Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
This passage of scripture cautions us not to trifle with God's grace that has provided a way for us to be saved through Jesus Christ, as Esau did, for when he realized the true value of what he had bartered for a mere pot of beans, he suffered terrible remorse and regret for having lightly esteemed the immortal inheritance. However, Esau, like so many others who came before and after him was not beyond the point of being saved if he so chose, for God is able to save to the "Guttermost", all those who come to Him in faith. But as we review the history of Esau's pseudo repentance, we see that one important ingredient is missing, Esau never admitted that he was wrong in selling the birthright, for all of the blame was cast upon Jacob, but in his mind he himself had done nothing wrong. Let's read:
Genesis 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
In this entire conversation, and emotional outburst with bitter tears, no admission of any wrong on Esau's part is made, on the contrary his focus sits squarely on the material blessings that were forfeited on account of his rash moves. This is evident by the amount of times he uses the words "bless" and "blessing" in his speech, and it is further confirmed by what the scripture exposes as the source of his sorrow and anger. It was not sorrow for sin, but sorrow for loss that drove him to tears. In other words, if the material blessings were to be restored to him, he would gladly have taken them and left God standing at the altar. This fact is clearly demonstrated in the following passage. Let's read:
Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him".
God is not moved by mere emotions only, for although He saw Esau's tears and anguish, yet without that one important ingredient of confession and remorse for sin, nothing can be done to save the sinner. If Esau had accepted full responsibility for his wrong actions, and was willing to suffer the consequences, God would have forgiven him, and he would be saved in His kingdom. But instead of doing this, Esau kept going back to the wrongs done by Jacob, and the blessings he had received from God through Isaac.
In his emotional rant he accuses his brother of taking away his blessing, and many who have read the story have concluded that Jacob stole the birthright. But this is not true, for although Jacob committed fraud on his father Isaac, the birthright was never forced out of the hands of Esau, but was rather procured through a legally binding transaction.
If a person owns a valuable antique car like the famous ford cobra, and does not value it correctly, but is willing to part with it for a starvation price of $200.00 as Esau did with his birthright, then if someone comes along and pays the asking price, he cannot rightfully be accused of stealing or fraud in any court of law, because what has taken place is a legally binding transaction. What Jacob did in practicing fraud on his father was indeed wrong, but the greater sin lay at Esau's doorstep. The estimated value by Esau of his own birthright was not even two hundred dollars, but about $1.50 in today's currency, and the attitude displayed by him, as the most valuable treasure was sold, demonstrates the fact that he was even glad to get rid of it as if it were an unwanted burden. Let's read:
Genesis 25:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint" .... 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
In our day many people are making a similar mistake by bartering the immortal inheritance that was purchased at infinite cost on Calvary, for the temporal and fleeting things of this world. Some are chasing an illusive dream of material benefits and creature comforts, while others are selling their birthright for a temporary moment of pleasure, and the mindset of many people who trade eternal life for a one night's stance is captured in the words of the famous songwriters from Stax records which say "If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna do right".
The Bible warns us not to think that we can despise our day of grace for many years and simply repent whenever we feel so. Repentance is a gift from God that must be accepted and acted upon when God is ready to forgive and forget, not merely when we feel to do so at our own convenience. For this reason we end with a passage of scripture which demonstrates the serious nature of our probationary period here on earth, and it is the will of God that we avail ourselves of His salvation today, whilst mercy yet lingers. Let's read:
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
May God add his blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!