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January 19 Daily Devotional

SELL ME THIS DAY THY BIRTHRIGHT

Henry T. Vriesen

Genesis 25–26

When Abraham died, Isaac became the owner of nearly all of his wealth, of his tents, flocks of sheep, herds of cattle and camels, and servants. Isaac was a peaceful, quiet man. He did not move his tents as often as his father had done. For a while he lived at the well Lahairoi near Shur, yet farther south than Beersheba.

Isaac and Rebekah, after they had been married for a number of years, had two sons. They were called Esau and Jacob. Esau’s skin was red and hairy. He was fond of hunting with his bow and arrow, while Jacob’s skin was soft and smooth. But Jacob was quiet and thoughtful, staying at home and caring for the flocks of his father. He was the favorite of his mother, while Isaac favored Esau and was fond of the tasty venison that he prepared for him.

One day Esau was hunting in the fields. Jacob was at home helping with the housework. He had prepared a delicious meal. Esau came home from a hunting-trip, tired and hungry. He asked Jacob to let him have some of the good food that he had prepared. Now Jacob might have been generous enough to give his hungry brother a bowl of the soup, but Esau had something that Jacob wanted just as much as Esau wanted the food. Esau was the first­born. The birthright belonged to the oldest son in the family. He had privileges that his brothers did not have, and was entitled to a larger portion of the property of the father at his death than the rest of the family. There was another reason, namely the blessing that had been promised by God to his father and grandfather. It seems Jacob had pondered about this matter. He knew his brother was careless about the promises of God. Now he saw his chance to get the birthright. So he said to Esau, “Sell me this day thy birthright.” You would think Esau would have said, What, sell to thee my birthright for a bowl of soup? No, I will keep it. What did he say? He said, “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” Esau gave Jacob a solemn promise. It was not right of Jacob to deal so selfishly with his brother, but it was very wrong of Esau to care so little for his birthright and the promises of God.

The years passed on. When a famine came, Isaac moved to Gerar. There the Lord spoke to him and said, “I will be with thee, and bless thee, for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries … and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” He sowed in that land and received the same year a hundredfold. His wealth increased and the Philistines envied him. So to avoid trouble he came and lived. at Beersheba, where he had been brought up and his parents had lived a number of years. There he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord.

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