Birthrights

Genesis 25:29-34

Today I want to talk about the birthright we as Christians have

Access to God through prayer

A comforter

Forgiveness of sins daily

Live eternally

Future reign with Christ

Holy Spirit power

In Christ we have great rights, because of what Jesus has done for us we have great things we may obtain and will obtain

The Bible says in Romans 8:17 that we are Jesus’ brothers, sharing in His spiritual inheritance. We are counted as “firstborn” by God’s grace Heb. 12:23

What is the birthright?

The birthright in the Old Testament entailed certain privileges and possessions to be given after a father passed away

Double portion of his fathers blessings (Deut. 21:17)

Special fathers blessing (Gen. 27:27)

Leadership of the family (Gen. 43:33)

This could only be given to the firstborn so you could say it was valuable, maybe even sought after

In this specific passage, we know the story of Esau and Jacob. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob…which is obviously possible and apparently a thing

Breaking it down

At first glance the story may really seem as thought Esau was hunger…some might say starting to death (Ahem Esau), and that Jacob was just a jealous younger brother

I believe though we can glean much more off of this than that (Pray)

If you’re a Christian here today it should come as now surprise that there are two natures living inside of you....the old man, and the new man. Or we may say the flesh and the spirit. (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22,24;)

We choose daily to feed the flesh or feed the spirit

Genesis 25:30–31 KJV 1900

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. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Esau has been out hunting all day and he comes in the house and the first thing he smells is some food.

Interestingly though, Jacob makes a request. “Sell me this day thy birthright” he says.

Jacob took interest in what Esau as the firstborn had.

Remember the things that came with being the firstborn?

Double portions of his fathers assets

Special blessing

Leadership of the family

Esau’s detrimental response

Genesis 25:32 KJV 1900

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Of all the things that came with the blessing, Esau was willing for forfeit it all for a little satisfaction of the flesh

The Bible says clearly that the pleasure of sin only last for a season!

Now I want to make it a point here to note that Jacob’s name means ‘supplanter’ or ‘trickster.’

As an inference here..Im not saying that Jacob is the devil but isnt it interesting that satan will prey on our weaknesses and offer us some temporary satisfaction?

Esau’s blindness: Hunger and care for the world

Esau now has come in from hunting all day and his stomach is growling at him. Its really getting his attention and he tells his brother that he’s so hungry he’s about to die.

I cant say if he’s being real or not but I know i’ve said this same thing to my wife or mom when I was younger. I feel he’s being a little dramatic here.

Now the writer of Hebrews explains Esau like this

Hebrews 12:16 KJV 1900

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

The word profane doesn’t mean he cursed a great deal. The world actually comes from two latin words which make up the meaning “Against the Temple” or ‘against God’

There are many men and women today sitting in churches who’s hearts are against God

Esau I am sure at one point in his life was for the things of God, he may have been overjoyed at the things his birthright entailed

Somewhere along the road he fell away and turned off of the road of righteousness onto the path of despair. He was tempted by the scent of the world (Repeat this)

The writer describes him also as a fornicator. This is spiritual fornication, this person is out selling themselves to the world. With no care for God

It can be so easy for us to get caught up in the things of the world that we say like Esau, “What profit shall this birthright do to me?”

Esau’s birthright literally meant changing the world! Esau would have been in the line that the Messiah came from but Esau didn’t care about Spiritual things!

Esau has become so blinded by the scent of the world that he cannot see what profit the birthright brings

This is why it is of utmost importance that we do as Paul said in Colossians 3:1-3 (Turn in your Bibles)

This is why it is so important that we teach our children and our youth what it means to be a Christian!!!

Our youth don’t know what the blessing of being a Christian even is so its not wonder so many of us fall away

The interest of others

Genesis 25:31 KJV 1900

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Jacob saw the value of the birthright and he wanted it!

You know we as Christians have a nasty habit of talking about how good it is serving God and then we go and complain about how we can’t do this or that or have to do this or that. Our church building is too small, our carpet is ugly, etc.

I can bet some people out there would say ‘Hey! Let me try that whole Christian thing, ya know going to Heaven and living forever and all it’d be better than where i’m at now!’ But most of us are so caught up in living for the world that we don’t witness to them!!

I want to illustrate a point here:

Jacob growing up with Esau must have been tough. Esau may have bragged about all that he was going to get after his father passed away. He was excited. Jacob may have envied him. But little by little Esau began getting used to being the firstborn, it didn’t have the same effect it did when he first learned of it. It didn’t carry the joys it did before, it almost became a burden..so he gave himself to hunting. He became so engrossed in it that he’d forgotten his duty as the firstborn. He forgot the calling he had. Jacob after years of hearing how great things Esau would do became desirous to be the firstborn, at whatever cost. Can you hear him saying, ‘Esau only cares about hunting, he’d make a terrible leader of our family…if only I had the opportunity!’

There are many people on the outside looking at us and want what we have or had at one point!

I think of our family who’s maybe unsaved…they heard you talk of the joys of being born again but now you’ve fallen away, drawn by the world. You no longer witness to them because they kept denying, it got burdensome so you quit.

Now you’re depressed and no longer joyful, they want you to have joy again and now even they themselves want it!

I think of co-workers who watch us. When we used to have the joy of the Lord we shared Christ, but then money took over. They may wonder what happened…something has changed. They see you’re happy but not like you used to be!

I think of our spouses. You used to grow together in church but now maybe you’re working overtime to pay for all the cares of the world. Your husband or wife now wonders what happened.

I think of Christian’s who have left the church because someone hurt them. They say ‘well so and so hurt me, so forget it all.’ Oh Christian please don’t give in. Dont loose your love for the rights God has given to us!

Our responsibility

We as Christian’s have a responsibility first and foremost to see other people brought to Christ

God says He’s not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance..Is His will our will today?

We have a responsibility to keep ourselves pure and undefiled from the world, not loving the world but loving God

Ephesians 4:24, 27

James 3:7-8

We are to stay fresh with God, don’t get stagnate and used to being saved

Philippians 2:12-13 We’re to listen to God working IN us and allow Him to do OUTSIDE works