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Esau Sells His Birthright - Genesis 25
Esau Sells His Birthright - Genesis 25
The birthright was the privilege of the firstborn son. Esau WAS the firstborn but sold it to Jacob. Commenting on this story, the Hebrew writer warns us so “that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
Not only would he have received a double-portion of the inheritance, but “it also meant that he retained the official claim to become the family’s patriarch, so it was also a position of status and “reign” above that of other family members.” (McClister, A Commentary on Hebrews, pg. 463). Thus, the character of Esau is displayed, showing that he “valued physical comfort above future good” (ibid, pg. 462). Compare that with the men of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11!
As children of God, we are said to be the church of the firstborn, for we ALL occupy this special position and privilege (Hebrews 12:23). To turn away from the gospel, to turn away from Jesus our Savior, would be a despising of our birthright. We need to constantly remember what a great privilege it is to be a child of God. As John wrote: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:1-2).
Remember who you are!
Hugh DeLong
