Biblical story documents sacred right

The Biblical story of Jacob and Esau documents a most sacred right foolishly surrendered by Esau to his brother in order to quell his temporary hunger.

Being the first born had very significant benefits and responsibilities during Old Testament time and throughout history. When Isaac died, Esau’s birthright would have made him the head of the household, and he would get twice as much of Isaac’s wealth as Jacob would.

Esau was a strong and skillful hunter who loved the outdoors, while Jacob was a more quiet man, who preferred different activities.

One day Esau went out for another one of his hunting trips. He must have been gone for a few days, and the hunting must not have been very good, because when he came back, he was starving for something good to eat.

It just happened that when Esau came home, Jacob had just made a great big pot of hot, steaming stew. The mouth-watering smell must have filled the air.

“Give me some of that red stuff, I am starving,” Esau demanded.

Jacob was a schemer, and so he said, “Sure. I’ll give you some stew if you will give me your birthright.”

But here is where Esau made his mistake. He was hungry now. He didn’t care about tomorrow. All the birthright stuff wouldn’t happen for a long time, but Jacob was wiser.

He knew one day tomorrow would come. If he had the birthright, one day he would become the head of the household.

“Give me your birthright, and I will give you some stew,” Jacob said again, as he slurped on a steaming spoonful himself.

“All right,” Esau said. “You can have my birthright. What good will it be to me if I starve to death?”

Not that he would have starved to death, he was just hungry.

“Do you promise,” asked Jacob.

“I promise,” snapped Esau.

“All right then,” Jacob said. He gave Esau what he wanted. And so Esau gave away his birthright for a bowl of soup and a few pieces of bread. That wasn’t too smart.

The moral of the story is a good one. While everyone can plainly see what a fool Esau was he is know different than most Americans who have recklessly and foolishly surrendered their own children’s birthright to Mother Government for some pottage and bread. If we had not allowed ourselves to be enticed by quick fixes, unprofitable gratification and reckless solutions we would not have starved either.

Instead, we will have soup and bread on the table tonight and our children will surly eat, but what will become of their inheritance and their American birthright that we so quickly sold to bailout so many others who were lazy and foolish with their finances and not willing to toil and labor as we have done.

Enjoy your bowl of soup and bread while it lasts and think about what you have stripped away from your kin and their future. You have given up their birthright to Mother Government praying she would save you, while only God can.