Genesis 25:31 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.
This passage of scripture reveals to us how Jacob cunningly relieved Esau of the birthright, which included both spiritual and material blessings. In ancient times the first born son would be entitled to a double portion of the parents possessions, and he would also have the sacred privilege of offering the morning and evening sacrifice on behalf of the family, in the absence of the father. But Esau held all of these benefits in very light esteem, and Jacob, who was always drooling over the birthright, sought for any and every opportunity to take it out of Esau's hands, and his chance to do so came when Esau was urged to sell the birthright for a morsel of bread and lentils, on account of his hunger.
Now, the actions of both Jacob and Esau should be carefully evaluated to see where they both went wrong, because the issue of godly principle comes to the surface in the way that Jacob obtained the birthright. To begin with, Esau was dead wrong to so lightly value the precious treasure, and for this he is rebuked in the scriptures. But Jacob was also very wrong to take advantage of his brother's weaknesses or ungodliness, by offering him bread and lentils in exchange for something of inestimable value. If Esau had made the offer of his own volition, then Jacob would be clear in the sight of God, for he would not have thus provoked such an unfair transaction. But for him to take it upon himself to make such an offer constituted a form of stealing and fraudulent dealing, which is as much a sin as is shoplifting or burglary. Let's read:
Leviticus 19:35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord.
Not because a person could be prompted on account of a desperate situation, to part with something of very high value for almost nothing, does it then entitle the Christian to propose to purchase the item for pennies on the dollar as Jacob obviously did, for transactions such as these are registered as fraud in the books of heaven, even though they may pass the finite scrutiny of man. In addition to this it is a sin to take advantage of other members of the human family, just because they may be in dire circumstances such as extreme hunger or thirst. When multinational corporations take their production business to third world, or poorer countries like India, and offer the poor of those countries starvation labor prices, just because they will agree to it because of their desperate situations, then crimes against humanity are committed and in the books of heaven those companies are labeled as bandits, even though the poor may have agreed to the paltry offer. Let's read:
James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire".... 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
In addition to the sin of fraud committed by Jacob, the proposal to pay for a spiritual privilege is contrary to sound doctrine, for it was this very action on the part of Simon Magus, that caused Peter to utter a stern rebuke to him. When the unconverted magician offered money in exchange for the Holy Ghost, it caused Peter's stomach to turn within him, and the words he then spoke are a rebuke to all such practices. Let's read:
Acts 8:18 when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
In other words, Christians should never be found returning large sums of money to the church with the intention of having a prominent seat on the governing body of believers, such as took place in the dark ages, and which still takes place today. Neither should church positions and offices be obtained through favoritism, family connections, or political maneuvering, for all such practices are registered as fraud in the books of heaven.
The Bible states that Isaac was very rich in cattle and in gold and silver, and even though Jacob was not after the temporal goods, yet because the birthright came as a single package, one meal was an unreasonable price to offer for it, and because of this his actions could not bear the stamp of God's approval, even though he did not force Esau in any way to sell the coveted treasure.
In our day and in our own experiences, we should be very careful lest the so-called petty thefts that are permitted and committed under the guise of bargaining and haggling, imperceptibly invade our thoughts and actions, and drive us to adopt methods and practices that are not in harmony with sound doctrines or godly principles. Everything that is said and done should be done as to The Lord, and furthermore the implementation of the golden rule will forestall the practice of fraud that has become so rampant in our day. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encapsulates the principles governing the treatment of others, and it is the will of God that in everything we do, His name may be honored and glorified. Let's read:
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!