There are two birds which fly over our nation's deserts. They are the vulture and the hummingbird. All that the vulture sees is rotting meat. That is all it looks for. The hummingbird, on the other hand, ignores the rotting meat and looks for the colorful blossoms of the desert plants. The vulture lives on what was - the "past" - what is dead and gone. The hummingbird lives on what is freshness and life - seeking new life. Amazingly, each bird finds what it is looking for. And just like these birds, we do, too.
In this message, we want to study a man whose hasty decision led to inconceivable regret in his life. Because he failed to take an inventory of all the good things that God had given him, he quickly became distorted in his perspective of what was valuable. Because he failed to follow God's priorities, he had a distorted value system - considering that which was good to be worthless and that which was vain as being of great worth - undervaluing what was good and overvaluing that which had temporary importance. His actions showed a succession of fleshly rather than spiritual choices. His decisions were based on the impulsive desire for whatever looked good at the moment.
Perhaps we could say that he was just like the vulture in the above illustration - in that he got what he looked for - that which was dead and gone.
The man of whom we speak is none other than Esau - the eldest son of Isaac and the brother of Jacob.
When we go over to Genesis 27, we find an account of grief that is so distressing to witness.
Genesis 27:34-36 and 38 tells the story -
"And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing.
And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
...And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept."
Here we find Esau pleading pathetically for at least some blessing. He cried a great and exceedingly bitter cry - as loud as he possibly could. All his hopes were dashed in a moment's time. He had built much upon his father's blessing, for he thought that perhaps in it, he could get back his birthright. But he was wrong - dead wrong!
Genesis 25:29-34 relates the account of when Esau's impulsive, unholy, live-in-the-now lifestyle caught up with him and caused him to "throw" away something far more valuable than he could ever imagine - his "birthright." Never in all of man's history had something so valuable been sold for so little. Esau sold his "birthright" for the immediate gratification of his flesh - a bowl of lentil stew.
How important was the "birthright" to the eldest son in the family? What did it entail?
In Esau's case, the "birthright" carried with it the first place or rank in the family...the privilege of offering sacrifices as the priest of the family (in the absence or death of his father)...a double share of his father's inheritance...the honor of being in the line of the patriarchs - Abraham and Isaac...the promise respecting the inheritance of the land of Canaan and the coming of the Messiah...and lastly, being lord over his brethren.
The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary added this thought - "One single act has often the greatest power either for good or for evil."
In this case, Esau's selling of his "birthright" caused him so much evil in the end. Contrary to what he said, Jacob did not "take away" his "birthright." (Genesis 27:36) Because he "despised" and made light of it, Esau parted with it at so low a price. He voluntarily sold it to Jacob for a mess of pottage. The same held true for the "blessing." Jacob did not "take away" the "blessing." (Genesis 27:36) Even though he used artful methods, the "blessing" was annexed to the "birthright" and was given to him by Isaac and God.
Who would have ever thought that "one single act" could cause such sorrow, heartache, and pain?
How could this have been avoided?
In order to answer that question, we need to look at Esau's character and see what caused him to "sell his birthright" in the first place.
In Hebrews 12:16, the Apostle Paul described Esau as being "profane" - "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."
Here he depicted a defect in Esau's character. By calling him "profane," Paul was saying that he was a man who lived only for the moment...wanted immediate gratification of his fleshly desires...made the satisfaction of his bodily wants and tastes the whole end of living...was carnal and unspiritual...lacked religious seriousness...and had no reverence for holy things.
He did not desire to be a servant of the LORD or that his posterity should be God's people according to the Abrahamic covenant. He did not care about being the father of a holy nation. All he cared about was being "lord over his brethren" - which came with the "blessing."
Actually, Esau's major problem was this - he could not properly discern what was truly important. His complete attention fell on whatever was before him at the time. He took no thought about - Eternity! And, because the immediate concerns dominated his life, he found it extremely difficult to live by faith.
But, how does all of this apply to you and me?
The Biblical illustrator said this - "Such as Esau was, such are too many Christians now. They neglect religion (Christianity) in their best days; they give up their birthright in exchange for what is sure to perish and make them perish with it. They are profane persons, for they despise the great gift of God; they are presumptuous, for they claim a blessing as a matter of course."
Matthew Henry made this comment - "It is the greatest folly to part with our interest in God, and Christ, and heaven, for the riches, honors, and pleasures of this world; it is as bad a bargain as his who sold his birthright for a dish of pottage."
And the Bible Tools added - "If we do not value our birthright more than anything in this universe, we can sell it for our own equivalent of a bowl of lentil stew."
Look around and you will see that many are "selling their birthright" for a "dish of pottage." They want the world. They want instant gratification of their flesh. They want the pleasures of this life...the vanities of this age...to worship at the altar of the god of success...and to live with unconquered sins.
But, read what the Bible Tools said in response - "Anything, any sin, any behavior, any thought pattern, any good we place before the Holy One - anything that would keep us from receiving our birthright - is our bowl of lentils."
1 Peter 2:9 clearly describes for us - as God's people - what our "birthright" entails - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
Some in the present-day church "despise" this "birthright." They don't want to be classified as a separated, holy people in this sinful and adulterous generation. The reason being - they find that they still love the "darkness" and what it has to offer them.
Like Esau, their main concern is the "blessing."
"Bless me, even me also, O my father."
"Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?"
"Hast Thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father."
And like Esau, they are considered to be "profane" - worldly persons having no sense of the value or glory of spiritual things...and openly casting off all hopes of their salvation for indulgence in temporary pleasure.
The People's New Testament said - "So any professing Christian who would sell his heavenly birthright for worldly advantages would be a profane person."
In closing, the Bible Tools made this thought-provoking statement - "People usually only sell something when they value something else more."
Do you value your "birthright"? More than the "blessing"?
Is your "birthright" for sale? For how much?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved