Mar 5 

Genesis 25:19-34
Memorise Philippians 3:18-19
“whose God is their belly… who mind earthly things”

From Genesis 25:19 onwards, we begin a next major section of the book of Genesis, focusing on Isaac and his family. In due time, he was given twin sons, of whom the Lord prophesied: “two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). True to the prophecy, the two brothers grew up to be very different young men. The Bible tells us that “Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents” (Genesis 25:27). It seems that from an early age, there was a certain animosity between the two brothers, exactly as God had prophesied. This conflict was probably made worse by the favouritism that each parent exercised, for Isaac loved Esau, whilst Rebekah loved Jacob.

Because of his birthright as the first born son, Esau had certain privileges. Not only would he be accorded a double portion of any material inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), he was also to be the head of the household after their father passed away – a position of both honour and responsibility. However, it seemed Esau had little regard for it, and cared far more for his present needs as compared to his future responsibilities, as demonstrated in the incident in Genesis 25:29-24. In a moment of hunger, he was willing to barter his birthright away for a portion of red pottage that Jacob was preparing. He thought little of the birthright, and asked what profit it had for him, seeing that he was on the verge of death! In response to the deal brokered by Jacob, the Bible describes how flippantly and callously Esau was, for “he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34). He was willing to satisfy a simple temporal physical desire and forgo the future blessings that he could have had. The Bible’s commentary on this incident likened him to a “fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Hebrews 12:16). He cared little for the position that God had placed him in, and was self-seeking, impetuous and carnal in his ways.

The ‘birthright’ that we have are the positions, responsibilities and blessings that God has given to us. Will we despise our birthrights and shirk from our responsibilities for temporal material pleasures?

Thought: What are the ‘birthrights’ that God has given to us?
Prayer: Lord, may I always be responsible in the tasks that You give me.