"THE BAD BARGAIN OF ESAU"
Genesis 25:29-34
INTRODUCTION
- One of the saddest figures in the Bible is that of Esau...
- Firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Jacob - cf.
Gen 25:21-26
- Loved by his father Isaac, a skillful hunter - Gen 25:27-28
- Esau was a man who had his good side...
- He show kindness to his brother who had deceived him - cf. Gen
33:1-16
- He helped bury his father Isaac - Gen 35:29
- Yet on two occasions he was manipulated by his brother Jacob...
- The first when Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage
- Gen 25:29-34
- The second when Jacob stole the blessing designed for Esau - Gen
27:1-41
[In this study, we shall focus our attention on the first occasion, and
lessons we might glean from this unfortunate circumstance in Esau's
life...]
- ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT
- ESAU'S BIRTHRIGHT...
- The physical advantages of the birthright
- Contained a double portion of the father's inheritance - Deut
21:17
- The amount would have been very great
- For what he eventually received was also great - cf. Gen
36:6-7
- Offered rule and authority over other members of the family
- cf. Gen 27:29
- The spiritual advantages of this particular birthright
- Patriarch and priest of the house on the death of his father
(Barnes, Clarke)
- Chief of the chosen family, and heir of the promised
blessing (Barnes)
- Able to invoke the blessing of Abraham, regarding the
threefold promise - cf. Gen 28:4; 12:1-3
-- Such were the issues at stake when Jacob and Esau bartered over
the birthright
- ESAU'S BAD BARGAIN...
- Esau chose the sensual over the spiritual
- He gave into the cravings of his hunger - Gen 25:29-34
- He valued the red pottage more highly than his birthright
- For this reason he was called "a profane person" - He 12:16
- Esau chose the present over the future
- He tossed away future rewards for present gratification
- The pottage may have assuaged his hunger for the day, but
what of the morrow?
- This too made him a "profane" person
-- For temporary, physical pleasures Esau sold his birthright;
what a bad bargain!
[Certainly we would not think of making the same kind of bargain, would
we? Perhaps not with an inheritance we might receive from our parents;
but what of our spiritual inheritance...?]
- ARE WE SELLING OUR BIRTHRIGHT?
- OUR BIRTHRIGHT AS CHRISTIANS...
- We are heirs according to the promise made to Abraham - Ga 3:29
- We are joint-heirs with Christ - Ro 8:16-17
- We are heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Tit 3:7
- We are heirs of the kingdom which He has promised - Jm 2:5;
cf. 2Pe 1:11
- In Him, all things are ours - 1Co 3:21-23; cf. Re 21:7
- Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, that does not fade
away, reserved in heaven - 1Pe 1:4
-- What a wonderful birthright, and not just limited to things in
the hereafter! - cf. Mk 10:28-30
- ARE WE MAKING A BAD BARGAIN...?
- How might we sell our birthright?
- Succumbing to the passing pleasures of sin - cf. He 11:24-26
- Lusting for things of the world - cf. 1Jn 2:15; Jm 4:4
- Walking after the flesh rather than after the Spirit - cf.
Ga 5:16-26
- How might we hold on to our birthright?
- Pursue peace and holiness - cf. He 12:14
- Be careful not to fall short of God's grace - cf. He 12:15
- Exercise discipline and godliness - cf. 1Co 9:24-27; 1 Ti
4:7-8
CONCLUSION
- Esau made the mistake of...
- Depreciating the value of his inheritance
- Succumbing to the desires of the flesh
- We can make a similar mistake...
- Not appreciating the value of our inheritance in Christ!
- Giving in to the allure of immediate gratification of the flesh!
If we are not careful, the time will come when it is too late; no matter
how many tears we may shed, it will be too late to change God's mind
(cf. He 12:17). That is why we need to heed such warnings as that one
given by the apostle Paul:
"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not
to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an
acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation
I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation."
- 2Co 6:1-2
Are you in danger of selling your birthright as a Christian?