Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac, who was entitled to the birthright. As the firstborn, Esau had a privileged position and was entitled to the blessing and the promise of the inheritance of his father Isaac. But in a moment of weakness, Esau didn’t respect his position and didn’t value his birthright, but Esau despised his birthright and sold his birthright for temporary pleasures. Just like many Christians are selling their birthright for temporary pleasures of the world and think that God approves it. But is that true? What does the Bible say about selling your birthright?
Esau despised his birthright
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright (Hebrews 12:14-16)
When Esau returned from the field and saw the stew of lentils, which Jacob had cooked, Esau asked Jacob to feed him with the red pottage, because Esau was faint. But Jacob said, that before Esau could eat, Esau had to sell him his birthright. Since Eaus’s hunger was more important to him than his birthright, Esau granted Jacob’s request.
And so it happened, that Esau, who was profane, sold his birthright voluntarily to his younger brother Jacob for bread and a stew of lentils.
Esau’s birthright was worth just as much to him as a plate of food.
By his words and deed, Esau showed that he didn’t fear God and didn’t value his birthright; position, and inheritance, which he had obtained by the grace of God, instead Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).
By his deed, Esau not only despised and rejected his birthright, but Esau also despised and rejected the Giver of his birthright.
I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. (Malachi 1:2-3)
Esau’s deed was an abomination to God, since Esau didn’t value the ordinance of God, but despised it and therefore God hated Esau (Malachi 1:3, Romans 9:13).
Selling your birthright for temporary pleasures
Unfortunately, through ignorance and a lack of knowledge of God’s Word many Christians don’t value their birthright and don’t take their position as a son of God and live as the new creation after the Spirit, like Jesus. Instead, many Christians remain the old creation, who is carnal and live after the flesh, like Esau.
Jesus was able to resist the carnal temptations, because Jesus had a fear for His Father and knew His Father and His words.
He loved His Father with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Jesus had yielded Himself to God the Father and sought the things, which were above and not the things, which were on the earth.
But many Christians stay the old creation, who love themselves, and because of a lack of fear of God and His Word, and because of their profanity, they have exchanged their position, promise, and inheritance for the temporary pleasures and fulfilling the lusts and desires of their flesh.
They show through their deeds that their love for themselves is greater than their love for God. And that fulfilling their temporary lusts and desires is more important to them than staying faithful and loyal to God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit, Whom they have received from Him. Because of their behavior, they despise God, Jesus; His Word, and the Holy Spirit.
Indifferent towards sin
Because of the false doctrines of false love and false grace, sanctification is no longer preached and the process of sanctification hardly takes place anymore. The old man is not put off but stays alive and therefore many live from their old carnal nature.
Modern preaching has created an image, that it doesn’t matter how you live and therefore many believers have compromised and have become indifferent toward sin and have given access to the lusts and desires of the flesh (Read also: ‘Once saved always saved? ‘Can you live in sin and be saved?’ and ‘The doctrine of the Nicolaitans’).
Sin is no longer considered evil, which goes against the will of God and therefore must be removed. Instead, sin is considered as something that is part of mankind and therefore sin is accepted (Read also: ‘Can you use the broken world as an excuse?‘ and ‘Can you keep sinning under grace?‘).
Why should you change if you can ask for forgiveness?
Why should you change if you can also live after the flesh and keep sinning and just ask forgiveness every time you sin and be forgiven?
Because of this mindset, many believers sin premeditated, which means that before they commit a sin, they already intended to ask forgiveness immediately after they sin. Because if you just ask for forgiveness from God, you will be forgiven.
But if you think this way and you are trying to find a way to keep sinning without consequences, then your nature has not changed and you are not born again. You are still living from that carnal nature, who wants to live after the will, lusts, and desires of the flesh.
Ofcourse you will be forgiven if you truly repent of your sin(s). But there is a difference between committing a sin and willfully persevering in sin (Read also: ‘What are sin unto death and sin not unto death?‘)
Most people ask forgiveness for their sins out of a habit, because they have been raised and taught that way, or because they have been caught, instead of showing true remorse (of their sin(s)) to God. Therefore they don’t really repent after their sin, but they commit the same sin over and over again or they relapse after a while in the same sin.
No more sacrifice and grace
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-29)
Esau belonged to the generation of the old creation; fallen man. The spirit of Esau was still dead and Esau lived under the dominion of sin and death as a slave of the flesh. But even for the profanity of the old creation, God didn’t show grace.
When the moment of the promise arrived and Esau went to his father to receive his blessing, Esau was rejected. Esau found no place for repentance, although Esau sought it carefully with tears (Genesis 27:34-40, Hebrews 12:17).
Imagine, what this means for those, who have received the knowledge of the truth and say they believe and say they are a new creation and have received the Holy Spirit, but in the meantime, they keep serving their flesh and give what their flesh asks for and sell their birthright for temporary pleasures. For those, who sin willfully, there shall no sacrifice and no grace remain, but only a terrible prospect.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
