Bible Story of Esau and Jacob

Posted on June 27, 2012 Updated on June 28, 2012

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me I pray thee with that same red pottage: for I am faint: therefore wash his name called Edom. And Jacob said, sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day: and he sware unto him: and he sold birthright unto Jacob.

Genesis 25:29-34.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lenties: and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. –

The story above is about Esau and Jacob both twin sons of Isaac. Esau was the elder twin and Jacob the younger. This is one of the most pathetic and tragic stories in the Bible where an elder brother sold his birthright for a plate of pottage.

The foolishness in this act is that though he temporarily satisfied a fleshy desire, he lost the long-term privileges and benefits of a first son.
Under the Hebrew custom the benefits of being the firstborn include family inheritance, family supremacy, the father’s blessing, material prosperity, eternal inheritance, and choice of all family land.

For instance, when Abraham the grandfather of Esau and Jacob died, the Bible records that “he gave all that he had unto Isaac” (Genesis 25:5) in spite of the fact that there were several other sons and daughters. So the blessings Esau lost up till today by this rash decision is better imagined.

One of the consequences of this singular action is the predominance of the Jacobean race (the modern day Israelites) over the Esauian race- the Edomites.

As a matter, the genealogy of the Edomites have long perished, while the Israelites are the most blessed and one of the strongest nations on the earth up till today.
Hunger motivated Esau to commit this act which changed his course of history. Was it possible for Esau to overcome this temptation? Would he have died if he had not taken a meal at that material time?

Was there any other source of meal available that he did not explore? Was it proper for his twin brother to demand for the birthright before giving a meal to Esau? Is this not a breakdown of family values even from ancient times?

There are several other questions we may ask about this incident? Bee this as it may, as mortals our best approach is to learn lessons from this incident.
And the greatest lesson to learn is that we must have self-discipline, control our temptations, and overcome our fleshy desires.

The Bible clearly says God will not allow us to be involved in a temptation that is beyond our power to overcome. Jesus himself must have been hungrier than Esau after he had fasted for forty days and forty nights. Yet, he did not allow his fleshy desires to overcome him, but held on to the word of God. (Mathew 4:1-4).
Our birthright is to be blessed and inherit eternal salvation. Are you hungry of something and you are about to trade off your earthly blessings and divine birthright in order to assuage your desire. God has given us the will power to control our desires and actions.

The hunger to commit many evils is in the hearts of many.

Such evils include drunkenness, drug injection, illicit sex, pornography, sexual perversion like homosexuality and masturbation, unbridled materialism, smoking, and gambling. Do not allow evil appetites to take you to hell. Esau sold his birthright for a meal.

You have a birthright to be divinely blessed in this world materially and also to be saved if you lived in holiness. Do not allow momentarily pleasures of sin to steal your birthright. Control your hunger and be saved. Resist the devil and be saved. Flee from every appearance of sin.
You however need to realize that you cannot overcome sin without the help of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Holy Spirit will not help you if you have not invited him to your life. So, the first step is becoming born again, and allowing the Holy Spirit to help you overcome the evils of life. Do you want to take that simple step now?

Then, say this simple prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory. I genuinely repent from all my sins and pledge to go and sin no more.

I accept your plan to reconcile mankind to you through Jesus Christ, who you sent in your name. I believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and died on the Cross-to pay the penalty for my sins and redeem me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

I pray that His blood washes my sins away. I believe I cannot over the enemy by my own power.

I therefore invite the Holy Spirit to rule my Life. I am born again in Jesus name.

If you want more information on how you can build a new life with God, visit Save the World at http://www.christonline.info or send an email to: info@christonline.info.

Babatope Babalobi

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