“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God. . .lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled. . .lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected—for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
Hebrews 12:15-17
Even though we’re saved by Grace and washed clean in Christ’s Blood, the residuals of sin will still remind us of “what might have been.”
Sin and regret.
That’s the essence of the message in today’s Manna as we look at Esau, his poor choices and how no matter of pleading or weeping could change what was done.
Esau was the firstborn, twin son of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 25:19-25). He was a hunter and his father’s favorite (vv.27-28). Yet, in reading that account of his early years we see how he so casually exchanged his birthright—which was reserved for the oldest son and contained many privileges, possessions and priestly responsibilities—for a single bowl of red beans and bread (vv.29-34).
And, that’s why the anonymous author of our Manna described him as a “profane person,” likening him unto a “fornicator,” which was basically a male prostitute in that day.
We also read that “afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected (Grk. ‘apodokimazo’—‘to disapprove, disallow, repudiate, be found unworthy, etc.’).” Even though Jacob basically stole his blessing from their blind father, Isaac, at his mother’s insistence (Gen. 27:1-29), we know this was in accordance to God’s words to Rebekah as the two boys struggled within her prior to their birth (Gen. 25:22-23).
God knew Esau didn’t have the strength of character to ensure the continuation of His Promise to Abraham so many years before (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:5-6; 17:15-21). If he’d exchange his birthright for a single meal, he’d certainly give in to pressures later on when they’d come.
But, it wasn’t God’s foreknowledge that caused Esau to do what he did.
It was his own weakness of character of sinful choices.
And, no amount of remorseful tears could “find a place of repentance”—i.e., a change in his father’s blessing or an undoing of what was done (Gen. 27:34-38). It was “too little, too late.”
And, dear Pilgrim, that’s why we must always be very careful in the choices we make. Assuredly, the most important decision we’ll ever make is inviting Jesus into our heart as Savior and Lord; however, that’s simply the beginning point in our walk with Him.
From that moment on until He calls us Home or comes to get us in the Rapture, we are to live “holy lives that are wholly surrendered to Him” (Rom. 12:1-2). Half-heartedness or lukewarmness both grieve Him and make Him sick to His stomach (Rev. 3:14-22). That’s why we should pray “Search Me, O God” today, lest we squander His blessings in our lives.
