City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!’ (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me now.’ So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Genesis 25:29-34 (ESV)

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’’ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)

Megan’s Musings

Esau had just came back from hunting, and he was good at it (Genesis 25:27). He likely had a few game to be cooked, he was exhausted, and despite his protest, he was not in any danger of dying, bleeding, or coming home crawling on his stomach. He could have prepared his own game, made his own fire, and cooked his own dinner. But he was craving red lentil stew instead. Or he just did not want to cook his own catch. Or he was done with intermittent fasting. Whatever it was, he was willing to do anything to get some of that red stew.

He may have been hangry, his hunger made him irritable, hence his demand for red stew, instead asking nicely, if he had asked Jacob, “May I please have some red stew? You make it so delicious.” Jacob might have thought twice before making his demand.   

Esau and Jacob were not pre-teens or teenagers at this point, if it was, their immaturity and selfishness would be somewhat excused. These two are grown men. At this point, both Esau and Jacob would have been told, many times, of their grandfather, Abraham, and of the promise to make his descendants into many nations.

Jacob gives Esau a VERY high price, and a very lousy deal. Lentils for a legacy. The fact Jacob insisted it be done quickly indicates he calculated this some time ago. He knew Esau gave in to impulse and did not think long-term and intended to take advantage of that. What was Esau thinking?! Did he think he could get out of it? He “despised” his birthright. Esau cared more about getting a quick meal than being a patriarch of the legacy. He wasn’t starving and definitely not to the brink of death, he just didn’t care.

When Jesus fasted for 40 days, He was beyond hangry and truly at the starving point (on average death by starvation occurs in 43-70 days). He would have had extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, even depression, anemia, and delirium. Jesus was tempted to use his abilities for selfish gain, test God, and even give up his holy legacy for earthly power while starving, but He did not give in. His relationship with His Father and His desire to accomplish His Mission were stronger than His starvation-induced state. Through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, giving our lives to Him, and becoming baptized through the Holy Spirit and water, we have a new birthright: a place in the kingdom of Heaven.  

Application

When my former church in Lake Jackson, Brazospointe Fellowship, had a message on this passage, Pastor Greg gave us cards that said, “Don’t sell out your destiny for a bowl of stew.” I’ll say the same: don’t sell out your destiny for a bowl of stew. Don’t sell out your destiny for comfort. Don’t sell out what is great later for what is okay now. 

And to prepare for when you are tempted (I’m sorry, it will happen):

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Memorize Bible verses, they will be your ammunition when you’re exhausted. 

Prayer

            Dear Lord, teach me to hang on to my destiny like the precious treasure it is. When temptation comes my way, show me the way out. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.