When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.”
Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”
And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way.
Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:31-35
Esau’s value system was messed up. He valued satisfaction of his temporary hunger more than his role and responsibility of being the firstborn. With that role came great benefit, but he abdicated it along with the honor that would accompany the role in a very historically significant family. I wonder how often I overlook the importance of the role I have in the family of God? Not necessarily as the firstborn, but as a child of God with certain roles, responsibilities and blessings that go with them. For all these reasons, Esau was displaced by his younger brother Jacob, who ‘caught him again by the heel’.
Do I understand the breadth and depth of God’s wonderful calling? Am I wiling to satisfy earthly and fleshly desires at the expense of my inheritance?
God, as this day begins, I pray You will impress upon me the great joy and privilege to be called a Christian (follower of Jesus). May I walk worthy of that calling, knowing that it is by Your grace that I can be called and adopted in the family of God. For that I am grateful.
