Esau sells his birthright when Jacob replied: Sell me your birthright on this day. Then Esau said: Behold, I am going to die; What use, then, will the birthright serve me? And Jacob said: Swear to me on this day, and he swore to him, and Esau sold Jacob his birthright” (Genesis 25: 31-33), in this way Esau sold his birthright.
Esau sells his birthright to Jacob, summary of his life
1. Esau sold his birthright, one of the saddest stories in the Bible, that of Esau…
a) Firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Jacob – cf. Genesis 25:21-26
b) Beloved by his father Isaac, a skillful hunter – Gen 25: 27-28
2. Esau was a man who had his good side…
a) He showed kindness to his brother who had deceived him – cf. Genesis 33:1-16
b) He helped bury his father Isaac – Genesis 35:29
3. However, on two occasions he was manipulated by his brother Jacob…
a) The first when Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage – Genesis 25: 29-34
b) The second when Jacob stole the blessing designed for Esau – Genesis 27: 1-41
Esau sold his birthright. We will focus our attention on the first occasion and lessons we can draw from this unfortunate circumstance in the life of Esau…
I. ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT (BIRTH RIGHT)
A. ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT, HIS BIRTH RIGHT
1. Esau sells his birthright, but what were the physical advantages of the birthright?
a) Contained a double portion of the father’s inheritance – Deuteronomy 21:17
b) The amount would have been very large
c) Offered rule and authority over other family members – cf. Genesis 27:29
2. Esau sells his birthright, the spiritual advantages of this particular birthright
a) Patriarch and priest of the house at the death of his father (Barnes, Clarke)
b) Head of the chosen family and heir to the promise of blessing (Barnes)
c) Able to invoke the blessing of Abraham, regarding the triple promise – cf. Genesis 28:4 ; 12:1-3 – Such were the issues at stake when Jacob and Esau exchanged birthrights
B. ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHBORN, A BAD DEAL
1. Esau sells his birthright, choosing the sensual over the spiritual
a) Esau sold his birthright because he gave in to the whims of his hunger – Genesis 25: 29-34
b) Esau sold his birthright because he valued red pottage more than his birthright.
c) For this reason Esau was called “profane person” – Heb. 12:16, because Esau sold his birthright
2. Esau sells his birthright, choosing the present over the future
a) When Esau sold his birthright he threw away the future rewards for the present gratification.
b) The pottage given to Esau may have eased his hunger for the day, but what about tomorrow?
c) When Esau sold his birthright he became a “profane” person.
– For temporary physical pleasures, Esau sold his birthright; What a bad deal!
We certainly wouldn’t think of making the same kind of deal, would we? Perhaps not with an inheritance that we can receive from our parents; but what about our spiritual heritage…? Could it be that as Esau sold his birthright, we also sell our spiritual inheritance?
II. ARE WE SELLING OUR BIRTHBORN THE SAME AS ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHBORN?
A. OUR BIRTHBIRTH AS CHRISTIANS…
1. We are heirs according to the promise made to Abraham – Galatians 3:29
2. We are joint heirs with Christ – Romans 8:16-17
a.) We are heirs according to the hope of eternal life – Titus 3: 7
b) We are heirs of the kingdom He has promised – James 2: 5; cf. 2Pe 1:11
3. In Him, all things are ours – 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; cf. Revelation 21:7
4. Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, fadeless, reserved in heaven 1 Peter 1:4 – What a wonderful birthright! – cf. Mark 10: 28-30
B. ARE WE DOING A BAD DEAL LIKE WHEN ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHBORN? ARE WE SELLING OUR BIRTHBORN?
1. Just like Esau sold his birthright, how can we sell our birthright?
a) Succumbing to the passing pleasures of sin – cf. He 11:24-26
b) Coveting the things of the world – cf. 1Jn 2:15 ; James 4:4
c) Walking according to the flesh instead of the Spirit – cf. Galatians 5:16-26
2. Esau sold his birthright, but how can we hold on to our birthright?
a) Seek peace and holiness – cf. He 12:14
b) Be careful not to fall short of God’s grace – cf. he 12:15
c) Exercise discipline and piety – cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Timothy 4:7-8
ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHBORN, CONCLUSION ON THIS REFLECTION
1. Esau sells his birthright and made the mistake of
a) Despise the value of his inheritance
b) Succumbing to the desires of the flesh
2. Esau sells his birthright, but we can make a similar mistake…
a) Not appreciating the value of our inheritance in Christ!
b) Give in to the charm of the immediate gratification of the flesh!
DO NOT SELL YOUR BIRTHBORN: LET US AVOID SELLING OUR BIRTHBORN AND DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ESAU
If we are not careful, the time will come when it will be too late; No matter how many tears we may shed, as Esau’s did, it will be too late to change God’s mind (see Heb. 12:17). That is why we must heed warnings like the one given by the Apostle Paul:
Esau sold his birthright, let’s avoid selling ours
“We, then, as collaborators with him, also beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In a propitious time I have heard you, and on the day of salvation I have helped you. “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” – 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Are you in danger of selling your birthright as a Christian? Let’s avoid selling the birthright like Esau did.