Genesis 25:29-3429And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29‑34)
These two boys were sons of Isaac and Rebecca, who had told them of the promises of God to give all that land to Isaac’s children. Esau was the first born so he would have first right, called, the birthright; but he did not seem to care about it; Jacob, the younger, did, and wished he could have it.
As they grew to be young men, Esau liked to go to wild lands to hunt game with his bow and arrow. Jacob liked better to stay by the tents. One day Esau came back from hunting, tired and very hungry. He saw Jacob cooking a warm meal of lentils (which are like beans) and asked him to give to him. Jacob would not do this, unless Esau would promise to give up the birthright to him. Esau felt so faint, he thought he might die, and then, he said the birthright could be of no use to him. So he promised solemnly to let Jacob have the birthright, and Jacob gave him the food.
So you see Esau thought a meal was worth more than all the promises of God. But Jacob was wrong to take this from his brother in such a way; and we read later of the fear he had, because of what he had done. God would have blessed him in a right way.
“Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”
ML 08/23/1936