Study: 7 (a) ESAU-The Young Man Who Lost His Birthright - CHARACTER STUDY SERIES

Study: 7 (a)ESAU-The Young Man Who Lost His Birthright - CHARACTER STUDY SERIES

Text: Genesis 25:29-34

In every family setting, the first (male) child usually succeeds the head of the family with the greatest share of the family's property and by natural inheritance receives the controlling authority of the family. It should be noted that it is not by a mistake that God makes anybody the first child.

The position of any person as the first child is God ordained because it is God in his sovereignty that makes anybody the first child in a family and no one can change it. Parents usually reckon seriously with their first children and dutifully raise them with imparting knowledge, skills, and virtues required by the child as the future heads of their families. Whenever the first child in the family is irresponsible and uncaring, it is always a source of concern for the parents because of the future problem and disharmony this could cause in the family in the future. Discuss.

By God's ordinance, Esau was the first of the two sons of Isaac. But the bible tells us that "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." -Genesis 25:27. This inordinate interest in hunting kept him in the field most of the time, perhaps never made out time to pray and pay attention to family matters as the first child. Consequently, he could not appreciate his unique position and responsibility in the family as the first-born and ended up marrying idolatrous women of Canaan. (Genesis 26:34-35).

Knowing that the position of a person in the family is God ordained, the first child therefore should conduct himself in a manner that befits a person who is heir to the headship of the family in speech, discipline and commitment, and show good personal example with good leadership to the younger ones. This will gladden the heart of his parents and honor God who gave him the number one position in the family. We should learn to cherish and carefully preserve whatever God has blessed us with otherwise HE will not be pleased with us. In a case where the first child chooses to become irresponsible, unconcerned and unreliable, his parents will naturally not reckon with him and may eventually not let him have all that the first child in the family should possess.

"...And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then 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

We can see that he had an uncontrollable appetite for food. One of the blessings or strengths we have in the Lord is the enablement of the Spirit to control our appetites and desires. The devil can rob a child of God of his birthright through uncontrollable desires because he tempts us at the point of our needs. Remember Eve in the Garden of Eden, Judas with the thirty thousand pieces of silver, Ananias and Saphairas with the money they got through the sale of a plot of land. (Genesis 3:1-6, John 13:2, Acts 5:1-10.)

The Bible says "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." -John 1:12-13 (Romans 8:16.)

There are certain benefits and care that children enjoy from their parents which relations or servants in the home cannot; For examples of some of these benefits -feeding, clothing, and good education, (formal and informal) shelter, protection and love. These benefits can be referred as BIRTHRIGHTS. A child in a home could live his life in such a way that he may not enjoy his birthrights due to reckless and frivolous lifestyle.

Beloved! We are made to understand that Esau lost his birthright and sought it with tears but could not get it again. (Hebrew 12:17). Our salvation is precious and eternal. Whatever shall be our portion in heaven cannot be compared to what is here on earth. What is it that will make you despise and lose your salvation and your position with God as his child?

MEMORY VERSE: "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." - Hebrew12:16-17

- BLISS & FIRE NETWORK ©2010   

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