Escaping With Jacob: 7 Days Of IdentitySýnishorn

The next scene we see Jacob as a young man, but it does nothing to revive our hopes in his character. The first recorded action of Jacob is of him grasping his brother’s heel. The second one is of Jacob taking advantage of his brother.

The twins Jacob and Esau grew into two very different sorts of men. Esau fell in love with the wild, while his younger brother preferred the comforts of home. Along with their differences, the parents developed their own favorites: Isaac preferred Esau while Rebekah preferred Jacob. The family drama that began with their birth was escalated by their parents’ actions.

Now as young men, the conflict deepens. Esau is in need of help. He comes back home from being out in the wild, hungry and exhausted. It’s likely he had done this many times before, forgetting to plan ahead and returning home nearly beyond his strength.

Other Christians who have studied the Bible agree that this scene was likely planned by Jacob. He knew his brother would be hungry and that he could take advantage of him with just the right temptation, so he prepares. And the plan works perfectly. Esau, exhausted and frustrated, swears over his birthright to Jacob for a simple meal. 

Jacob acted exactly like the temptations we face on a daily basis. Jacob, like our temptations, did not try to coerce his target when he was strong and prepared. He waited. He waited until his strength had already been spent, until he had no more resolve to hunt or argue or prepare. 

The lesson here is in Esau’s failure. How could Esau give up so much for so little? That is exactly what sin does to us.

Sin promises us so much more than it can truly offer. But its offer sounds incredible at the time because it waits until we are in need and weak. Jacob got what he wanted from his brother without remorse and began the snowball of events which eventually led to his fleeing for his life. 

Sin is always about the short game. Esau satisfied his hunger for that day. Jacob secured a birthright he couldn’t even use. Both paid a heavy cost for such a temporary reward.

It’s when we are at our weakest that sin is at its strongest. But even at its strongest, it is no match for the covering of Christ. He is our strength when we are weak precisely because he knows that is when we need it most.

Takeaway: Temptation waits until we are at our weakest to strike.

Prayer: Father, help me to rely on You when I am weak. Keep me from just seeing the short game of this life, but instead to see the long game You have planned for Your people.