Think Speak Run

By virtue of being Isaac’s firstborn, Esau has both the birthright and the blessing that come from that position. But the Bible tells us he ‘despised his birthright’. As a result, his brother Jacob receives Esau’s birthright, and later the blessing from his father Isaac.

We know from God’s words to Rebekah during pregnancy that Esau will serve Jacob, but how that takes place is our focus. The two boys are very clearly non-identical twins. Not only do they look different, they also have opposite characters and interests. Esau is ‘a man of the field’ and Jacob ‘dwell[s] in tents’. Esau is described as a ‘cunning hunter’, but appears to only apply his cunning when seeking prey. Jacob is so named because he grasped his brother’s heel when they were born; an action which was perceived to be evidence of trickery and a deceitful character, as grasping the heel was thought to be in line with supplanting – superseding and replacing the rightful position of another. This shows the importance of names – of what we speak. Remember, God created everything by speaking it into being. Jacob’s character as a trickster was spoken into being before he was even fully out of his mother’s womb. It is therefore no surprise that he lives up to his name, tricking his brother out of his birthright when he is faint with hunger. However, Esau is held accountable for his words and actions. Just as Adam was held accountable for the sin against God in the garden of Eden, despite it being Eve who ate the fruit first, so Esau is held accountable for despising his birthright, despite it being Jacob’s idea that he should sell it. Esau is held to a higher standard because he is the firstborn. Once he relinquishes that position, he cuts himself out of the privileges and blessings that are rightfully his, and he cannot be reinstated. He asks Jacob, “…what profit shall this birthright do to me?” Evidently he does not understand the power contained within his birthright. He is Abraham’s seed, and the firstborn of the son of the promise (Isaac). He is in line to be stupendously blessed, but he gives up his birthright for the sake of his stomach. He esteems his physical body more highly than his spirit. God has a problem with this attitude, which is similar to Cain’s lackadaisical approach to sacrifice. When the spirit – which is the channel through which we relate to God, and is eternal – is maligned or ignored for the sake of the body which is perishable and finite, it is evidence of a misalignment of priorities. The spirit is more important than the body, and ought to be the seat of our decision-making and the founding-place of our character. 

Even though Jacob tricks his brother twice, he is not reprimanded for it because he does not treat birthright or blessing with contempt. He seems to know the significance of his brother’s position, hence his actions to secure it for himself. Jacob’s attitude is consistent with his name as supplanter. He replaces Esau as the firstborn through trickery, thus positioning himself to later receive his brother’s blessing.

As God’s children, and heirs to the birthright and the blessing, let us accept both with gratitude, realising we do not need to deceive in order to receive.