for

Genesis 25:29–30 (NIV84)29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Genesis 25:31–32 (NIV84)

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

Genesis 25:33–34 (NIV84)

33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

for

Control your thirsts, because you may loose things of great value in order to satisfy basic

appetites.

We must master our appetites

 This story contrasts impulse verses reflection, appetite

verses wisdom.

The spiritual person lets wisdom and reflection guide his steps, while the profane person is driven by appetite

and desire.

Genesis 25:27–28 (ESV)

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau, the cunning hunter, and Jacob, the reflective nomad.

Who can master their appetites?

Genesis 25:29–30 (NIV84)29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Genesis 25:31–32 (ESV)

31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

It is true, he will really die? No, he is just hungry.

  “Are we ever like this?”

We must master our appetite for food.

We must master our appetite for sex.

Hebrews 12:16 (NIV84)

16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

We must master our appetite for material things

We must master our appetite for social connection

It is essential to control your thirsts, because you may

loose things of great value in order to satisfy basic

appetites.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Do you find yourself saying or thinking, “What was I thinking to get myself in this mess?”

Our culture and the world cheer on Esau thinking.

Esau thinking

“Look, I am about to die,”

Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

Who do we counter “Esau thinking?”

We embrace what is true!

“Right now” is often the #1 enemy of

“What is right.”

What do we learn from this story?

Living for your appetites will corrupt your spiritual life.

Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was

with her, and he ate it, too.

Genesis 27:36 (NLT)

36 Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the

firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even

one blessing for me?”

So what is the pot of stew for you?

Don’t obey your thirsts,

obey your Lord!