Genesis 25:27-34 records an account of two brothers; Esau and Jacob – the first and second born sons (twins) of Isaac and Rebekah and how Esau despised his birthright as the first born to his brother Jacob. The Bible records that Esau was a cunning hunter, yet, it is evident that Jacob was the real cunning brother, who cornered his brother and hunted Esau’s birthright. During the times of Esau and Jacob, the Bible establishes that the birthright entitled its holder to a first and double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

In this account, Esau returned from the field famished and was faint and when he saw the red pottage (bowl of lentil soup) that Jacob had made, he asked from some. Jacob responded with a proposition, that Esau was to sell his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red pottage. To this, Esau, impulsively, seeking to gratify the desires of his flesh, responds by saying that “he was at the point of death due to his hunger” and questions as to “what profit his birthright would bring to him, should he die?”, thereby foolishly selling his birthright.

In order to gratify his fleshly desires, Esau relinquished and despised his God ordained spiritual right as the firstborn. This was a foolish act for to lose you God given rights and inheritance is worse that physical death itself, which Esau failed to recognize.

Points to ponder:
Let us not be like Esau, who for living for the moment, chose to give up on his inheritance and rights as the firstborn. Let us not seek to gratify our selfish fleshly desires relinquishing our spiritual right – the right to be called the sons of God, when we believe in Jesus Christ and receive him (John 1:12). To all who are born again, by believing in Jesus, we are given the right to be called the children of God (John 1:12) and to relinquish our right as sons/daughters of God is worse that death.

Genesis 25:27-34 (KJV)
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 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.