19This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh. 23Yahweh said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb.
Two peoples will be separated from your body.
The one people will be stronger than the other people.
The elder will serve the younger.”
24When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob. 29Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
31Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”
32Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
33Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”
He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
Isaac and his wife Rebekah have twin boys Esau and Jacob. Esau was the born first son and therefore he was entitled to some great benefits. The traditions of that day meant that the eldest son would receive a larger some of the family inheritance that anyone else, a double portion in fact. This advantage was known as the ‘Birthright” and was reserved for first born sons.
Even though Esau was the eldest, God had predicted from before they were born that Jacob would gain the advantage of the Birthright over his brother (verse 23). That is exactly what happened, Esau had returned from a hunting trip and he was hungry, so he asked his bother for a bowl of his stew. Quick thinking Jacob made a bargain ‘I will give you a bowl of stew for your Birthright’(verse 31). Now we all know that a bowl of stew is not worth losing your inheritance over but Esau agreed saying ‘what use is a Birthright if I starve to death?’ Possibly Esau thought that Jacob would never go through with it or maybe that he could sort it out later, but it was a risk he should never have taken. He thoughtlessly abandoned all that his father had set aside for him. Of course, it’s crazy to give away so much for something that was gone in an instant. Esau gave up his future for a quick fix.
When we give our lives to God the bible tells us that we are given a Birthright like the eldest son. It doesn’t matter about our gender or whether we are the first child or the seventh child, God makes us co-inheritors with Jesus (Romans 8 v17). We inherit his love as our father, his mercy and the joy of eternity with him. What a privilege becomes ours when we become his children. Don’t treat this privilege carelessly or thoughtlessly, choosing a quick fix or instant gratification from something that we know is not what God would choose for us. Let’s be careful in our choices, actions and reactions asking God for strength and guidance. Let’s not abandon our Birthright for the sake of what is only temporary.
For God is God and He has an inheritance for you.