Esau was born big, brawny, hairy and a hunter. A real man's man. He didn't have a sissy bone in his body. He was a hunter, and his Father favored him. Jacob on the other hand was born at a disadvantage right from birth. He was small, and smooth skinned, baby faced. He didn't hunt or any of that manly stuff, he was his mother's favorite, a real MOMMA's boy. Esau was strong and he had come to rely on his strength. He was born first and so with that birth he had the blessing of the birth right from his Father. Inheritance to them was about more than just money, the first born would be the LEADER of the entire family clan upon the death of the father. Jacob was born at a disadvantage. He was not strong, he didn't have the manly skills of his brother. He was desperate. Esau on the other hand was born with so much that he didn't appreciate what he was born with.
Isn't this the way it is in life? Those who have something are often hateful and take those things for granted. And those who don't have much struggle and strive and scrimp and save just to get the little bit that they can get. We know the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob lied, stole, and cheated to get what he wanted. But Esau was so arrogant in his own strength that he just took his blessings from birth and threw them away. We see in Genesis 25 that Esau sold his birth right to Jacob for nothing more than a bowl of beans.
Genesis 25
29And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.
32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of death: and what profit shall this birthright be to me?
33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
The lesson that we can learn from this story is that when we are arrogant and prideful and unthankful and confident in our OWN selves we will be reduced to nothing in life just like Esau, it is just a matter of time.
Both brothers did what was wrong, yet, the actions of Esau left him destitute of God's blessings, and destitute of God's covenant. Most humans accept pride, ego, self strength, we admire someone like Esau that fits into the world, he could hunt, and dress game, and was strong and athletic. Those are the kinds of people that the world rewards, and propels to the heights. And we despise those who do what Jacob did, cheat, steal and lie. We don't reward those who cheat, steal and lie, we put them in prison. God does not approve of lying, cheating and stealing, but he see in this story that God despises self righteousness, self confidence and strength, arrogance, pride, and when we are spoiled rotten and don't appreciate what we have. One thing we can say about this story is that arrogance and pride will rob you of God's blessing even faster than cheating, stealing and lying! God resist the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. None of us like someone to look down their nose at us, but most people have SOMEONE that they look down their nose at. Jesus said as we do unto the least we have done unto him. Maybe like Jacob you have made some mistakes in life, if you will humble yourself and seek God, his grace will find you and bless you. It is just that simple.
Neither boy was perfect, yet God blessed Jacob and preferred Jacob. Jacob called on God, but Esau did not call on God. Jacob chased the blessings of God, but Esau sold them out for a bowl of beans. Our works of righteousness are not what pleases God because just like Esau and Jacob we have all sinned and have skeletons in our closet. When we hunger for God and chase him and value what He has to give us in life this pleases God. Pride will keep us from seeking God. Let go of your pride today and realize that no matter what strengths you were born with we must seek God and value those things He has to offer us.
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