity that change brings. I’m talking about changes attributable to health, finances, relationships, migration, work, business, global dilemmas, and of course, a pandemic. The challenges that come with any of these are tough enough to drain and exhaust even the strongest of people.
From the above account, we can deduct that Esau didn’t particularly have a good day. He was good at his craft, hardworking, and committed, and yet had nothing to show for it. No game! What do you do when you’ve toiled night and day, and yet there is no catch? What else can you, when it seems your best is not good enough?
Should he have slept it off, but what if he had such a belly-aching and unquenchable hunger that only a meal could satisfy? Should he have mustered up some strength to fix a meal? But then how could he, since he had caught nothing? And what about his mom’s kitchen? Well, considering that he wasn’t Rebecca’s favourite, his chances were slim. How about Dad? Isaac would mainly eat whatever Rebecca dished, so we’ve come full circle. Oh, but there might have been neighbours. True, however could Esau have made it there, considering the nearest might have been a long way away? What if he delayed his gratification and created a unique opportunity to feed, either by plucking fruits or harvesting vegetables? Long thing I suppose, but worth exploring. With just one option left, could he have negotiated the exchange of something more trivial than his birthright? I believe, yes! Perhaps doing laundry, tidying up, a whole deer roast, or even his favourite boxers. Anything but the birthright.
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30:19
Friend, don’t make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation. Choose right. Choose life. Choose blessings.
Know your identity and worth
Friend, I’m not sure of you noticed that in the large scheme of things, the stew Esau had was only ‘a bite’. He may have deemed it insignificant but it was big enough a deal to alter his destiny. Hey Sampson, did you know that a hook up with Delilah will not only affect your dignity, integrity, or vision but your life also? Dear Judah, if you had been told your pledge to Tamar will diminish your God-given authority and influence, would you believe it? Oh Reuben, who would have thought that your romp with Bilhah would relegate you to sharing a piece of land near Moab, when you could have had the best and twice as much?
Some things are strictly off-limits, friend. As lawful as they may appear, they are just not needful. My Late Grandpa would often remind me, usually when I was about going out: Don’t forget whose Grand-daughter you are. And in case you have a momentary memory lapse, remember that anything you do out there points back to this family. In other words, others may but you can’t. You are an ambassador and not on a solo mission. Therefore, live up to our standards and reputation. Truth is I didn’t always get things right but an understanding of my identity and value considerably influenced and continues to influence my behaviour and actions. Do you know who and whose you are? Are you aware of the gifting and graces on your life? Are there any unfulfilled prophecies, promises, and purposes concerning you? Selah!
A good name is better than fine perfume. Ecclesiastes 7:1a
A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1
I wish Esau knew that his one-time misjudgment would have him nicknamed for life. Friend, I wonder what you’ve been dubbed. What are you known for? Red stuff? White stuff? Liquid stuff? Are you exchanging your abundant life, health, and wealth for a meager bread, peas, and stew? May you perceive right to do better.
There are losses that happen by things slipping through unnoticed, and some are more obvious , but then there are those that are deliberate as in Esau’s situation. I believe in redemptive grace and I’d like to think that Esau possibly could have regained his birthright had he repented. Unfortunately, he didn’t sooner but rather he “went on about his business, indifferent to the loss of the rights he had thrown away”.
You know how he later wanted it back. But there was nothing he could do to change things, even though he begged his father and cried. Hebrews 12:17
Friend, I have no idea what you have despised or lost; the word assures us that they will be restored. But you must not carry on business as usual. Don’t be apathetic. Repent. Identify what needs to change, assess the effort, engage relevant resources, plan, and execute accordingly.
One of the benefits of being New Testament believers is we have far more great and precious promises; therefore, more than a double share. We’ll look at this in subsequent series, God-willing. In the meantime, know your value and choose right.