Genesis 25-27

Daily Devotional from Genesis 25--

Verses 32-34

Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

In the Old Testament, birthright was a privilege of the first born son to one day become the head of the family and obtain a double portion of inheritance. Esau traded this future permanent gain for an immediate and temporary physical satisfaction - bean stew!

Nobody would be foolish enough to give up a birthright for a bowl of stew, would they? Esau did.  Esau “despised” his birthright.

When we accept God’s invitation to become spiritually reborn, we obtain a birthright. It includes the promise of eternal life and happiness in heaven, being seen as righteous in the Father’s eyes, and the right to come boldly before the throne of grace to find help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Life is about choices. Let’s not trade the benefits of our spiritual birthright for immediate and temporary physical satisfaction!

Rick Bolesta