The Material Struggle

Genesis 25:29-34

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country,famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)  31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.”

Have you ever been so hungry that you thought you would die?  Have you ever smelled a stew that you would sell your future possessions to eat?  Esau walked into the perfect storm, and walked away a poorer man.  Jacob, knowing that Esau would be hungry, had the stew waiting and used the opportunity for his personal gain.

Esau was a man who was led by his passions and was focused only on the moment.   Jacob was a man who was led by his cunning and scheming and was willing to exploit the weaknesses of others, even his brother and Father.   Esau does not seem to regret what he lost and Jacob does not seem to regret his ill-gotten gain.

Both Esau and Jacob are lost and only concerned with the material struggle.  But it is only through the  spiritual struggle that they will find salvation.

And so it is with us.

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)