Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In Genesis 25 the story of the “Esau syndrome” is explained. Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac. One day he came in from the fields, and found his younger twin brother, Jacob, cooking a big stew. Esau was starving, and he asked for a serving. I don’t know if Jacob was teasing him at first, or if he was truly serious…but he basically said to Esau, “I’ll give you a bowl of stew in exchange for your rights as the firstborn.” And Esau said, “Okay!” In other words, Esau traded his lifelong heritage and the blessings that God and Isaac intended to be his for a belly full of food that satisfied an immediate appetite.
When we picked Timothy and Zola up after Sunday school yesterday, Timothy’s teacher handed him an empty toilet paper roll covered in cotton balls and said, “Don’t forget your ‘Esau arm’!” All the way to the car, Timothy told his Uncle Greg, “Jacob LIED to his father! He LIED! We aren’t supposed to LIE!” The Sunday school lesson had come from Genesis 27… a further development in the “Jacob and Esau saga”. You should read the whole story for yourself, but here’s a quick synopsis. Esau was a very hairy redhead. Scripture doesn’t fully describe Jacob’s appearance, but it is assumed that he looked nothing like Esau.
Isaac was old, blind and dying, and he had told Esau that he would bless him and his future. Scripture indicates that Isaac was partial to Esau. Jacob and his mother Rebekah were jealous of this, and they concocted a scheme to cover Jacob’s arms in animal fur, so that he would feel and smell like Esau. He would then go to Isaac and ask for the blessing, and Isaac would give it – thinking he was giving this sacred sign to Esau. Pick up your Bible and read the rest of the story to get a full account…but let’s just say that Jacob got himself into a huge heap of trouble!
This story made a big impact on Timothy. He was very impressed with his “hairy arm”…and even more affected by the message that lying is NOT a good thing! I am not sure that this lesson for 4-year-olds fully explored trading God’s lifelong gift for a short-term appetite…but the seeds were planted for learning more about this at a future date. But it is most certainly time for us to understand this lesson and get the whole picture!
Here’s the thing…we cannot make ourselves look better in God’s eyes than the next guy. All we do is end up hurting ourselves and others in the process. Sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel…and jealousy and the desire to satisfy human appetites is documented in the Garden of Eden! Because of the devil and his power, we are vulnerable to sin…we lie, cheat, gossip, get caught up in jealousies, bicker, and plot “evil” against others in the form of deceptions – and even retributions. These are often the “weeds” in the “garden” that is our life. But this is not God’s desire for us…and in Jesus, we find the perfect role model for how to treat others, regardless of our circumstances.
Every time I read the account of Jesus’ trial before the Romans and Pontius Pilate and the horrific beating He endured before a single nail was ever pounded into His flesh, I am reminded that the “indignities” and insults we experience are nothing by comparison. And yet, Jesus did not retaliate – although He surely could have! Instead, Jesus forgave…thieves on the cross, Roman soldiers who mocked Him…and ultimately, you and me!
I have to say, that little cardboard toilet paper roll with cotton balls made an impact on me, too. I will think of it when I think about how I treat others…how I react – and respond – to them. I will remind myself of the “Esau syndrome” and the “Esau arm”…and I will ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” I so want to get at least a glimpse of God face-to-face someday… and the Bible tells me this is an important part of how it’s done! Will you remember the “hairy arm” of Esau…and the compassion, grace and mercy of Jesus? Will you choose the latter as your model for daily living? Shouldn’t you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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