Genesis 25:34 NKJV 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
In his
quest for meat he foregoes the work to make a meal from what he has brought
in. He chooses to live for the moment. His “bowl of lentils” came back to his
behavior, for it revealed his belief. Participating in a behavior contrary to
God’s standards, that behavior has become our “bowl of lentils”!
He was a
man who sought out pleasing his flesh. He went against his parents will for him
to marry within his people. In Genesis 26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he
took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the
daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and
Rebekah.
So, what is
our particular "bowl of lentils"? For what would we give up
everything God has offered us? For what are we giving up for a righteous
birthright? What sinful pattern of living could be keeping us from inheriting
all things?
What would
we put ahead of the very promises of God to inherit, but choose a bowl of beans!
It is that
immediate gratification. No waiting, please, feed me now! He wanted the
pleasures and satisfactions of the flesh. He revealed that in his hunting.
Scripture tells us that he smelled like wild game. His father Isaac was relying
on this truth, his son would smell like which would come out of the field, meat
that was brought in by bow and arrow. (Genesis 27:3) Do you smell like where you spent some flesh time? Was thinking of those refusing Jesus and headed toward the wrath of God. They smell like smoke!
People with behavior set for sin, will always act out of that river of swift currents and much debris! Anything of sin, any behavior, any thought pattern, any g-o-d we place before the Holy One—anything that would keep us from receiving our birthright—is our bowl of lentils. 1 Thessalonians 5:22-26 Amp Bible 22 Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever from or whatever kind it may be. 23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ( the Messiah). 24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy and he will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
In this passage, verse 23 tells us the God of peace Himself
sanctify us through and through, to separate us from profane things, making us
wholly consecrated to God. And in this sanctification, we are built up in our
spirit man so the flesh is not leading. All the ingrained patterns of life, we must
overcome. And our flesh creature cannot not be leading us!
God, Jehovah M’Kaddesh, is the Lord our Sanctifier. He set
us apart for Himself. Hallowed be His name.
We could be working so hard laboring for the meat that perishes that we ignore and neglect the spiritual food and promises God has offered us. For Esau, being the eldest, he was to be the spiritual leader coming up in his walk with the Lord. But instead being led by flesh, he was motivated to walk through fields hunting all day long and was evidenced in his flesh nature. His leadership meant he would lead the entire family, but he resented the wisdom given him. He also married two women!
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, after it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. God disciplines!
Is it
possible we are building relationships with others like a boss or caring so
much for others but do not take time to talk with God for our heart issues? Are we rushing to other cities or other countries to feed and not relate to God, to converse with Him what is existing in our relationship with Him? Do we point out others mistakes but never attempt to hear God speak of our mistakes? To know Him in truth, is to relate to Him in His
goodness and His love for us and to us.
What are
some typical bowls of lentils? Galatians 5:19-21, Paul's list of the
"works of the flesh" is a good place to start.
Now the
works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness,
revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told
you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
In the
conclusion of this passage, Paul writes: "those who practice such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God" seen in verse 21.
Drunkenness and revelries deals with what is given: the person drunk. That given in murders, envy, heresies, dissensions, selfish ambitions, outbursts of wrath, jealousies, contention and hatred deal with temper! Do you have an anger issue? And that idolatry and sorcery deal with sins in connection to pagan religion.
Are we
letting covetousness become a bowl of lentils? Have we chosen the god of
"success" in place of the true God ?
Mark 4:18-19 NKJV Now these are
the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the words, 19 and the
cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other
things entering in chokes the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
What fills
our day that takes priority "1" over seeking the Lord and walking with Him?
Are there
sins of the flesh, of sex, of hate, of worry, of envy that keep us from seeking
our birthright diligently? Esau’s bowl of lentils proved a bad thing for him.
He lost his place in the inheritance. He would not lead in the respect that God planned the men of that nation to lead.
We can
learn from Esau. He settled for literal beans losing out on a great future with
God. There will be many times when we will have that same decision: despise the
birthright—or sacrifice, wait, endure, overcome, and put up with hardship. We
have to make sure we choose properly: life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
Temporal is
temporary, a moment of gratification will never measure up the the eternal
rewards of God’s birthright promises.
No matter
how temporarily enjoyable and satisfying any sin is in that moment, it cannot begin
to measure up to the eternal rewards of God's birthright promises. Inheriting
our birthright will not be easy. God wants to know beyond any doubt that we
value it. That means we will be tested on this point repeatedly. It will take
endurance, sacrifice, and keeping our focus on what is eternal and truly
valuable.
Romans 12:1-2 reminds us of this: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We are to know His life giving word and then obey it. That is, living in honor toward God. Our mind is changed by prayer, by reading and meditating God's word, and worship all orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.
Do not settle for beans when God is everything, in all power overall things at all times and in all ways! Amen.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
A Salvation to Influence Others
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