†. Gen 25:32-33 . . And Esau said: I am at the point of death, so of
what use is my birthright to me? But Jacob said: Swear to me first.
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
It just amazes me how much faith the people of long ago put in oaths.
Nowadays nobody trusts an oath. You've got to sign your name on the
dotted line of a legal contract because it would be totally foolish to take
anybody's word on anything; even if they swore to it.
Even if Isaac now gave the birthright to Esau, which he fully intended to do,
at least Jacob had the assurance that his brother wouldn't retain the spiritual
aspect. Isaac would never interfere with a contract between the two brothers
sealed by an oath. He would have to honor it. The spiritual birthright would
now go to Jacob, which, according to Gen 25:23, is exactly what the
supreme paterfamilias of Abraham's clan mandated in the first place.
†. Gen 25:34 . . Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate
and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the
birthright.
The sale of a secular birthright in and of itself is really not all that evil a
thing to do; after all: it is a right, not a mandate. So you can choose to
exercise that right, or let it pass to someone else. But when it's a sacred
right, then it becomes serious to spurn it. Can you imagine donating your
wedding ring (while still married to a spouse who loves you) to Good Will
just to be rid of it? That's not only thoughtless; it's unthinkable.
Esau had a position in one of the holiest families that ever lived on this
planet. He was blood kin to Abraham, and the son of Isaac's God-given wife
Rebecca. Can you imagine what a privilege that is? And to be the firstborn of
their union to boot? Unfathomable.
Ironically, the birthright wasn't Esau's to sell in the first place since God pre
destined it to Jacob before the boys were born. I can't help but wonder what
happened to the information that God passed on to Rebecca back when. Did
she keep it under her hat all those years? If so; why?
Jacob and Rebecca no doubt both appreciated their association with Isaac,
and were grateful Yhvh was their god. But Esau did appreciate it? No, he
didn't; nor did he see any advantage to it. He was truly a secular man: a
carnal, earthly dude through and through. He wasn't a heavenly man in any
sense of the word; no, far from it. And he was crude and insensitive. If the
man had any sensibilities at all, he would have understood just how insulting
it was to mock an opportunity to honor and serve God in the office of a
patriarch. Does God have feelings? Yes, I think He does. And I believe God
felt very hurt by Esau's lack of regard. I mean; who really wants to be
second best to a bowl of porridge?
Cont.
/
what use is my birthright to me? But Jacob said: Swear to me first.
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
It just amazes me how much faith the people of long ago put in oaths.
Nowadays nobody trusts an oath. You've got to sign your name on the
dotted line of a legal contract because it would be totally foolish to take
anybody's word on anything; even if they swore to it.
Even if Isaac now gave the birthright to Esau, which he fully intended to do,
at least Jacob had the assurance that his brother wouldn't retain the spiritual
aspect. Isaac would never interfere with a contract between the two brothers
sealed by an oath. He would have to honor it. The spiritual birthright would
now go to Jacob, which, according to Gen 25:23, is exactly what the
supreme paterfamilias of Abraham's clan mandated in the first place.
†. Gen 25:34 . . Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate
and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the
birthright.
The sale of a secular birthright in and of itself is really not all that evil a
thing to do; after all: it is a right, not a mandate. So you can choose to
exercise that right, or let it pass to someone else. But when it's a sacred
right, then it becomes serious to spurn it. Can you imagine donating your
wedding ring (while still married to a spouse who loves you) to Good Will
just to be rid of it? That's not only thoughtless; it's unthinkable.
Esau had a position in one of the holiest families that ever lived on this
planet. He was blood kin to Abraham, and the son of Isaac's God-given wife
Rebecca. Can you imagine what a privilege that is? And to be the firstborn of
their union to boot? Unfathomable.
Ironically, the birthright wasn't Esau's to sell in the first place since God pre
destined it to Jacob before the boys were born. I can't help but wonder what
happened to the information that God passed on to Rebecca back when. Did
she keep it under her hat all those years? If so; why?
Jacob and Rebecca no doubt both appreciated their association with Isaac,
and were grateful Yhvh was their god. But Esau did appreciate it? No, he
didn't; nor did he see any advantage to it. He was truly a secular man: a
carnal, earthly dude through and through. He wasn't a heavenly man in any
sense of the word; no, far from it. And he was crude and insensitive. If the
man had any sensibilities at all, he would have understood just how insulting
it was to mock an opportunity to honor and serve God in the office of a
patriarch. Does God have feelings? Yes, I think He does. And I believe God
felt very hurt by Esau's lack of regard. I mean; who really wants to be
second best to a bowl of porridge?
Cont.
/
