Published by GOD OF ESUA AND JACOB
So many times when people read the book of Genesis, especially the account of Esua and Jacob the sons of Isaac there is always a general conclusion made in favour of Esua. Some individual after looking at the scenario; “And Esua said to Jacob, feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint… And Jacob said; sell me this day thy birthright. And Esua said, behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Gen. 25: 30-32), conclude that Jacob was wicked and that he was unrighteous by not demonstrating love towards his blood brother Esua. Some said he was a thief and an opportunist who does not care about other peoples welfare. I might not totally supporting the attitude and manner of Jacob on how he treated his brother, but notwithstanding Esua, was most ignorant, blind, and unwise on how he presented himself to his younger brother, I mean, he was ignorant of what birthright was all about, he was blind to the context and content, authority and power of what birthright is, he was unwise in that he should have as the elder used some other method into making Jacob give him the food, or par herbs pass through someone else in the family.
I come to realize that Esua lacked both insight and foresight; he was not able to see afar of what the future holds for him, he was concerned about the facts of his life instead of dwelling and exploring the unfathomable truth about his life. The man Jacob I believe was mindful of what tomorrow holds for his life, he was not conscious of what he can gain today alone, he did not allow what he can gain in a moment to deprive and deny him of what the future will yield further, that was why he applied every means in his power to get to that future, to him nobody is allowed to hinder him or stop him from reaching that expected and golding end which he alone saw regarding his life. The truth is that what one sees about his future will always make him to become dogged, consistent and constant in pursuing it. I have come to discover that what people value informs their principles and priority. Esua some how never valued his birthright, I don’t think anybody can disprove it because if he had valued his birthright nothing would have made him to sell his future for a small pottage, while he was concerned and conscious of what he will eat for that day alone, not remembering the future some other people thought of the future. No wonder his principle and priority was how to catch and eat meat after successful hunting. Jacob valued his future, using the principle of importunate ASKING just like Christ gave us the opportunity of ASKING from Him, priotizing the truth about his future inheritance. I believe God Himself saw these in Jacob which made Him decide to properly rectify his life to become great and greater in future. It’s indeed sad, sympathetic, and unfortunate account when we see it from Esau’s angle failure, but we shouldn’t be one sided in our judgement. These case is likened to what Christ said, for us to learn about the steward in Matthew 16, who need to give account of his stewardship to his master the rich man.
From Israel Ozonga, 30th October, 2009. Lagos, Nigeria.
