Genesis 25
You know how Abraham believed God’s promise regarding Canaan. He gave to his other children goods and sent them away, but gave all that he had to Isaac, for he was the son God had promised. And God had told him that the children of Isaac should get that land; so Abraham believed God’s precious promise. Abraham lived 175 years. He died and his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave where Abraham had buried his wife.
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, and they had no son for about thirty years. So Isaac prayed to God and He gave Rebekah two sons, twins. The one born first was named Esau, (that means, Red); the other was called Jacob, (that means Supplanter, or, Cheater). In some countries people pray to idols for a son, but idols cannot answer—the true God can. Being born first Esau had the better place; but God told Rebekah that the older would serve the younger.
When Esau grew up he became a hunter. Jacob loved his home, and lived in the tents. One day Esau came back from hunting, and felt tired. At that time Jacob was boiling red beans. Esau asked for some because he was hungry. Jacob said, “Sell me this day, thy birthright.” So Esau sold his better place for a bowl of red beans. We learn later what God thought of this (Heb. 12:16-17). God tells us that when Esau wanted to get his father’s blessing, he was refused, and he found no way to change his mind, though he tried carefully, with tears, to get the blessing. To look down on God’s promise of blessing is very bad. Now, God promises that if you, a sinner, believe on His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, God will forgive your sins and give you peace, joy, and everlasting life. If you despise this, not only do you lose this greatest gift, but later even if you seek with tears, you may not get it, but weep and grind your teeth always. If you seek God now, you will find Him.
But if you turn away from the Lord now, later, when you try to find God, He may have turned away from you, as with Esau.
Are you like Abraham who valued God’s promise; or like Esau who sold God’s blessing for a bowl of food, a cigarette, or some dirty dollar bills? Oh, be wise, and take God’s gift at once.