January 9 – Reading 9

JANUARY 9 – Reading 9

“WHAT’S YOUR BOWL OF BEANS?”
(Genesis 25:12-18; 1 Chronicles 1:28-31; Genesis 25:19-34;
1 Chronicles 1:34; Genesis 26:1 – 28:22)

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red [lentil] stew, for I am exhausted!” Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” 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 his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:29-34

It has been said that where I am today is a result of yesterday’s appetites. At the end of our lives, we will end up in a place that is determined by our urges. If we don’t control them, they will control us.

In Genesis 25, we have one of the most significant moments in redemptive history. Two brothers in conflict since the womb. The oldest, Esau, was due the family birthright. His twin, Jacob, was jealous for it. The birthright was incredibly important. With it came both material and spiritual blessings. A double portion of inheritance, headship of family and tribe, spiritual leadership to judge, and a special covenant relationship with the Lord.

Coming in from a hunting trip, starving and in a moment of fleshly weakness, Esau’s appetite overruled what he knew to be a bad deal, nevertheless, he hastily sold his future for a bowl of beans.

If you think this impulse was insignificant, fast-forward and imagine God introducing himself to Moses as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and ESAU.” Or in Matthew’s genealogy, “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of ESAU … OF WHOM JESUS WAS BORN.”

It is in life’s seemingly insignificant moments that our appetites can growl and there can be eternal implications. This instruction was written to Christians in the early church:

“[See to it] that no one is … unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.” (Heb 12:16)

Esau’s life was entirely earth-bound. The world was everything, God was nothing. In a moment of fleshly weakness, his future generations were derailed.

What’s your bowl of beans?

Pray for…

• The Lord to teach me to treasure and prioritize my spiritual inheritance.
• Discernment to recognize when I’m faced with temporary desires that may cost me eternal blessings.
• The Holy Spirit to search my heart for any unchecked desires and for strength to overcome weakness and fleshly appetites.