In Genesis Chapter Twenty-five, we read about Jacob and Esau. They were twins born to Isaac. God had foretold that the elder twin would serve the younger twin. This was not the usual outcome. In biblical times, the oldest son was the heir to the main fortune of the father. This was known as the firstborn’s birthright.
Esau came home very hungry one day. He sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Jacob would indeed be given the main fortune by Isaac. There is more to that story, but we will not go into it for this study.
What one must understand is that there was more to being given the birthright of Isaac than just physical things. God had made a spiritual covenant with Abraham. He had continued this covenant with Isaac, Abraham’s firstborn. If custom was to dictate, Esau should have been the inheritor of the covenant.
But God knew that Esau would sell his birthright. That is why he told Esau’s mother that he would serve his brother. God did not make Esau sell his birthright. That was Esau’s choice. Can you imagine willingly giving up the right to have God’s covenant passed through you and your children?
Esau knew about the covenant. God was the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. If Esau had lived his life right and made the right choice, we would read that God was the God of Esau as far as the covenant was concerned. Instead, we read that God was the God of Jacob.
Esau went to his father and tried to get his father to give him the blessing that should have been his, but it was too late. Once his father had given the birthright, there was nothing that could be changed (Hebrews 12:16-17).
Today we have a New Covenant. God gave us the New Testament. When we obey God and become Christians, we accept his covenant. Our birthright will be given to us at the Day of Judgment. If we do not make the right choices and continually serve God, then we are in effect selling our birthright. We must stay in the right relationship with God or lose the inheritance (Hebrews 12: 14-17). Keep reading your Bible. Study it so that you know what to do to stay in the right relationship with God.
