A SINGLE MEAL
an interpretation of Jacob and Esau: img source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jconnectseattle.org%2Fevents%2Fjacob-and-esau-whos-really-the-good-twin-and-whos-the-evil-one%2F&psig=AOvVaw2lUW0Bkmgll5fii-euhSZH&ust=1610159382571000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCJjtr66li-4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Whenever I speak with people going thru turbulent times, I always try to remind them do not make desperate decisions, even if it seems like there is no other option. Desperation leads to an impulsiveness that can be hard to rectify. Impulsive acts are often foolish choices that can have big blowbacks simply because we didn’t take time to think of things in the long run.
img source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chabad.org%2Fparshah%2Farticle_cdo%2Faid%2F2372639%2Fjewish%2FEsau-Sells-His-Birthright-for-a-Mess-of-Pottage.htm&psig=AOvVaw3PO95klGIlCayCPkVg2Rtv&ust=1610159497418000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCNjMld2li-4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
This made me think of the story of Esau and Jacob, the two sons of Abraham. Esau was entitled to Abraham’s blessing being that he was the first born. However, Esau was unaware about how much value his birthright had and his younger brother would soon take advantage of that.
One day after working in the fields, a hungry and fatigued Esau entered the home as Jacob was making a pot of stew. Stew that probably wasn’t that good, but would probably taste crazy delicious to a man who hasn’t ate a thing all day long. Especially back in those biblical days, man the heat probably hit so different and he was probably funky, he just needed a good meal and a bath lol.
Anyways, Jacob seized this moment (he was plotting on Esau’s birthright the whole time) and offered Esau the stew in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau made a foolish rationalization, declaring that a birthright will be worthless to a dead man so he swore off his birthright in exchange of food.
After learning he was tricked by his mother and Jacob ( go read the full story in Genesis and you’ll see how that came about), he tried to get his birthright back but to no avail.
Here’s a couple things that impulsiveness/desperation makes you do:
REASONS THAT DON’T MAKE NO SENSE
In a desperate measure you start trying to convince yourself that the dumb decision you is about to make is a good one, you can usually tell its a foolish rationalization because it will involve extremities. I.E. Esau saying a birthright is no good to a dead man. I mean I guess that’s true but that boy wasn’t about to die, he was just hungry, yeah we all been at that point of what feels like starvation but like I always say, “it ain’t that deep.”
2. SHORT TERM EARN, LONG TERM BURN
Esau’s birthright had so much attach to it. It’s a literal blessing from God, you have a whole lineage covered in God’s divine grace. God’s grace covers a multitude of things in your life from health to wealth and everything in between. His birthright was long term gain, something he wouldn’t immediately feel the affects from but it was a sure thing if you let it play out.
But that food it was right there, in that very moment. You knew the instant effects of that food. You was hungry, bones aching, you been in that hot pre-historic sun, ain’t no nikes back then you probably in sandals made from wood, man you just wanna eat. You can smell that food and you can even taste it. But you can only eat that one time, once Esau eats that food and his stomach is quieted bet he came back to reality like, “this fool done stole my whole birthright, naw imma need that back on god”.
However, it’s no getting that back. Once you make a dumb in the moment decision its gonna take the Grace of God Almighty himself to help you bounce back and that was something Esau didn’t have.
FINAL WORDS
Your mind can play some tricky sometimes sick games in your head cues Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks on Me , but you have to remember that if I make this decision in haste its 90% chance this isn’t going to go as well as I think it is. Remember to never trade your “birthright” for “a single meal”, its just never worth it.
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