Esau's Egregious Errors

Jacob and Esau were twins but they were as different as day and night.

1. Jacob was more the domestic Homeboy who enjoyed the quieter things while Esau was the hunter out in the woods bringing game for the table.

2. Jacob was smooth of skin, Esau had a hairy body.

3. Jacob was suave, Esau was Machismo and rough around the edges.

4. Jacob was Mama’s Boy and Esau was favored by dad. “Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Genesis 25:28 (NASB).

5. Jacob was clever and conniving, Esau was gullible and impetuous.

6. Jacob saw opportunities to advance himself, and Esau saw opportunities to satisfy himself.

Jacob was like Kenny, a city boy, who moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died."

Kenny replied, "Well then, just give me my money back." The farmer said, "Can’t do that. I went and spent it already."

Kenny said, "OK, then, just unload the donkey." The farmer asked, "What ya gonna do with him?" Kenny replied, "I’m going to raffle him off."

The Farmer said, "You can’t raffle off a dead donkey!" Kenny said, "Sure I can. Watch me."

A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, “What happened with that dead donkey?" Kenny said, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898.00.”

The Farmer asked, "Didn’t anyone complain?" Kenny replied, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back." Like Jacob he was quick thinking and took advantage of the occasion with no loss, only gain.

That leads me to thinking about Esau’s Egregious Error and Jacob’s willingness to take advantage of it. Let’s go back in time to the unfolding of the story.

“When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.’ Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?’ And Jacob said, ‘First swear to me’; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:27-34 (NASB).

He lacked discernment. Discernment is the ability to examine the situation, apply a good dose of experience, and take the appropriate action at the right time. It’s what most people would call “good judgment.”

What can we learn from this event?

I ESAU WAS PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH:

A In monetary terms, a penny is a penny and a British pound is equivalent to $1.18 in American money.

1 “‘Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?’ And Jacob said, ‘First swear to me’; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.’”

2 Penny-wise and pound-foolish, Esau valued soup, (the penny) more than he valued his birthright (the pound).

3 That’s tantamount to burning $100 bills to heat a pot of water for tea.

4 He virtually gave away what he should not have lost to gain what would last him only a few moments.

B Let’s understand the value of a birthright.

1 Birthright refers to the right of the son born first in a family to inherit his father's possessions and authority.

2 In ancient Israel all the sons received some of their father's property, but the firstborn received a double portion and became the leader of the family.

C The Bible is full of those who were penny-wise and pound-foolish.

1 Adam and Eve who forfeited Eden’s Paradise for the taste of one bite of fruit.

2 The rich young ruler who preferred his riches over salvation and went away from Jesus sadly.

3 Judas Iscariot who forfeited his apostleship and his soul for the gain of 30 pieces of silver.

D If we are wise we will ask, “Is this a penny, or is this a pound? Will this last for just a few moments or will it endure for eternity?” Honestly assessing that should greatly alter our choices.