May 26, 20243 min read

SELLING OUR 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 swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.” (Genesis 25:32-33)

It seems mind boggling why someone would sell his birthright for a bowl of stew! Surely it was not as Esau had said, that he was faint to the point of dying! Or perhaps he was just so frivolous with his words and actions that he took it as a joke? Notice what the Hebrew writer wrote -

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16-17)

In this passage, Esau was called a "profane" person. We think of the profane fire (NKJV) offered by Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1), which resulted in their instant death. The KJV renders the word "strange" which means foreign, unknown. The Greek word here is babelos (probably where we get the English word babble!), which alludes to the idea of crossing the threshold. Esau, especially when we read of his later actions, was certainly one who had crossed the line and regrettably, did not seek to come back.

What does this incident have to do with us? As Christians, as those born again in water and spirit (c.f. John 3:5), the apostle Paul assures us that we are “sons of God”, “children of God”, and thus “heirs of God”, indeed “joint-heirs with Christ” (c.f. Romans 8:14-17)! What a precious blessing! What a great honour and privilege it is to be counted as heirs, with a birthright even shared along with Christ! Once again, even as we examine ourselves through lessons in history - will we sell our "birthright" in Christ for anything in the world?

Think about it.

Let this thought sink in for a moment.

Even as we shake our heads and wag our tongues at the foolishness of Esau, today we too can be caught up with the profane ways of Esau and “sell” our birthright. How so? When we –

Put worldly things above spiritual matters. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. As incredulous as it sounds, the same defines us when we choose to put our focus and priorities on our possessions, our careers, even our families and yes, even ourselves, over things of God. These are what Jesus would call unworthy! (c.f. Matthew 10:37,38) This does not mean that we leave our families in the lurch, our careers in shambles, but that we plan our lives CENTERED on God, and not the other way round.
Wallow in worldly sorrow. As the Hebrew writer wrote – “for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:17b) The apostle Paul reminds us “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Instead of true repentance, Esau became bitter and his actions waxed worse and worse. If we allow ourselves to remain in a state of bitterness, of constant murmuring, railing against others and even God for “bad” things that happen to us, for “unanswered” prayers, we are as profane as Esau and certainly would have let our inheritance slip.

Let us not become a laughingstock when we choose worldly things over the chance of eternal life. Let us not be a grief to our Father in heaven, as Esau was to his parents by hanging on to the old self (c.f. Genesis 26:35; Ephesians 5:21-25; 30) and remain unrepentant but only brooding in worldly sorrow.

Instead, realise the great honour and privilege of us standing in line for a heavenly inheritance and fully apply ourselves diligently to lay hold unto it and NEVER sell it for anything!

Ask Yourself:

How do we sell our birthright in Christ?
What can we do to prevent us from selling our birthright in Christ?

SELLING OUR BIRTHRIGHT

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