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We continue to learn about our inheritance as God's children. Righteous living secures our godly inheritance so that the devil does not easily steal what was received. Also, God's word will keep us from being deceived into losing any part of it as was the case in the Gibeonite Deception. In addition, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us so we don't squander our inheritance the way the Prodigal Son did.
Today we examine another individual and their approach to dealing with an inheritance. Specifically, we consider Esau, the oldest son of Isaac. According to his family's custom, Esau was to receive half of his father's estate as his birthright and the blessing that is given to the first son. However, one day, he returned home famished from hunting. His younger brother, Jacob, was cooking a lentil stew and he asked for some only for Jacob to demand a barter. He wanted Esau's inheritance in exchange for some food.
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” (Genesis 25:32). And so Esau gave his inheritance away by swearing an oath that Jacob could have it.
Later, when their father became old and was about to die, Jacob pretended to be Esau and collected the blessing due to the first son. When Esau learned of this, he pleaded with his father for a blessing. Alas, Isaac told him he couldn't change the outcome. The blessing had gone to Jacob and there was little to be done about it at that point.
The Bible doesn't have great things to say about Esau. Indeed, he is described in Hebrews 12:16 - See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Notice why Esau was called "godless"? Because he forfeited his birthright. He didn't deem it significant. This unfortunate reality contributed to God saying that He hated Esau (Romans 9:13). All because he disregarded his inheritance for a plate of food.
Doesn't this seem extreme? Why would God hate Esau all because he chose to give away his birthright for a meal? Well, if we remember some of God's instructions, then His position on Esau's behavior makes more sense and serves as a cautionary guide.
First, let's remember that an inheritance is a gift from one person to another. The giver chooses to leave an heir what they toiled for during their lifetime. It typically reflects a person's sweat, time, and hard work. The inheritance blesses someone who typically did nothing to deserve it, thus reflecting the giver's love for the recipient. To therefore reject such a gift or treat it callously is to repay evil with good which violates God's word in Proverbs 17:13, which states, [e]vil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. In Esau's case, it also violates God's instruction to honor his father per Exodus 20:12 because he effectively didn't value the sacrifices that went into creating an inheritance for him.
And how does any of this apply to you? Consider that your inheritance from the Lord consists primarily of spiritual gifts. One such benefit is eternal life in heaven because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Rejecting that sacrifice would be repaying good with evil. It would also mean dishonoring the Lord, your Heavenly Father, who gave up His Son to save you.
Sadly, we can reject or disregard our godly inheritance and the blessings it contains through our actions, thoughts, and words. And that can put us at risk of repeating Esau's mistake. Keep in mind that his choice to reject his birthright had long-lasting consequences. After discovering what Jacob did, he hated his brother and this translated into a grudge spanning centuries. His descendants, known as the Edomites, maintained an "ancient hostility" toward Jacob's descendants - the Israelites. They were happy when Israel suffered and even conspired with their enemies. God's word regarding them was that they would be destroyed and their land would become "a wasteland ... left ... to the desert jackals" (Malachi 1:3). What a statement on unforgiveness.
An inheritance acts as a foundation upon which the next generation can build and this is why the Bible teaches that a good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children (Proverbs 13:22). Though not a man, God does the same - granting blessings and gifts to His children because He loves them. He gives them a godly inheritance that doesn't require death to be received. This is the act of a loving Father that should be cherished and not bartered away for something that won't have a lasting effect. The Lord wants His children to use their godly inheritance to better their lives as well as the lives of others. May the Lord help each of us to see His gifts and blessings as the loving-kindness a Father has for His own. May we value what He has given, honor Him for it, and use it to His glory, IJMN Amen. By His grace, none of us will go through what happened to Esau and his descendants.
Kindly join us right here at Noon EST today to fellowship. We shall start with 25 minutes of praise followed by 25 minutes of interceding for others by God's grace. See you then!
To read the Godly Inheritance Series, please see:
