“Looking diligently lest any man fall of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears”. Hebrews 12:15-17 (KJV).
In God’s dealings with the Jewish people, He established the ordinance of inheritance apportionment, that a double portion of the father’s inheritance (both spiritual and material blessings) must go to the first male child in every family (Deuteronomy 21:16-17).
Deuteronomy 21:16-17 (KJV)
“Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”
However, we see in the case of the two sons of Isaac, Esau and Jacob, how Esau despised his birth right to satisfy his appetite and immediate fleshly craving (Genesis 25:29-34; Ecclesiastes 8:15).
Genesis 25:29-34 (KJV)
“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birth right.”
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (KJV)
“Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.”
Notice, that the scripture in Hebrews 12:16, categorises Esau in the same group as fornicators and immoral people because of his unbridled appetite for food (profanity).
Who is a profane person? A profane person is one who treats holy and precious things of God with levity or as things without value (Matthew 7:6).
Matthew 7:6 (KJV)
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Despite being a supplanter (deceiver) Jacob knew the value of the birth right given by God to the firstborn. However, God knew how to deal with Jacob in His divine justice so that he ultimately aligned with His (God’s) will and purpose. Conversely, Esau despised His birth right because of hunger and a bowl of pottage. He was more interested in the things of time than eternity, the things of the flesh more than the things of the spirit.
Note: One of the ways to get God angry is to reject His best or treat it as a thing of nought.
One of the main functions of an accurate priest (shepherd or pastor) is that he teaches God’s people so that they are able to discern the difference between the holy and profane as well as the clean and unclean (Ezekiel 22:26).
Ezekiel 22:26 (KJV)
“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
It is crucial for you to ask the Holy Spirit to help you to discern between the holy and profane, and the clean and unclean, so that you’ll not miss out on God’s best for your life both in time and eternity. Gratifying your fleshly desires for temporary and fleeting pleasures will certainly cost you as it did Esau and Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:1).
1 Chronicles 5:1 (KJV)
“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birth right was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth right.”
God bless you!!!!