ARE WE SOLD OUT TO JESUS, OR SELLING OUT TO THE WORLD
Dr. Michael Pope
Genesis 25:29-34
INTRODUCTION
1. One of the saddest figures in the Bible is that of Esau...
a. Firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Jacob - Gen 25:21-26
b. Loved by his father Isaac, a skillful hunter - Gen 25:27-28
2. On two occasions he was manipulated by his brother Jacob...
a. First when Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage - Gen 25:29-34
b. Second when Jacob stole the blessing designed for Esau - Gen 27:1-41
I. ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT
1. ESAU'S BIRTHRIGHT...
A. The Physical Advantages of the birthright
1) Contained a double portion of the father's inheritance - Deut 21:17
2) The amount would have been very great
3) For what he eventually received was also great - Gen 36:6-7
4) Offered rule and authority over other members of the family - Gen 27:29
B. The Spiritual Advantages of this particular birthright
1) Patriarch and priest of the house on the death of his father (Barnes, Clarke)
2) Chief of the chosen family, and heir of the promised blessing (Barnes)
3) Able to invoke the blessing of Abraham, regarding the threefold promise - Gen 28:4; 12:1-3
-- Such were the issues at stake when Jacob and Esau bartered over the birthright
2. ESAU'S BAD BARGAIN...
A. Esau chose the sensual over the spiritual –so many times we also choose the same
1) He gave into the cravings of his hunger - Gen 25:29-34 “Lust of the flesh”
2) He valued the red pottage more highly than his birthright – “Lust of the eyes”
3) For this reason he was called "a profane person" - He 12:16 - “Pride of life”
B. Esau chose the present over the future
1) He tossed away future rewards for present gratification
2) The pottage may have assuaged his hunger for the day, but what of the morrow?
3) This too made him a "profane" person
-- For temporary, physical pleasures Esau sold his birthright; WHAT A BAD BARGAIN!
Sin and its effects: How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worn, begins in the heart and works out through a person's thoughts, words, and actions.
II. ARE WE SOLD OUT?
1. OUR BIRTHRIGHT AS CHRISTIANS...
A. We are heirs according to the promise made to Abraham - Ga 3:29
B. We are joint-heirs with Christ - Ro 8:16-17
1) We are heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Ti 3:7
2) We are heirs of the kingdom which He has promised - Ja 2:5; 2 Pe 1:11
C. In Him, all things are ours - 1 Co 3:21-23; Re 21:7
D. Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in heaven - 1 Pe 1:4
-- What a wonderful birthright, and not just limited to things in the hereafter! - Mk 10:28-30
2. ARE WE SELLING OUT...?
A. How might we sell out!
1) Succumbing to the passing pleasures of sin - cf. He 11:24-26: Several years ago a man and his family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As he viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, he could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.
He watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and he thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.
The material possessions of this world can entrap us if we become too attached to them. They will take us to our destruction if we cannot give them up. And as Sweeting observed,
"Oh, the danger of delay!"
2) Lusting for things of the world - cf. 1 Jn 2:15; Ja 4:4
3) Walking after the flesh rather than after the Spirit - cf. Gal 5:16-26
B. How might we hold on to our birthright?
1) Pursue peace and holiness - cf. He 12:14
2) Be careful not to fall short of God's grace - cf. He 12:15
3) Exercise discipline and godliness - 1 Co 9:24-27; 1 Ti 4:7-8
CONCLUSION
1. Esau made the mistake of...
a. Depreciating the value of his inheritance
b. Succumbing to the desires of the flesh
2. We can make a similar mistake BY...
a. Not appreciating the value of our inheritance in Christ!
b. Giving in to the allure of immediate gratification of the flesh!
If we are not careful, the time will come when it is too late; no matter how many tears we may shed, it will be too late to change God's mind (He 12:17). That is why we need to heed such warnings as that one given by the apostle Paul:
"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor 6:1-2
Are you in danger of selling your birthright as a Christian?
