Which Brother? – Genesis 25:31

Wake Up Call

I have to admit that I used to feel sorry for Esau. You know, Esau is the guy who sold his birthright to his brother Jacob in exchange for a bowl of stew. He came in famished from a hard day of hunting and asked his brother for something to eat. Jacob said: “‘First sell me your birthright.'” (Genesis 25:31)

No, he shouldn’t have agreed but was it really such a terrible mistake? Was he really making an informed decision since he was so hungry and all? Wasn’t his judgment a little impaired? Should he have paid such a big price for such a small thing?

In the end it wasn’t such a small thing. The truth comes out a few verses later. “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.” (Verse 34)

Jacob was a deceiver and yet he ended up with the birthright (inheritor of the privileges of the eldest son) AND the blessings of Abraham passed through his father Isaac. Down through Bible history, it is Jacob and not Esau who is recorded favorably. Why?

The birthright was a prize of greater value than Esau estimated. Jacob understood its significance and dearly sought after it. By contrast, Esau despised his birthright. If it had been entrusted to him, how well would he have handled it?

Now a question for you. How much do you value your birthright in Christ? How seriously do you take your inheritance? If God was handing out His choicest blessings right now, are you Esau or Jacob?

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