A Spiritual Birthright Sold for the World

Sacred text: Ephesians 1:11–12 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

Introduction: Now, I am not a gambler by any means. But I do find it interesting to look at stories of people winning these huge lotteries or gaining massive inheritances and seeing how they use it or if they lose it all. Have you ever looked back at the people who win millions of dollars in the lottery? Most of them are broke just a few short years later. It is wild to me. They go on these extravagant spending sprees, buy huge houses, expensive sports cars, clothing and jewelry, then all of a sudden, as if it is some mystery, its all gone. Now I have always said, that if I won a million dollars, I would just pay everything I own off and invest the rest, obviously a hypothetical. Because, in this economy a million isn't getting you very far anyway. I did read an interesting story about a young lady that inherited way more money than anyone needs. Barbara Hutton, who comes from a long line of very rich and successful family members, inherited what today would equal about $900 million. That is a lot of money. After Barbara’s mother died, she was moved around from relative to relative, but coming from the Woolworth family lineage, she always got the best of the best. Lavish parties during the 1930’s depression which angered a lot of people and rightly so. While they were suffering she was partying. By the time she was 21 years old, she had a bank account worth almost $50 million. Barbara eventually had entered into the Hollywood scene continued to gain money, married several different actors, and never found lasting love in her life. Eventually, addictions, things, and fame became all she had. By the time Barbara left this world, she was broke and had nothing left of her once overflowing fortune. Essentially she sold off what rightly belonged to her for the things of this world. Houses, fame, cars, jewelry, and even the affection of people was all she wanted and she never had enough of it. In our text today, we see a similar situation come up. A birthright, or an inheritance, that is sold off for a bowl of soup.

Context: If you have your Bibles you can open to Genesis chapter 25. We have been walking through the book of Genesis and we have seen the story of God’s redemption unfolding through different people. From Adam through Abraham and now we get to a turning point in the story. Remember two weeks ago we saw in the story that Sarah, Abrahams wife, has died. Abraham is getting much older now, and Isaac has now taken a wife for himself. Now, here in chapter 25 we have this sort of recap/genealogy leading us up to the death of Abraham and a turning point happens. It’s here that we turn from the story and person of Abraham to the stories of his sons and their sons. Keep in mind the Abrahamic covenant that we saw pictured back in chapter 12 and fully set in stone in chapter 15, that God would make nations from the seed of Abraham. What we see today is that God is a promise keeping God and everything he says he will do he does. So we can rest in the promises of God. So let’s start first with verses 1-18.

From Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 25:1-18)

Genesis 25:1–18 ESV

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi. These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.

Abraham’s last years.

Isaac now has taken for himself a wife after his mothers death and Abraham has now taken for himself a new wife. We see from our text that Abraham’s new wife, Keturah, gives birth to more sons for Abraham, even in his old age. That promise of having many sons, or nations, seems to be coming true. In Abrahams last years he gave all that he has to his son Isaac, but he also gives gifts to his concubines sons, while at the same time sending them away from Isaac. This was to ensure that all of his sons received their portions, but also that there would be no contention between his concubines sons and Isaac, who is the sole heir to all that Abraham has, because he is the son from Sarah; the promised child from God. We will also see in later chapters, and even books in the Old Testament, that these other nations would eventually rise up against Israel.

Abraham lived to be 175 years old. The CSB renders this text this way, “This is the length of Abraham’s life: 175 years. He took his last breath and died at a good old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people.” If you notice, the same language is being used here that was part of the covenant made between Abraham and God. If you remember in Genesis 15:15 it says, “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.” The covenant that was made between God and Abraham is becoming more and more realized as we go through this story. Something else to notice here is that Abraham died “contented,” or satisfied. In Hebrew this word means to be full; it can mean full of food, full of years, or full of life. It is a state of satisfaction; to be satisfied with the current context of life. I don’t want to spend a ton of time here, but John Calvin makes the point here that Abraham died just as we die. Abraham was a mere man, his outward body aged just like ours. John Calvin also points to the fact that the text says that Abraham died contented, or with a satisfied life and I think this is much deeper than we first realize. How many today could say that, at this moment in life, if they were to die they would die with a full and satisfied life? Many of us today do everything we can to prolong our lives, as if it is possible that we might live forever if we do everything the right way. Or if we could somehow find our way back to the tree of life that was in the garden, partake of its fruit, and live forever we would do it. If we could just somehow, share that fruit with those we love so that we could all live forever, we would do it. And listen, Jesus is the tree of life!! His life, death, and resurrection is the fruit. Jesus is the way to everlasting life with those we love. But are we even sharing Jesus with them? You see, the only way to leave this life truly satisfied, is to leave it, knowing that Jesus is waiting for us and that we did all we could do to make Him known to everyone around us. True satisfaction is not found in the things of this world, or the next best workout that will add 30 years to our life. Godliness, from a secure faith in Christ alone for our salvation, that is what bears the fruit of satisfaction. If you want satisfaction in this life, true and lasting satisfaction, it is found in Christ and Christ alone. Abraham left this life, fully satisfied, knowing that he was going to sit with his Creator. Godliness, from a secure faith in Christ alone, bears the fruit of satisfaction. And then our text turns to the life of Ishmael.

