Esau's Choices

"And the Lord said unto her...and the elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23).

Most of you probably remember that Esau was Jacob's twin, born of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau actually entered the world first, but Jacob came a close second by holding onto Esau's heel. Even in the womb, the two had struggled -- so much so that Rebekah "went to enquire of the Lord." He told her two nations would come from these two boys, and contrary to tradition, the older one would serve the younger one.

"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).

Their differences became obvious as they grew up. Jacob liked to stay closer to home. He fit into the life of a shepherd better than Esau who liked to go afield on long hunts. Esau acted more impetuous and lived more in the here and now. This is illustrated in one event when Esau came in hungry from a long hunt. Jacob had prepared a lentil stew, and Esau traded his birthright as the firstborn for a bowl of the stew.

"And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob" *Genesis 28:41).

More discord was brought into the family when Isaac favored Esau, the hunter, and Rebekah preferred Jacob. However, Esau displeased both his parents when he married Hittite wives. Then, after he lost his blessing, he married Ishmael's daughter. All of these women worshipped idols. But when Rebekah and Jacob tricked Isaac into giving Jacob his blessing, things really got unstable. Esau became so angry he wanted to kill Jacob, and Rebekah sent Jacob to live with her brother, Laban, for safety. It almost reminds one of Cain killing his brother.

"Abd Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they wept" (Genesis 33:4).

Esau somewhat redeemed himself and showed some admirable traits when he welcomed Jacob back many years later. After all, he was Abraham's grandson and had grown up knowing what he should do. However, Esau's choices had set his course, and no one would call him a man of God. Esau's story tells us that choosing worldly things and brief moments of pleasure above God's best for us is always foolish. We should always look to God and His blessings.

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