The Importance of Exercising PatienceSample

Esau's Rash Mistake

In Genesis 25, we read about Jacob and Esau, two brothers who both struggled with waiting for what they wanted. Esau was the oldest son, which meant he had a right to receive a bigger inheritance than his younger brother Jacob. However, Esau forfeited his birthright for a hot meal.

You read that correctly. Esau gave up his God given right as his father’s first born child for a bowl of soup. While it may sound crazy, a lot of us have turned our noses up at God’s promises, for a cheap counterfeit that could not even pale in comparison to His blessings for our lives.

Evidently, Esau’s rash decision was fueled by impatience. Because he impulsively acted based on his feelings, he made a choice that not only affected his fate, but the future of his descendants who would walk the earth long after he was gone.

It is highly unlikely Esau would have died from hunger the exact moment his hunger pangs hit him, but because of exhaustion, he cheated himself out of a great thing for a good thing.

Think about it, there was nothing wrong with Esau craving a hearty meal after working hard in the field all day. He fell into error when he made a foolish trade thinking about how he felt at the moment and not considering the future.