Genesis 25-27

“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 ‭25:32-34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the Old Testament, birthright was a privilege of the first born son to one day become the head of the family and obtain a double portion of inheritance. Esau traded this future permanent gain for an immediate and temporary physical satisfaction - bean stew!

Nobody would be so foolish to give up a birthright for a bowl of stew, would they? Esau did.  Esau “despised” his birthright. One of the long-term consequences was that the promised Messiah would come through Jacob’s lineage, instead of Esau’s.

When we accept God’s invitation to become spiritually reborn, we obtain a birthright. Birthrights are not earned but are obtained as a result of being born. When I think of spiritual birthright, I think of the privileges we gain when we become Christians.  Besides the future promise of eternal life and happiness in heaven, right now we are seen as righteous in the Father’s eyes and can come boldly before the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

And unlike a physical birthright, our spiritual birthright is not given to just one - 
but to all that accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Life is about choices. What would you trade for a spiritual birthright?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
 ~ Jim Elliot, Portland missionary, martyr

Rick Bolesta