As Esau Or As Jacob?

Will I choose the wasteland of Edom / Esau or the blessing of Israel / Jacob?

Edom chose stew. (I'm convinced it tasted real good!) He was feeling faint, and that stew helped satisfy his strength for the day. He and his seed received their inheritance, a wasteland for their own, where the jackals roam. While Edom was enjoying his blessing (his freedom, his land and his stew), Israel got a trip to Egypt with persecution for a few hundred years (I suppose it seemed like forever). Edom’s wasteland must have seemed mighty delightful at that time (as opposed to Pharaoh’s Egypt).

But, his brother Israel is the one who prevailed with God and man. This is the one who inherited the covenant, and who God honored with a name change. Imagine the years of tears Joseph, Israel’s / Jacob’s son must have shed in Egypt. Of course, when Israel left their prison in Egypt, they took riches with them. Land, houses, vineyards, etc. were waiting for them by faith to receive them as their own.

In our generation and covenant relationship with God, we have the same choice. We can choose stew, getting what we can to survive or we can choose the refinery of affliction (chastisement as sons), after which the riches of the world have already been commanded to come to us. The riches are waiting for our refinement.

Malachi 1:2b-3 (NASB) "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness."

Esau did not have zeal for things of value. That is why he traded his birthright away for something as worthless as stew. God’s feelings towards such complacency are evident through His relationship with Esau. To the contrary, his brother struggled with God. Israel insisted that he would not let go until he was blessed. He suffered violently, was injured, and prevailed.

The violent take it by force and receive the blessing(s). The kingdom of God is like treasure and pearls. One will sell / sell out all to obtain such a prize. (See "The Savvy Manager / The Unjust Steward")