Something of Value
“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:34)
We know what we value by what we are willing to trade it for. How many estate sales have been frustrated by clutched hands and broken voices, saying, “I simply cannot let this go.” How many fine works of art have been smuggled from warring countries? How many men risked their lives to save those one or two valuable keepsakes from the blazing fire? Each of these exchanges demonstrate more value than dollars and cents. In our passage this week, we find that a poor exchange reflects a young man’s poor sense of value.
Esau’s birthright may not seem much to us, but in it is a wealth of promises. This birthright consisted in more than simply an earthly inheritance; no, this birthright was primarily one of spiritual blessings, long since promised to Abraham and passed down to Isaac (Heb. 12:17). Esau looked forward to the covenant God and all His covenant promises – the saving, the sustaining, the savoring of the Almighty God. Of all the riches of the kingdom, this was the “one thing” David longed for more than all others (Ps. 27:4). Esau tossed it away for a bowl of soup. Such a devaluing of God Almighty! This is why Paul refers to him as a “profane person,” for he trampled upon the glory and honor of the Almighty God.
Before we condemn Esau, how many times have we done the very same? That great privilege of worshipping our God and enjoying His great promises tossed aside for a day at the lake, a few extra hours of sleep, and a litany of other reasons indefensible in light of eternity. Esau serves as a warning to us, for he was no foreigner. Esau grew up in a household of faith and knew what he had and valued it little. Should we be surprised that he found no chance to repent, given that he took no time to value the Lord? (Heb. 12:17)
How contrary is Esau to the heart of our Lord! He says, “How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel?” (Hos. 11:8) He could hand over His Son to the scoffers, but He couldn’t hand us over to wrath. Does that not speak to what our God values? If we could but swim deeper into His vast, boundless love, we would find our hearts swimming further and further away from the vanity of this world. Only being enamored by His love will cause us to despise all other things. It forces me to ask the simple question – what do you value? What is it that you simply cannot let go of?
