Beans & Birthrights

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Gen 25:29-34 (NKJV)

Are you hungry? When I am preaching on a Sunday morning I generally steer away from talking about food, because it is too great of a distraction. When people are hungry, they start thinking about the next meal until they are motivated to the point of taking action. What happened to Esau was perfectly normal. He was hungry--he secured a meal to fill the need. I do not know what it is about camping that makes one so hungry, but I know that when the food was ready to go, I was on time and ready to feast. Fresh Trout, home fries, baked beans, huckleberries...good times!

Jacob preyed on the fact that Esau's priorities were askew. To be so hungry--to want something so badly--to be so driven by one's desires that all rational thought is shoved aside in order to gain a momentary pleasure, is a recipe for disaster. Make no mistake about it--Esau wanted his birthright--he was willing to kill his brother to get it back, but in a moment of weakness Esau sold something that he should have treasured for a pot of beans.

Before we are too harsh in our judgment of Esau, I have observed a lot of people who are making the same kind of decisions in life. We know from statistical studies that many people who are raised in the Church, leave the Church behind and live a more secular lifestyle. In a sense, they are selling their birthright for a pot of beans. Walking away from a life of God's blessings in exchange for a life that will be measurably less. Why do people despise their spiritual birthright? Why do they trade away their treasure for junk? Often--as they mature--they join Esau and come to their senses and realize what they have lost. Like the Prodigal son they realize that the blessings of the Father's home is better than life eating from the pig trough. Just another example of how God's grace trumps our foolish behavior.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, for all the sons and daughters who are wandering in the darkness, I pray that You would bring them to the place where they want to come home. I also pray that you would create a spiritual hunger in the children and young people that are in our church body today. May You become their first love and may they have a desire to serve You all the days of their lives. May the Church see a spiritual awakening in the emerging generations and a revival that is greater than any ever seen before. Through it all I pray the You would receive all the glory, honor and power! Amen"