Hasty and Foolish

"When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?' And Jacob said, 'First swear to me'; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." -Genesis 25.29-34

Esau comes in from the field after one of his outings, and he's hungry. He asks his brother for some of the stew that he's made, but we see a brotherly rivalry unfold. No doubt this has gone on for years, but now Jacob raises the stakes. Sure I'll give you some stew, but first I want your birthright. Esau was the first born of these two twins, and so the large part of the inheritance would go to him when his father died. And it was a significant chunk.

I've had lentil stew like Jacob made. It's bland as all get out, and I can't imagine giving anyone a dime for it, and yet Esau foolishly, and hastily trades his birth right for a bowl and some bread. He gives no thought to what he is giving up, he's only thinking about the momentary satisfaction and indulgence, that ultimately wasn't worth it.

Men, it's so easy to get caught up and make a decision like Esau did. The one drink that you vowed never to take turns into two, then when life gets hard, then it consumes you. The receptionist at work, it starts with a smile, then some casual flirting, and then one day you wake up next to her while your wife is at home getting the kids breakfast. That one moment where we make a hasty decision and don't look at the long term effects, ends up being foolishness that costs us big time. And just as lentil stew is nothing compared to a birth right, the momentary enjoyment is nothing compared to the life you're giving up.

Men, don't be hasty, and don't be foolish. Be rational and wise. Keep your guard up at all times. And don't sacrifice the future for a moment.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

No Favorites

"Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." -Genesis 25.28

The beginning of family struggles, the father loves one of his children more than the other. The two of them share a special bond, and it's easy for them to share and relate. The father naturally draws to the one son, but at the expense of the other. Sometimes it's just neglect, but often it turns into abuse.

Esau was the athlete, and Jacob was the artist. And Isaac prized athleticism. I doubt Jacob was called names by his father, but there is no doubt that he knew his father preferred his brother over him. You have to wonder what his father never knew about him, the talents he never got to share or develop, all because his father related better to his brother.

How many of us were over looked by our fathers because we didn't fit their idea of a man? How many of us were put down by a father who wanted an all star quarterback, instead of a world class pianist? How many of us have struggled with identity and self worth because of it?

A man doesn't favor one child over another. He learns to communicate and relate to them in ways that speak to each one. He learns the heart of each of his children and speaks affirmation into each child's heart. He helps each of his children see their gifts and talents and encourages them to develop their passions. He has no favorites, he loves each of them as they are, not how he would have them be. And part of it, is knowing yourself, and living life to the fullest yourself, not vicariously through them.

Let your children be themselves, and love the for who they are.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Pray for Your Family

"Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived." -Genesis 25.21

Rebekah is the second of at least seven, and possibly eight, women to have a miraculous birth in the Bible. She is barren, unable to conceive children, and if Isaac's, the son of promise, wife cannot bear him children, how can the covenant be fulfilled? If you look back to Genesis 24.59, Rebekah had a nurse who came with her when she left her father's house. There is the potential for another "Abram and Hagar" scenario to unfold. But that isn't the approach that is taken. Instead Isaac prays for his wife, and God answers his prayer.

Men, as the spiritual leaders of our families it is our duty, and privilege, to be able to pray for them in a way no one else can. No one else on earth has the intimacy with your wife that you do. No one else knows your children the way you do. And no one else can pray for them the way that you can. No one can lift them up to God the way that you can.

Will you accept your duty and pray for them? Will you lift up your wife's burdens and heart aches to God? Will you hold your children up to God and cover them in prayer? If you won't then who will? Are you willing to surrender this privilege to some other guy?

Men, let us pray, because God hears our prayers. Let us do what we were made to do and lead our families. Pray for them, and watch God work wonders in their lives.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Satisfied with Life

"Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people." -Genesis 25.8

This verse has stood out to me for a while. Abraham dies at a ripe old age, old and satisfied with life. Oh that this would be the result for every man. How many get to the end and wish they had lived more? Not necessarily longer, but lived more fully alive. How many men get to the end with regrets about all the time they wasted? How many men get to the end regretting the dreams they never pursued? How many get to the end without having enjoyed any of life?

I don't want that to be me, and I'm guessing neither do you. I want to live my life to the fullest, like Abraham. I want to set out into the unknown on a journey of faith, with God. I want to live ready to hear Him speak, and willing to obey whatever He asks. I want to do things right, and lay a solid foundation for those who come after me. And ultimately, I want to defend the defenseless and live to be a blessing to others.

That was how Abraham lived his life. Yes, he made some mistakes along the way, we all will, but he didn't let them discourage and depress him. When he came to the end of his life, he looked back over it with satisfaction, ready for what came next. Oh that we would all face death this way, not wishing we had just a little more time.

Let us live life to the fullest, so when the time comes, we can die satisfied with life.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor