Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 27:30-38.
“Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. Then he also made savory food, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” And he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” And he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.” Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” But Isaac replied to Esau, “Behold, I have made him your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?” Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” So Esau lifted his voice and wept.” Genesis 27:30-38.
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“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” Hebrews 12:15-16.
It is interesting that the foregoing Scripture ties the rejection of Esau’s request for a blessing in today’s Scripture to Esau’s prior sale of his birthright to Jacob for a single meal.
We understand through the following Scripture that although Esau wept in verse 38 of today’s Scripture in the rejection of his request for a blessing, Esau did not repent at the time that he sold his birthright to Jacob.
“Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; 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 on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:32-34.
How does today’s Scripture apply to us today? How could we sell our birthright?
We covered this topic more extensively in the February 25, 2022 devotion when we covered that Scripture. But, because today’s Scripture covers the rejection of Esau’s request for a blessing and the above-stated Hebrews 12:15-16 ties the rejection of Esau’s request for a blessing to Esau’s failure to repent at the time that he sold his birthright to Jacob, we will summarize again how we could sell our birthright.
Our birthright could be our right based in our birth in a family to to be in a family and church and maybe even Christian schools in which the doctrines of grace were taught. But, so to speak, we could sell our birthright by being careless and disdaining the doctrines of grace instead of clinging to them and guarding and treasuring them.
Esau thought he earned the blessing by his work, wisdom, and will in hunting the game and preparing a savory dish for his father. But, the doctrines of grace teach us that God’s blessing is based on God’s grace to us through His election of us and is not based on our work, our wisdom, and our will.
“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
… For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:10-13 and 15-16.
But, there is hope!
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:14.
“Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!“
“5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.” Psalm 16:5-6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 