Genesis 25:12-34 - Selling the Soul’s Birthright

Genesis 25:12-34

The Families of Ishmael and Isaac (1 Chronicles 1:29–31)

12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. 17 These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.

19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright (Hebrews 12:16)

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”

32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”

So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Esau chose the passing pleasures of this life (Mark 4:19, Hebrews 11:25) to feed his appetite over the eternal inheritance of his soul.  This account is a warning to us in many ways, beginning with hearing and responding to the gospel (Hebrews 12:15-17) to inherit eternal life in Jesus Christ, and also choosing to live for pleasure of the body through food or sensuality instead of to glorify God.  As for Isaac, his wife Rebekah had difficulty in having a child and Isaac prayed for an heir with her until it was granted and Jacob was born. He also was born with his ‘evil’ twin Esau the hairy man who was firstborn but whom also Jacob had grabbed hold of his heel as if to take over from him as his name defined him (Jacob means "heel holder" or "supplanter").  This hairy elder son was not to inherit the blessing of Abraham, however, as the LORD told his mother when she asked Him before she was aware that she was carrying twins.  God told her plainly that these two brothers would form opposing nations and that the older and stronger would serve the younger one.  This was God’s plan and choice, so when Esau put his rugged hunting skills and fleshy desires above a mere birthright, it is no wonder that he counted it as nothing and sold it nonchalantly to his younger brother for a bit of stew to satisfy his base hunger that was all important to him.  He exaggerated his hunger after a long day in the outdoors, likely hunting, and demanded the red stew from his brother.  Because it was red, the name Edom was given to the nation of his his lineage after him, which nation we see later would be in conflict (Amos 1:11, Obadiah 1:10-12) with God’s people.  It is of note that though Isaac preferred Esau, Rebekah’s heart was with Jacob; this may have been because of what the LORD told her before the brothers were born, or it was because of his character and the promise together.  Either way, when Jacob held back the red stew until his elder brother sold him the birthright of inheritance, Esau esteemed it of little value compared to his carnal desire of the moment and exaggerated his hungry state to make it seem as if he would die if he did not eat.  His god was his belly (Philippians 3:19) at that moment, not the God of a future and eternal gift for true and lasting life.  He despised his inheritance by right of birth over the temporal satisfaction of his desires.  How many people still choose their own satisfaction of what they can touch and own and indulge themselves in over that which is an eternal promise as to Abraham by trusting in God’s past faithfulness, His present grace, and His future work and promise of an inheritance that lasts forever (1 Peter 1:3-4)?  Esau despised his inheritance of the birthright; will we do likewise with ours offered in Christ, or will we value it so highly as to put off all that hinders us to obtain that prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)?  This is a warning of Selling the Soul’s Birthright instead of valuing the inheritance of God in Christ above all worldly gain.  May we grab hold of eternal life and let loose of our own desires that we do not lose the chance to obtain or cheapen our soul’s birthright as chosen children of faith and promise.