One of the great lessons from the Old Testament is the example of Esau, the grandson of Abraham, and son of Isaac! He was in line for the birthright and blessing, but through fleshly desires, he lost them both! We all shake our heads in disbelief when we think about Esau selling his birthright for a measly bowl of lentil stew. How could he do such a thing? But as sons, are we any better today? As I meditate on this verse this year, I have thought of the countless opportunities that will be afforded us this year and how many occasions we will be called upon to reveal Christ who is our true identity and reality. Or we can make the choice like Esau to “sell our birthright” for a “small mess of pottage” This is truly the most valuable treasure entrusted to each of us, how we choose to reveal it in the months to come will determined how much of the land we possess. "Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Heb. 12:15-17. Hebrews 12:15-16 warns us about being like Esau and selling our birthright for a bowl of stew like he did. Selling one's birthright is when one denies his true inheritance (identity) as a son of God, by failing to declare Christ in his life by his words, walk and way of life, he is to that extent selling his birthright.

Everyday whether we recognize it or not we are placed in many situations where we can sell our birthright the Father gave us. This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to enquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents (Gen. 25:19-27).

To Isaac were born two sons, twins, Esau being by a moment the elder. God had foretold that the elder twin would serve the younger twin. They were the heads or fathers of two nations as different as themselves. Esau was a sportsman and a cunning hunter. He was a man of the field and by nature, was a wild ass man. His tastes, appetites, and desires were earthly. His affections was set only on the things which are temporary and passing away. Jacob, on the other hand, inherited more of his father's traits, and had great respect for the God of his father Isaac for which his brother did not appreciate. He was a plain man; dwelling in tents. The Hebrew for "plain" is "tam," which is translated in other passages "perfect," "upright," "undefiled." This reference is to his character as a son of the Most High. The "dwelling in tents" tells us that he was a stranger and pilgrim; having here no abiding city, but seeking one to come. Just as his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham, who were heirs of the same promise he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose maker and builder is God." Jacob, with Abraham and Isaac, had one main focus in life, he had his eyes on an eternal dwelling place. He loved the place where his father dwelt. Jacob valued the things of the spirit which are eternal. The key to Jacob's life and success was that "living in tents" represented a transient life. His attitude was that he was a foreigner and pilgrim in the world, as we are(Hebrews 11:13-16).

Gen. 25:29-34 tells us, Jacob was cooking some stew, and Esau came in from the open country, hungry. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm starving!"… To which Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Esau can only be satisfied by earthly things. Esau reveals his true character by saying "Behold, I am going to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" Why did Jacob take from his brother Esau the birthright? Why didn’t he give him the stew when he was hungry, instead of selling it to him? I think it is fair to say that both Esau and Jacob were hungry. The proof that Jacob was hungry was that he had prepared the pot of stew. We also have proof that Esau was hungry; but which was the hungrier?

Esau was not starving to death. Most likely he ate before he went out for the day‘s hunt. Now, he did not mean he would die of hunger unless he ate immediately of the stew, for that is inconceivable when he had access to all the provisions in his father’s house. In all honesty he was saying he couldn’t live on promises of that which is to come, give me something to eat and drink now, for to-morrow I die. He couldn’t wait for the fullness yet to come, but opted instead to trade his inheritance for instant gratification. Romans 8:28 gives me as a blessing of the promise that ALL things will work together for my good, that I can cast ALL my cares upon Him, for he cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). But how often for the birthright, do we worry, or fail to let flow His divine power that has granted us "ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS (2 Peter 1:3).This is exactly what many are doing in their own lives. Esau desired that which would sustain him for a brief moment in time. What about tomorrow, next month or a year from now? Esau despised his birthright not understanding that as a son it meant entering into the rest and fullness of God. For, "never again will he hunger; never again will he thirst. The sun will not beat upon him, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be his reality; He will lead him to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from his eyes" (Rev. 7:16-17).There are many sons today who are still selling out more cheaply than Esau because they fail to declare Christ in their walk.

"Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron…the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah." (Gen. 25:5,7-10) Why did he left everything to Isaac? He did this to make a distinction between the fullness of Isaac’s inheritance and the blessing. It is sad to see how many families have been torn apart with strife over inheritances. We spend so much energy fighting over material things, and give so little thought to the most valuable inheritance, that which is in Christ. Esau went to his father and tried to get his father to give him the blessing of the inheritance that should have been his. When Esau heard his father's words, he wept with a loud voice and his cry was bitter. And he said to his father, 'Bless me, even me too, my father!'...Isn't he rightly named Jacob (supplanter, schemer)? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright and now he's taken my blessing!” Genesis 27:34,36. Esau supposed the blessing was separate from the birthright. When he sold the birthright to Jacob, he knew he was selling him the right to be part of God's plan and purpose, but he had no intention of selling him the wealth and blessing of his inheritance. He did not realise that the blessing was the result of the birthright. It is important to note here that Esau "burst out with a loud and bitter cry (verse 34) when he heard he had lost the blessing, but not when he sold the birthright. But it was too late. Once his father had given the birthright there was nothing that could be changed (Hebrews 12:16-17). All Esau could receive was an earthly blessing. A blessing is not the inheritance.

We are approaching a time when we must return to the place of our birthright. It will come through our experience in life or it will come when we realize fully our ability to move beyond the confinement of this physical existence and go home. The most important birthright is the one directly bestowed upon humanity by birth. It is LIFE itself. What is more important than that? I am not speaking about our sperm and egg birth but deeper spiritual truths. Paul's letter to the Romans makes this even clearer "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.... But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you." Paul here is reminding us that if we base our existence on the physical birth, that hungers for the things of the earth the importance of our birthright will be lost because like Esau we believe one day we are going to die. Our inheritance is that we are more than our physical existence. We are spiritual beings. We all can have a spiritual life that transcends our physical existence. Our spiritual nature is our greatest birthright. It is there in Christ that we live and move and have our being..

It is said that, "Every man has his price." This statement is a fact, how do you price your birthright? Esau sold his for a bowl of stew; Joseph’s brothers sold him for twenty pieces of silver; Judas sold our Lord for thirty pieces of silver. None of these folks can bring an accusation against Esau ; but this is not an excuse for Esau‘s behavior. He got his bowl of stew, now what’s your price? I trust that as each new day brings with it new opportunities and circumstances that we use each moment to proclaim our birthright.

Namaste,

Winston & Sarah