The Way of Esau

Esau sold his birthright as the firstborn of Isaac to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew.

This story helps us see the difference between someone who COVETS the inheritance so much they would risk anything to have and keep it, and someone who disregards the value of that inheritance when faced with pressure.

In Jacob we see someone who was willing to risk it all to have the inheritance of the first born, and while he went about obtaining his brother's blessing in underhanded ways, he was finally confronted by God Himself, Who commended him for wrestling with God and with man, and for being so tenacious about the promise of God to his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham.

On the other hand we see Esau. When faced with hunger and pressure from the outside, he lost sight of the unmatched value of his birthright in the lineage and the promise of God. The promised Messiah came through Jacob rather than Esau, and it was JACOB who now bears the name of Israel forever because he persevered in his wrestle with God and man.

We can learn so much about our inheritance in Christ Jesus from this story and example in scripture, and we learn from THE WAY OF ESAU what we should NOT DO and how we can guard our hearts against the things that come to steal that glorious inheritance as we are united with Christ Jesus, the First Born from heaven.