The book of Hebrews was written to new believers facing hardship and opposition. As a warning, the writer introduces Esau, who, in a moment of recklessness, forfeited God's blessing.
The writer urges us to be diligent not to fail in the grace of God. Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense, and failing in it means not grasping that we come to Him empty-handed. If we fail to appreciate how unworthy we are, if we rest short of a full work of God's gracious power in the heart, and if we are content to just be conformed on the outside to a new moral way of life, we have failed in the grace of God.
Esau exemplifies this. He was a worldly, irreverent man who dismissed God's promises and privileges. Genesis 25 describes Esau as a pleasure-seeking hunter, indifferent to his birthright as Isaac's firstborn—a blessing with profound significance. For Isaac, this birthright carried not only great privilege but also the promise of a Saviour through the family line, which would pass to either Esau or Jacob.
In a moment of madness, Esau impulsively trades his birthright for a meal, showing a crass and profane rejection of all that was associated with God and His promises. Later, when Esau realises what he has forfeited, he seeks his father's blessing in vain. Isaac does not relent and Esau's tears reflect regret over lost privilege, but fall short of genuine repentance.
Esau's story is a serious warning to anyone tempted to forsake the things of God. Are we passing up God's blessing and the opportunity for salvation? We need a reverence for God, a firm belief in His Word, and a sincere love for the Lord Jesus Christ. |