Ishmael's last years.

Moving on to verses 12-18 we see the lineage of Ishmael who was born of Hagar the slave. If you remember from a few of weeks ago in chapter 21 we saw Sarah tell Abraham to send Hagar and her son away. This is that son. Genesis 21:11–13 says, “And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”” Then just a few verses down in Genesis 21:17–20 it says, “And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.” Listen, God fulfills his promises and the nations are beginning to be set in place for the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Our text says that Ishmael, like Abraham, lived a long life of 137 years and had many sons. 6 sons to be sure of and their sons, who each became the chiefs of their own clans and nations. It is also here that we see this turning point in the story of Genesis, marking a turn from Abraham to the nations, the promise and covenant made between God and Abraham, is now coming to fruition. We see this taking place here with Isaac and Ishmael, and also in the birth of Esau and Jacob. Back to our text in chapter 25.

The Birth of Two Nations (Genesis 25:19-26)

Genesis 25:19–26 ESV

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Rebekah conceives.

Isaac has taken a wife, Rebekah, who is much like Sarah in her barrenness. But Isaac prays to God on her behalf and God takes pleasure in those prayers. Isaac here is teaching us to persevere in prayer. For years Sarah is barren and God gives her a child. Here Rebekah is barren for years, yet he hears the faithful prayers of Isaac and he gives them a child. But our text reveals that there is something different about this pregnancy. There seems to be a struggle inside of her and she cries out to God for help. Then we see that God answers her by explaining what is happening. But before we get into this I want us to see something. Let’s look at Psalm 139:13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” it is God who forms us. Now look at Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God says, before I even formed you in the womb of your mothers belly I knew who were and who you were going to be, because I set your purpose. Now that does not mean that we are all so willingly walking in our God given purposes, but it is God who sets our purpose in life, who forms us, knows us, and gives us purpose for His glory. God knew you before you were even formed in the belly of your mother. How amazing is that? As Paul tells us in Ephesians 4, from the foundations of the world, God already knew you. Listen, God sees you and knows you. If you struggle with being seen then rest in this. If you struggle with being known then rest in this. You are never alone, because God sees you and knows you. The other point here is that God sets our purpose for his glory.

The Lord explains.

God told Rebekah, “Two nations, two children, are within you, they will come from you and they will be separated. One will be stronger than the other and the older will serve the younger.” There are two themes we see here in this section of the story. The first being that their is this struggle between brothers that happens. We seen it in the beginning with Cain and Able, we saw it with Isaac and Ishmael, we see it now with Jacob and Esau, and we will see it later with Joseph and his struggle with his ten brothers. And Joseph sums all of this up in some of the final words of Genesis: Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” All I can think of is the cross at this point. What the people meant for evil, God meant it for good, that many shall be kept alive with him in eternity. Gospel glimpses folks. The second theme is that the older would end up serving the younger. We saw it with Cain and Able, Ishmael and Isaac, here with Jacob and Esau, and later on with Joseph and his brothers. All of this is pointing to something. Remember there are gospel glimpses all throughout the Old Testament. What this points to is the setting aside of Israel (the older) to allow for the gentile believers (the younger) to be grafted into the family. This is God’s sovereignty in election. Listen, election is real. It is right here in Scripture. Griffith Thomas, a theologian from the late 1800’s, puts it this way.

Griffith Thomas

The great problem of Divine sovereignty is of course insolvable by human intellect. It has to be accepted as a simple fact. It should, however, be observed that it is not merely a fact in regard to things spiritual; it is found also in nature in connection with human temperaments and races. All history is full of illustrations of the Divine choice, as we may see from such examples as Cyrus and Pharaoh. Divine election is a fact, whether we can understand it or not. God’s purposes are as certain as they are often inscrutable, and it is perfectly evident from the case of Esau and Jacob that the divine choice of man is entirely independent of their merits or of any pre-vision of their merits or attainments (Rom. 9:11).

Paul even points back to this very moment when he writes in Romans 9:6–13 If you want to turn there,“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Before they were even born, before they even had the chance to do any good or evil in this world, before they could walk an aisle and make a decision, God rejected Esau and chose Jacob. It was not based on their merits, they had done no works at all, but God sovereignly chose to reject one and chose the other and that both would go on to be leaders of nations. Esau would become known as Edom, the leader of the Edomites, who would later rise up against Israel. But God was faithful and remains faithful in preserving his people for his glory. And as we continue on in our passage we see all of this begin to play out as Rebekah gives birth. The younger hanging onto the heel of the older. To finish up we have verses 27-34.

