Genesis 25

Genesis 25

“(lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he did not find any place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears)” (Hebrews 12:16).

“…Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34).

Isaac and Rebekah anxiously waited for the Lord to give them children. Like Abraham, it was a while until this promise would be fulfilled. We see Isaac plead with the Lord in verse 21. The Lord finally gives them children. Twins were born. First comes Esau (hairy) and second comes Jacob, or “heel catcher.” This term can also be used to mean undermine, or one that takes away your foundation. We are told that Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a mild man, a man of the tents.

Esau came in one day starving. I am sure it had been a long day. He walks into the tent and asks his brother for his stew. Here comes the “supplanter,” Jacob. Jacob knew his brother. He knew how to get under his skin. He refuses to give Esau any food unless Esau gives up his birthright. What did this birthright represent? This was the birthright of promise. This was the blessing of Abraham and Isaac. This was the Lord’s promise to make a great nation out of them. One of these two men would come to be known as Israel, “who prevails with God.” Esau sells this right for some soup.

Certainly Jacob was by no means in the right here. However, Esau was in the wrong, for this was his trial. We are told that by doing this, Esau “despised” his birthright. The word “despised” implies utter contempt. Do you remember how long Abraham waited for the promise? As we mentioned, he messed up. He lied to kings; he tried to fix the problem himself by having another child. But, Abraham never despised the promise of God. He loved the promise and waited for the promise, and eventually, “Laughter” came. Esau took the promise of God and threw it out the window for some soup. It was worth that much for him.

Later we will see Esau crying, begging his father for the promise that was rightfully his. I think of all the people who are going to go before the Lord on that Day of Judgment. They will beg God, with tears, for the salvation they rejected throughout their life. God will look at them and say, “I never knew you.” These are they that rejected the promise of eternal life. They had it there before them, it was free, however for a small morsel of food, or for a season of pleasure, they reject salvation. Apart from the salvation Jesus gives where else are you going to find repentance? Thus Hebrews 12:16 tells us, “he did not find any place of repentance.”

Do not sell your birthright for a season of pleasure. Like Abraham, you will mess up, but hold on. The Promise, our hope, is coming, and it is worth living for.