Good Morning Friends,
“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau
came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have
some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob
replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ ‘Look, I am about to die,’ Esau said.
‘What good is the birthright to me?’ But Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he
swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau
some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So
Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:29-34)
What a strange incident, and it had a
profound impact on the lives of both Jacob and Esau. I would think that both
would be ashamed of what they did.
Esau thought very little of the birthright
that was his by virtue of being the first born. He lived for the moment, not
thinking of the long term impact of his actions.
Jacob was a schemer and selfish, unwilling to
help his brother just because it was the right thing to do. Jacob thought long
term, and used the opportunity of the moment to help him in the future.
We can learn from them both, not examples to
follow, but examples to avoid!
From Esau, don’t let the passions of the
moment damage or destroy your future. One of the characteristics God desires to
work in our lives is self-control. (Galatians 5:23)
From Jacob, don’t compromise the present in
order to improve the future. The ends do not justify the means. What Jacob
obtained was good, how he obtained it left it tainted. In fact, his scheming
seemed to ensure his future, but it would backfire on him.
How you obtain something is just as important
as what you obtain.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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