“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34, ESV). The event recorded in Genesis 25 is, of course, an actual occurrence of what took place quite a long time ago. Yet, though actual, it is also a metaphor. For Esau, that which should have been held sacred in traditional family matters was not held sacred at all. In fact, in order to satisfy a desire, the sacred was dismissed for a belly full of food. Many find fault with Esau for such an action, but how guilty are many of us today who do the same, but in different areas of life? For instance, in Jeremiah 6:10, the Lord spoke to a people of “uncircumcised ears,” that is, they had ears, but they could hear nothing at all. They desired rest, but they sought rest in a different location than that which the Lord provided (cf. 6:16). Our “Esau moment” occurs when events and recreation points in life become our attractions to be pursued.
Dismiss the Sacred
18 Monday May 2015
Posted disrespect, Esau, Jacob, sacred
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