GENESIS 25
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:27-34
GENESIS 25 ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT OVER FOOD
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Esau and Jacob were vastly different from each other
One was gifted with hunting and the other with resting
Esau is concerned with things that will satisfy his flesh
While Jacob chose the quieter life of dwelling in tents
Because Esau’s character is ruled by his own cravings
He gave up his birthright over what will satisfy him.
The account of the character differences between Jacob and Esau is a good warning for us all Christians to take heed of. It wasn’t any of their traits that made God choose Jacob over Esau. We know that even in their mother’s womb, God already chose Jacob who will rule over his brother. Deuteronomy 21:17 tells us that the firstborn, the son will be given a double portion of all that the father owns for he is the firstfruits of his strength. In Chronicles 5: 1-2, we similarly see how God chose Joseph who wasn’t the firstborn as the one who will be ruling over his brothers. Isn’t it interesting that God can change and divert from traditions and Jewish laws and choose whomever he prefers to have a bigger portion of blessing and favor? After all, he is the one who sees the big picture of his plan.
We witness here how carnal and foolish Esau was to choose food (flesh) over his birthright (spirit). We humans sometimes focus on material or earthly over spiritual things.
REFLECTION
- Do you think Jacob did the right thing to steal Esau’s birthright? Why or why not?