The Birthright (Genesis 25:27-34)

Genesis 25:27–34 ESV

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Isaac loved Esau and rejected Jacob

We see here the fathers (Isaac) love set on Esau, who has already been declared rejected by the Lord, but he was a mighty man; a hunter of the land. Jacob being rejected by his father, but loved by his mother, was the one accepted by God, and yet he was a home body and worked beside his mother. It is those rejected by worldly standards that are lifted up and made acceptable before God. Esau, a man of the field, a manly hunter, noble character, whom by worldly measures would be the accepted one. But Jacob, whom is of lowly stature, stays at home, quiet among people, who is made acceptable and used by God in mighty ways. It is OK to not look like the world and have to live up to its standards. In fact, I would say it is better to be rejected by the world and to be accepted by God. We should also note that in those times, it was the older son that traditionally received the blessing and inheritance from the father, which would have been Esau, since technically he came out first. But, in order to fulfill the prophecy given in verse 23, it is Jacob who must obtain the blessing and inheritance from Isaac. We see this take place in our passage as Esau comes in from hunting and is hungry, so hungry he could die, but Jacob convinces Esau to hand over his birthright for a bowl of soup. You see, the boys are now grown men and they had been raised to know God through Isaac and Rebekah, who were obviously godly parents. They most likely knew of the prophecy that was told about them. Esau, having known all of this, despised his birthright from the beginning; it was of no use to him, if it was going to be given to his younger brother. Esau took what was rightfully his, both spiritual and physical, and sold it for a bowl of red vegetable soup. This is why he was called Edom, which means red in Hebrew. But, how many of us, just like Esau, would be so willing to sell off our spiritual birthright for the goods of this world?

If anyone was ever raised with an abundance of spiritual advantages, it was Esau. Yet Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, just as many do today, though they have the advantages of a deep and prolonged exposure to Christianity. Esau thought so little of these spiritual advantages that he virtually threw the birthright away.

James Montgomery Boice

If we say that we are Christians, then we are saying that we are a spiritual people, with spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1:3 says that God, in Christ, has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavens. We have a spiritual birthright because we have been chosen by God, adopted as sons and daughters, we will share an inheritance with Jesus Christ. Do you understand this? We are dead in our sins and trespasses, but God being rich in mercy, sent his son, who through his life, death, and resurrection, has given us new life! We have been born again into a new family. A royal family, in which that $900 million that Barbara Hutton inherited is nothing, compared to the riches which we will inherit. Redemption, salvation, sanctification, justification, glorification, it all belongs to us. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We have the ability to commune with our Creator, the Creator of all that is created. It all belongs to us. We have the church, both physically and spiritually. We have a King who fights for us, prays for us, helps us, and holds us close. We have eternity in heaven to look forward to. It is all ours! But how easily we sell it off for a measly bowl of vegetable soup. “I don’t need to pray this morning, I can handle myself today, just give me my coffee or red-bull and I will be good.” “I don’t need to read my Bible this morning, I’m sure I’ll see a few verses posted on Facebook or X and I’ll just read those.” “I don’t need to go to church this Sunday, we have travel ball this weekend.” “I don’t need to worry about all of this sanctification stuff, I just need to get this better job and then everything will work out.” “I don’t need all of this community stuff, I have all the community I need right here on my couch with all of my dogs.” You see, every time we neglect the spiritual things of God, in turn for the worldly things, we have just become like Esau as he sold off his birthright for that bowl of soup. But God gives more grace.

Invite the band up.

Conclusion: So whats the point of our chapter today? It is not so much about the doctrines of election and predestination. No, this chapter is more concerned with the heart of God’s people in how they respond to their being chosen by God and given an inheritance that outlasts anything here in this world. If you are a Christian here today, then you have been given a new life to be lived for the glory of God and you have been given a very rich inheritance. But would people know that about you? God has given you purpose in this life, but are you living for that purpose? Or have you become so deceived by the things of this world that you have grown to despise your birthright and are willing to sell it off for a measly bowl of soup every chance you get? Maybe these are questions you need to wrestle with this week. I know I do. Maybe you are unsure if you are a Christian or not and you need to wrestle with a different set of questions. Am I being crushed under the weight of my sin and need to repent? Have you been given new life? Do I even understand the gospel and its implications for my life? The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the power unto which people are saved. Don’t leave here today without understanding these things. We will have pastors in the back that you can talk to or get prayer from. Go back there and see them. Make a habit of reaching out to your pastors. Let’s pray.

Prayer: Lord, as your Word so graciously reveals truth about who you are and it also reveals truth about who we are. We are so easily deceived by the world and fall into a place of despising the very gifts you have given us. Help us to rightly see those things and enjoy them as we should now and into eternity as we praise you forever and ever amen.