The Small Things... Like Red Stew

Read Genesis 25; Hebrews 12:12-17; Psalm 68:19-20; 85:9; & 96:2

I really wanted to end our Genesis study with a bang! Something really spectacular... And God has ordained it so that we are ending with the most menial, almost ridiculous story about two brothers, one a mama's boy and the other a hunter, delegating over red stew...
As we look at the details about each of the boys, Jacob and Esau, we are soon reminded that neither of them merited praise. If we try to figure out why one was worthy of grace and one was not, we see that Jacob's actions were shady and Esau's actions were carnal and hasty. Furthermore, the house is divided as mommy and daddy are playing favorites. None of them seems trustworthy. This is a reminder to us. So many times we look at these stories and say, "Be like this guy" or "don't be like that guy". Consider how many times you have heard someone say, "Noah was the only good one. Be like Noah." But in truth, Noah was wicked like the rest of them. God redeemed him from his wickedness. The point is that God is worthy of our trust, and no one else in all of history is worthy of this kind of dependence. This is important to us because of the number of people who "quit" church or "badmouth" church because of all of the sinners. There are so many who "fall away from faith" because of something that someone else did. And one main consistency throughout all of Scripture is that man is fallen! And he will (I will) fail you! And this is no reason to turn from God! Rather, it is all the more reason to cling to Christ and not put your hope in man.
The better question for us to ask is, "WHO IS WORTHY OF GRACE?" This question is humbling. It levels the playing field. It has been said that the ground at the foot of the cross is very level. Really, who is worthy of grace?

So as we see these two brothers debating over some red stew, it seems insignificant. Like the part of the story that is included, but not really significant to their lives. But what is revealed? Consider the birthright... For the first-born who inherits the birthright:
1.) He assumes the functions of the priesthood in the family. This includes rituals, offerings, distinguishing between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. Teach God's statutes. Act as judge. Make sure the family is rightly obeying the Lord.
2.) Double-portion of property
3.) Succeeds to the official authority of the father
4.) Authority over younger members of the household

So this is what Esau is despising. But what does this reveal about Esau's values? Consider the impact that one could have for the glory of God in a family if you were in charge of the way money and time were utilized. Consider how you could lead the family to God and clearly communicate His ways. Esau is showing that he does not value these things. And he does not value this generation or future generations. One commentator states, "True wisdom would undergo a thousand deaths than renounce a birthright."
What is happening here is that Esau's decision should have been affected by his birthright! His actions should have been informed and shaped by that blessing that comes through the Father. And so this is the way of those who are not guided by God's grace.
Interestingly, while Jacob's actions are certainly up for debate, one writer says, "Old Jacob was only finishing what he had started... pursuing the birthright." The birthright is important! However, Esau's actions on a seemingly insignificant afternoon, driven by a desire for "red stew", make it very clear that his actions were not being governed by his birthright.
We started off with the question, "Who is worthy of grace?" Now let us consider that no one excels another in virtue and obedience, but by the grace of God alone. When deprived of the Spirit, we revel only in the things physical and earthly.
"Let us learn, that they to whom God does not vouchsafe the grace of His Spirit, are carnal and brutal; and are so addicated to this fading life, that they think not of the spiritual kingdom... but them who God has undertaken to govern, are not so far entangled in the snares of the flesh as to prevent them from being intent upon their high vocation." -Calvin
Esau is guilty of despising something of great significance to obtain something of little significance. But the aim here for us is NOT just "don't be like Esau"... Rather it is, "Be governed by grace. Assess your actions and responses and make sure that you are not despising the great for the lacking."
In Hebrews 12, Esau is compared to those who are sexually immoral and unholy. At first this may seem puzzling. How could trading your birthright for some red stew be considered the same as sexual immorality? But a closer look reveals striking similarities. To be holy is to be set apart. Esau and the sexually immoral and the unholy are guilty of the same thing... giving way to the solicitations of the appetite, regardless of consequences... or to say it another way, they have treated something sacred with irreverence. This is the very definition of "profane". Esau had convinced himself that he was so hungry that he could die. And because he did not have a view for the glory of God in future generations, he said, "What good is this to me if I die?" And for a bowl of red stew, he revealed that he despised his birthright. And when he was done, he just got up and walked away... no repentance... And interestingly, like the sexually immoral, later on when he wants his blessing, he owns up to nothing, while blaming everybody else. He, like many others who are guilty of surrendering to the solicitations of the appetite, sets himself up as the victim.

*** Those born again have every spiritual blessing in Christ, who is the firstborn of all creation! And "red stew" comes in many different forms, in many seemingly insignificant scenarios.
It is in these seemingly insignificant situations, that we are able to show how much we value God's call on our lives. It is in the mundane details of a Tuesday afternoon, when you are tired and hungry, that you may best have the opportunity to show your family that you value your eternal inheritance, and you aim to be governed by the grace of God. Consider the following opportunities:
- The way you talk to your children.
- The way you spend your family time. (For those who have a full time job, you may get home around 6PM. If your kids go to bed at 9PM and you come home and watch an hour and a half of TV, you have wasted half of the quality time that you had for them for that day.)
- Your response when in despair.
- The way you spend your money.
- What you are willing to give up.
- Who you have over for dinner.
- What menial tasks you are willing to do.
Your created purpose is to put God's glory on display in EVERY singly, tiny, menial, insignificant aspect of your life. And when you do, God gets the glory, because you know that you are being governed by grace. "From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". (Luke 6:45)

I fear that sometimes we have a similar misconception that Esau has. He felt that his birthright was only important in this life. Sometimes we are guilty of viewing our salvation as only important in our death. As if salvation were something designed by God to affect us in the future, not now. If governed by grace, we will see that our salvation has everything to do with today and tomorrow. Consider this very small sampling...
Psalm 68:19-20 "Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death." (His salvation is the direct reason that we are daily lifted from our depravity.)
Psalm 85:9 "Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land." (We fear Him today, because of salvation. It is our birthright that makes it possible for His glory to dwell in our land today, because we are being governed by grace, and thereby, putting the glory of God on display for all to see.)
Psalm 96:2 "Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day." (From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. A heart governed by grace results in a mouth that speaks of salvation every day.)

So you may say, "This is my aim, but what if I mess up? What if I give way to my appetite?" And this is our big, monumental conclusion! Repent and follow Jesus. We did not see this in Esau. He ate. He got up. He walked away. At that point there was a chance to repent. If your heart is governed by grace, you have that chance. Repent, follow Jesus, and always aim to be governed by the grace of God so that you glorify God in every aspect of your lives! Let every single decision be affected by your birthright.