April 8, 2009
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Red Stew or Eternity?
Genesis 25:29-34 tells a story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau is the firstborn, so he has the blessed identity of being the favored son... he has a great inheritance, he is looked to as the chosen, he is adored by his father. He has an identity that cannot be taken from him and can only be given away. But in this story, Esau is hungry. So hungry that he demands Jacob share some of the red stew he is cooking with him. Jacob makes a simple offer... give me your birthright, the symbol of your blessed identity and the rights of your inheritance, and I will give you the stew. Esau agrees. So he trades something invaluable (the birthright) for a quick, lousy meal (red stew???). What a dummy. Right?
As a Christian, I have the blessed identity of being a favored son. I have a great inheritance awaiting me. I am chosen by God and adored by my Father. I have an identity that cannot be taken from me and can only be given away. But in this life, at times, I'm hungry. And simple areas of compromise and sin offer to satisfy the hunger. All I have to do is despise my identity. All I have to do is throw away some of my treasures in heaven and my blessed identity in God for the quick pleasures that don't last and usually bring more regret in the long run. Should this even be something I consider doing? Red stew or eternity?
Praise the Lord for grace! In Esau's case, he could never get the birthright back. For us, although we sin and make much dumber decisions than Esau so many times, there is God's grace that allows us to return to the identity and promises He has for us. But, for every time we sin we are making it harder on ourselves to grasp the identity and receive the promises. Sin clouds our judgment and brings regret. The more we cling to our identity in God and turn away from sin, the more the revelation we are able to receive of who we are in God. And the Lord is able to satisfy us in much greater ways than the red stews of this world. So next time this world offers you some red stew, choose eternity instead!
Psalm 145:15-16 - The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
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