Hunger Pains

  The Hebrews writer doesn’t hold back in his assessment of Esau; “That there be no immoral or godless person like Esau” (Hebrew 12:16). Immoral, a word that indicates a total lack of principle. Godless, a term used to describe mankind at his worst. So, what did Esau do to earn this scorn?  

It says ”sold his own birthright for a single meal.”

  We all get grumpy when we are hungry. A starving man will do just about anything to get his fill. So why is Esau so vilified for his action?

  Well, if we examine the story in Genesis 25:29-34 we see it wasn’t a life-or-death decision, even though Esau thought it was that way. His stomach was driving his decisions. He sold out his entire future for a moment of carnal satisfaction. That’s why it tells us he despised his birthright. He couldn’t have appreciated it much if he gives up something so valuable for something so mundane.

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Philippians 3:18-19 

   Many don’t think if an urge is natural it should ever be denied. Yet, that isn’t what we see here. If our base desire rule us they will ruin us. Many are living an immoral and godliness lifestyle not because they see themselves as doing the work of the devil but rather they are doing what feels right to them. Their mindset is the moment. Their desires are supreme, not their morals. The focus is pleasure not to be pleasing to Him.

   Esau may not seem evil but impulsive. But his impulsion is what led him to do evil. By the time he realized what he had lost it was too late. Aristotle said that the reason so many people were unhappy was that they confused pleasure for true happiness. The quick satisfaction instead of the delayed gratification.

  A momentary pleasure may cause us to end up in eternal misery