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†. Gen 25:32-33 . . And Esau said: I am at the point of death, so of
what use is my birthright to me? But Jacob said: Swear to me first.
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
It just amazes me how much faith the people of long ago put in oaths.
Nowadays nobody trusts an oath. You've got to sign your name on the
dotted line, preferably with a witness and/or a notary, because it would be
totally foolish to take anybody's word on anything; even if they swore to it.
Even if Isaac now gave the birthright to Esau, which he fully intended to do,
at least Jacob had the assurance that his brother wouldn't retain the spiritual
aspect. Isaac would never interfere with a contract between the two brothers
sealed by an oath. He would have to honor it. The spiritual birthright would
now go to Jacob, which, according to Gen 25:23, is exactly what the
supreme paterfamilias of Abraham's clan mandated in the first place.
†. Gen 25:34 . . Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate
and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the
birthright.
Had Esau merely declined the birthright, that would've probably been okay
with God; and no hard feelings about it. But to think no more of it than the
value of a bowl of soup was an insult that must have cut God deeply.
Ironically, the birthright wasn't Esau's to sell in the first place since God pre
destined it to Jacob before the boys were born. I can't help but wonder what
happened to the information that God passed on to Rebecca back when. Did
she keep it under her hat all those years? If so; why?
Jacob and Rebecca no doubt both appreciated their association with Isaac,
and were grateful Yhvh was their god. But did Esau did appreciate it? No, he
didn't; nor did he see any advantage to it. He was truly a secular man: an
earthly dude through and through. He wasn't a heavenly man in any sense
of the word; no, far from it. And he was crude and insensitive. If the man
had any sensibilities at all, he would have understood just how insulting it
was to mock an opportunity to honor and serve God in the office of a
patriarch.
Does God have feelings? Yes, I think He does. And I believe God felt very
hurt by Esau's lack of regard. I mean; who really wants to be second best to
a bowl of porridge?
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†. Gen 25:32-33 . . And Esau said: I am at the point of death, so of
what use is my birthright to me? But Jacob said: Swear to me first.
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
It just amazes me how much faith the people of long ago put in oaths.
Nowadays nobody trusts an oath. You've got to sign your name on the
dotted line, preferably with a witness and/or a notary, because it would be
totally foolish to take anybody's word on anything; even if they swore to it.
Even if Isaac now gave the birthright to Esau, which he fully intended to do,
at least Jacob had the assurance that his brother wouldn't retain the spiritual
aspect. Isaac would never interfere with a contract between the two brothers
sealed by an oath. He would have to honor it. The spiritual birthright would
now go to Jacob, which, according to Gen 25:23, is exactly what the
supreme paterfamilias of Abraham's clan mandated in the first place.
†. Gen 25:34 . . Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate
and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the
birthright.
Had Esau merely declined the birthright, that would've probably been okay
with God; and no hard feelings about it. But to think no more of it than the
value of a bowl of soup was an insult that must have cut God deeply.
Ironically, the birthright wasn't Esau's to sell in the first place since God pre
destined it to Jacob before the boys were born. I can't help but wonder what
happened to the information that God passed on to Rebecca back when. Did
she keep it under her hat all those years? If so; why?
Jacob and Rebecca no doubt both appreciated their association with Isaac,
and were grateful Yhvh was their god. But did Esau did appreciate it? No, he
didn't; nor did he see any advantage to it. He was truly a secular man: an
earthly dude through and through. He wasn't a heavenly man in any sense
of the word; no, far from it. And he was crude and insensitive. If the man
had any sensibilities at all, he would have understood just how insulting it
was to mock an opportunity to honor and serve God in the office of a
patriarch.
Does God have feelings? Yes, I think He does. And I believe God felt very
hurt by Esau's lack of regard. I mean; who really wants to be second best to
a bowl of porridge?
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