What's your pottage?

Genesis 25:20-34; 27; 28:1-9 

Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons.  Esau and Jacob.  When they were born, it is said that Esau emerged first—red and hairy—with Jacob right behind, holding Esau’s heel.  Their differences were noted early in life.  As they grew, Esau was considered a “cunning hunter” while Jacob was simply described as “plain.”  However, upon review of the Hebrew word used here for plain, it is defined as “whole, complete, perfect, simple, plain.”  That sheds a different light on Jacob right there.  Also it is important to know that their father (Isaac) favored Esau, while their mother (Rebekah) favored Jacob. 

Birthright was an important issue in the days of Isaac.  It was passed from father to son usually, but not always, to the eldest son.  It was a treasured thing.  The highly desirable birthright blessing is the right to the presidency, or keys, of the priesthood.  Righteousness was more important than birth order.   Esau did not demonstrate understanding of the significance of carrying this birthright. 

One day after being out in the field, Esau was hungry and faint.  He came into his brother and asked for a bowl of pottage to eat.  I can just imagine Jacob, almost teasing—as brothers do—saying, “give me your birthright and I’ll give you the food.”  Surprisingly, Esau did not miss a beat.  He obliged and waited for the pottage.  Almost as if to ask if Esau was really serious, Jacob makes Esau swear that he will do it.  Esau does.  He eats his pottage with lentils, gets up and goes about his day just like any other day.

It is through this demonstration of disregard for the birthright that would suggest he should not have it in the first place.  Later, Esau gives further evidence through marrying Canaanite women, thus breaking the covenant line.

As we read more in Genesis, we read the story of how Jacob obtained the blessing of nations bowing down before him, and to be lord over his brethren.  This blessing, Isaac meant for Esau, and when Esau learned that it was Jacob who received it—through some deception—Esau swore to kill Jacob, his brother.  [I loved reading in the CES Institute Manual about these passages, because it shed so much light on understanding why it seemed so much like a deception on Jacob’s part.  How maybe it wasn’t so much of a deception, as it was that the story could have changed after countless re-tellings and translations.  Or, how Rebekah had received revelation that Jacob was to receive the blessings, and pushed Jacob toward the deception because she knew her husband favored Esau, but she knew how it was supposed to be according to the Lord.  It was also interesting to read how Esau could have revoked the blessing once he learned that he had mistakenly given it to Jacob, but he did not.  Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed.”]

I wonder how the story might have changed, had Esau been honest with himself, and realized that he did not want the birthright nor the blessings promised Jacob.  He wanted the power, but he did not understand the significance.  What if he were to submit to the circumstance and humble himself?  What if he were to offer it to his brother, and be willing to follow? 

I think so much today of all the people in the world who do not understand the significance of their birthright.  Every person on this earth is a child of God.  Every person on this earth has eternal potential.  We are all given gifts and talents.  We have opportunities placed in front of us.  We have God-given privileges to use while on this earth.  What do we do with those gifts, opportunities and privileges?   

It is a privilege to have children.  I see people in the world who do not value that privilege.  They see it as a burden, or as something to try. There are those who use the powers of procreation simply for immediate pleasure and nothing else.  They do not understand how sacred that power is!  We are given the gift of a miraculous body, yet people often abuse those bodies through drug or alcohol usage.  We have opportunities to be in families, yet so many people strive to “break free” from their families who “hold them back.”  They trade valuable family time for more success or prestige at the workplace. It is sad to me, because I realize that so much of this happens simply because people don’t understand the significance of what they have, or from Whom it was given.

I have four boys.  I want them to always remember who they are.  I want them to know deep into their core that they are sons of God.  I want them to remember a long-term perspective, and not be seduced by immediate gratifications.  They have been given much and will be blessed even more if they live worthy of their divine heritage.