Your Spiritual Birthright is Found in Jesus

A birthright is defined as a right or privileges that are due to someone the moment he or she is born. It is usually associated with affluent citizens or royalty, a benefit of the upper-class of society.

Did you know that you are also among this group of people and even surpass them in their class and status? You have a birthright waiting for you that entitles you to every blessing that God can give, and it’s available right here and right now. Today we will be studying this birthright, along with why some people do not receive it, and how we can accept it into our lives.

We are going to be looking at several scripture references today, each depicting a different aspect of Jesus for us to look at, and also each instance will teach us a truth about how to refuse or accept our birthright. It is important to understand that even in the Old Testament, Jesus can always be found, and indeed Jesus can be seen in every area of scripture. Each book and section of the Bible shows us Jesus from a different angle – another aspect of Him, each equally beautiful. This is why I always say that if you have your Bible, it is beneficial for you to follow along with us in your own Bible so that you know for certain that nothing we study is just something that I or another pastor has made up, but that this is the living Word of God for you.

Let’s start by reading Genesis 25:27-34:

“And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

There are many interesting things in this famous Biblical account. First we see the stark contrast between these two brothers. We see that Esau was what the Bible calls “a man of the field”, while Jacob “a plain man dwelling in tents”. While neither character is particularly moral here, we can learn a few things from both of them. Esau was a man of the field, and the Hebrew word for field used in this scripture is sadeh, which carries with it a meaning of an open country, and to spread out. This is descriptive of his character. He was a man without borders, without guard walls, he was accustom to spreading himself out (often impulsively).

Now we also see something about Jacob here. The Bible says that he was a plain man dwelling in tents. The Hebrew word for tents used in this scripture carries with it the meanings which include “house of Jehovah”. And this tells us something about Jacob’s character – that while he was not the most moral, he was open to learning, because he learned to value the birthright.

From this we can learn something else as well… while God is not looking for “perfect people”, He is looking for people who are truly humble and teachable. One of the true signs of humility is being teachable. God can not fill a vessel that is already full, but anyone who comes to Him honestly and openly He will teach and use. And those who are truly humble and teachable today, God will bless and use in the future to teach others. Those who allow themselves to be led by God, they will also lead others in the days to come. However there are believers today who still allow themselves to be led by their own will, passions and flesh, and they are tripping over themselves on the way to destruction. We see an example of this in verses 29 through 34:

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

We know that Esau was out in the fields hunting and that Jacob was boiling stew in the tents. Esau comes in from the field and smells the aroma of the stew, and he allows his hunger (his carnal, fleshly need) to lead him. Now Jacob, seeing how easily manipulated and worldly-minded his brother is, perceives an opportunity to gain something truly valuable, the firstborn birthright. Jacob may not have known everything, but he knew the incredible value of the birthright and the blessings it would bring him.

So we see in verse 31, that Jacob states his terms for the stew and then we witness in verse 32 that Esau says something very revealing… he says “I am at the point to die”; in other words “I am going to die if I don’t get something to eat right now.”

This is obviously an exaggeration, and we say things like that today sometimes when we are hungry, but we also observe in verse 33 that Esau actually acted on his feelings, and traded his valuable birthright just to satisfy his temporary feeling and need. He was not going to die, but was simply acting impulsively as he was prone to do. We know this from other events in his life as well where he acts purely on his emotions and allows his passions to lead him. As a result of this, the consequence as that he lost all the blessings that were rightfully his.

Now let’s look at another event in Esau’s life, found in Genesis 26:34-35:

“And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

Which were a grief of mind to Isaac and to Rebekah.”

This is significant because it is another example of the stubborn and rebellious nature of Esau. Remember that there is no meaningless detail in the Bible and everything is there for our instruction and learning. Previously God had commanded Abraham and his descendants (of which Esau is one) to not take any wives from the Canaanite people. Both Esau’s wives are Hittites, which are from Canaan. So we can see from this that Esau never really valued the things of God and instead made life choices based on his own wants, desires and self. It is also a lesson to us that as a result of violating God’s instructions on marriage, Esau is forever cut off from the patriarch. Marrying a foreign wife meant the detachment of his children from the line of Abraham. In-essence, Jacob set his children up for cursing just to satisfy himself.

So where is Jesus in all of this? Well, my friends, He is both the promise and the prize. He is the commandment and the blessing. We opened the study by taking note that a birthright is a privilege given to person the moment that they are born – they do not have to earn it – just by being born and living, they qualify for it.

We saw how Esau cut himself and his children off from the line and blessings of Abraham by his self-serving actions and rebellious (against God) decisions. Now let’s look at the marvelous truth that you and I have in Christ Jesus today. Galatians 3:26-29 says the following:

“For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Do you see that? For us today that are in Christ, we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs! We are also children of God!

Jesus Christ has given us a high status and a birthright far beyond what we even realize. We are not lowly or beggars here, no – we are kings and priests and blessed.

Why is it then that so many believers today are not experiencing these blessings in their lives? Let’s examine Romans 4:13-14:

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:”

So we can see clearly that the blessings of Abraham come through faith in Jesus Christ and not through our own works or performance. Now here is where we are going to tie this all together, and where many of you may be surprised… there are very few believers who are actually practicing faith in Christ and many who are still using works and living under the law. And there is a very simple way to tell which is which: Those who truly believe in Christ will make Him LORD of their lives.

The ones who truly acknowledge who He is and what He has done will honor Him with their lives and allow Him to lead. While those who don’t really care or believe in Him will still live for themselves and disregard His Words and leading. This principle is stated quite plainly in the scriptures. Let’s read 1^st John 2:3-4:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

He that said, ‘I know him’, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

And 1^st Peter 1:14-16:

“As obedient children, do not conform yourselves according to your former passions and lusts in your ignorance:

But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conduct;

Because it is written, ‘Be you holy; for I am holy.’”

My friends, these scriptures are not matters of behavior, but matters of true belief, faith and heart (the center of our being). Those who truly believe in and receive Jesus as Lord, will in-turn love Him. And following His lead and guidance is a privilege and honor, not a chore or a bother. Those who have a good opinion of God will realize that His leading is for our benefit, not for our harm or to make life difficult.

God has given each of us a magnificent birthright, a high status and a great honor both in this life and the next, but it’s only for His true children. I encourage each and every one of you today, don’t sell your great birthright in exchange for a meal, and don’t forfeit every blessing and your divine destiny to follow your passions. Learn from Esau’s mistakes, and live the high calling that God has for you! Your birthright is found in Jesus Christ.