Esau was not a strange fellow; it is not difficult to identify with him. He was an accomplished person, a credible leader of men and a man of estate. He was confident, self-sufficient, independent, capable and successful; proud of his achievements. His controversial lapse in the estimate of his birthright would seem insignificant when compared with the failings of other personages in scripture. With Esau’s indiscretion, were there not other extenuating or mitigating circumstances? To be more pointed, this birthright referred to clearly his personal positional office. On the other hand, Jacob did nudge and persuade Esau in the first and then did conspire to steal his blessing also, with his own mother as the agent provocateur. If Esau had sold his birthright for pottage, did not Isaac sell Esau’s blessing, for not even venison; he could have been more exercised in caution, diligence and discretion with Jacob’s pretense. He was already suspicious in more than one area. Why the hurry to eat? Why do we castigate the son more than the father?
The blessing was of greater substance and consequence, it conferred generational investiture. Why should Esau not be disappointed and bitterly angry? Not only with his mother, Jacob, but most of all, with his father? Was he not the favored son searching for him the venison he so loved? The blessing had been ceremonially handed down. The passing of the baton disabled even Isaac from reprimanding or cursing Jacob, less the curses would rebound on himself. The blessing, irrevocable, was for all future generations; this was not just about Esau’s personal conferment. Would we fault Esau for wanting, in that season, to kill his brother? Was forgiveness the custom of the day, or was it “an eye for an eye”? Did Esau believe in a scorched-earth remedy? We chastise Esau for despising his birthright but wish him to turn the cheek when the blessing for all his future generations was stolen. Really? Would we be quite so charitable when our substance are so misappropriated? Sure, Esau consoled himself and planned to kill Jacob, but he did not. Yes, he was incensed and incandescent with livid rage; still, he sought remedy from his beloved father only to receive less. At the final count, and for whatever reason, he did not kill Jacob. David planned to kill Uriah, and did, and for much less a reason; Bathsheba with his unborn child. Between Esau and David for a friend, your choice?
We are mostly ambivalent in our regard for Esau. Afterall, the LORD Himself declared that Jacob, He loved and Esau He hated. Our Sunday school stories and “happily ever after” disposition persuades us that Esau is the necessary villain. But do the proceedings support the case? Why is Esau targeted so? Is the LORD being unfair?
(To be continued)
God bless.
/ckh
The blessing was of greater substance and consequence, it conferred generational investiture. Why should Esau not be disappointed and bitterly angry? Not only with his mother, Jacob, but most of all, with his father? Was he not the favored son searching for him the venison he so loved? The blessing had been ceremonially handed down. The passing of the baton disabled even Isaac from reprimanding or cursing Jacob, less the curses would rebound on himself. The blessing, irrevocable, was for all future generations; this was not just about Esau’s personal conferment. Would we fault Esau for wanting, in that season, to kill his brother? Was forgiveness the custom of the day, or was it “an eye for an eye”? Did Esau believe in a scorched-earth remedy? We chastise Esau for despising his birthright but wish him to turn the cheek when the blessing for all his future generations was stolen. Really? Would we be quite so charitable when our substance are so misappropriated? Sure, Esau consoled himself and planned to kill Jacob, but he did not. Yes, he was incensed and incandescent with livid rage; still, he sought remedy from his beloved father only to receive less. At the final count, and for whatever reason, he did not kill Jacob. David planned to kill Uriah, and did, and for much less a reason; Bathsheba with his unborn child. Between Esau and David for a friend, your choice?
We are mostly ambivalent in our regard for Esau. Afterall, the LORD Himself declared that Jacob, He loved and Esau He hated. Our Sunday school stories and “happily ever after” disposition persuades us that Esau is the necessary villain. But do the proceedings support the case? Why is Esau targeted so? Is the LORD being unfair?
(To be continued)
God bless.
/ckh
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