I think that many often view their relationship with Jesus as exclusive of other people, when in fact, in committing our lives to Him, we join a family that has other members, a Father, and an inheritance. When you accept the free gift of salvation, you become a child of God.  As children of God, we are promised a share in the inheritance of the “holy ones.” (Col. 1:12)

For each of us who willingly accepts his offer, God has an eternal blessing (birthright). Imagine that, a blessing that will last for all eternity. Wow! But is it possible to lose? The answer is a profound yes. When we look at the example of Esau, we can see how foolish we can be in selling our eternal birthright (inheritance).

The patriarchs give us this profound tradition of the laying on of hands and passing on to our heirs “The Blessing of God”.  In Gen. 27, we have Isaac, in his old age, passing on his blessing to Esau. Have you ever wondered about this passage? How could God allow Jacob (and his mother Rebekah) to steal the birthright of his older brother, who it should rightfully go to as the firstborn heir?

This makes no sense at all, unless you read this story within the context of the chapters before and after.

In Gen. 25:29-34, we have this little short story about how Esau sold his younger brother his birthright for a pot of stew.  

“Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” 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 his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

In a moment of uncomfortable weakness, Esau foolishly sells his eternal blessing from God for a pot of stew. This sounds absolutely stupid, but might we be doing the same thing? Tell me, how much money, popularity, stardom, power, or possessions could you get for one hundred years of life on earth that would be more than an eternal blessing from God?

Aren’t we saying that our earthly pursuits are so much more important than spending time with God that we “have” (make) no time for Him? Or is it that it is too uncomfortable to spend the time to learn HOW to be with God here on earth?

What have you sold your eternal birthright for?

Esau said it – What use will your birthright be to you after you die?