Esau’s story is a vivid example of despise in the Bible, which warns us about the consequences of devaluing our blessings.
Genesis 25:29-34 tells us how Esau lost his birthright over a bowl of stew:
Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
While we might shake our heads at Esau's poor decision, how many of us are making similar trades? I’ll explain what I mean in just a moment.
Esau’s trade was described as proof that he “despised his birthright.”
In Biblical days, the birthright was fundamental. As the firstborn son, Esau was entitled to receive a double portion of what his brother received of their father’s inheritance. He would become the leader of the family.
Great respect and honor were his.
Yet the Bible says that Esau despised this. You might ask, “Is despise the same as hate?”
Is Despise the Same as Hate?
Despise is not the same as hate because despise goes deeper. Despise means “unworthy of consideration or notice.”
You judge the thing you despise as not worth your time or attention.
Because Esau judged his birthright as unworthy of consideration or notice, he lost it because he did not properly value it from the beginning!
Here is a sobering question: What do you despise?
Using that last definition, do you despise good health?
What Does Despise Mean in Health?
Ask yourself, ‘What is my “bowl of stew’ for which I’m trading my health birthright?”
Mine was Pepperidge Farm's coconut cake! It was my binge food of choice.
Regarding health, say this statement out loud, “Thank you Lord for my health. My health is worthy of my notice and consideration.” After all, what we despise, we tend to lose. However, we tend to keep what we value.
Good health is a wonderful birthright because it is easier to fulfill God’s purpose when we live strong, healthy, and vibrant lives daily.
I pray that you too will hold on to your health birthright so that you can inspire others to do the same. You can do this through transforming “despise” into “worthy.”
Transforming Despise into Worthy
Here are 2 ways you can transform despise into worthy.
The late motivational speaker Earl Nightingale once defined success as:
“The progressive realization of a worthy ideal.”
Let’s look at two parts of this statement:
- Worthy. Let’s imitate our Lord by declaring the end from the beginning, as stated in Isaiah 46:10. If you don’t know what you have deemed worthy in your life, pay attention to the choices you make every day. If you are spending time or treasure on something, then your actions show that you think this ideal is worthy.
Are your actions and habits leading you to a worthy ideal? Have you properly valued what you do daily?
English churchman and historian Thomas Fuller once said, “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”
If you believe in Jesus for example, you will live like it. If you don’t live it, you don’t really believe it. As believers, our goal should be to live out our belief in God every day.
He is worthy! Remind yourself of all the things you value and why often throughout the day so that you won't forget about them.
- Progressive realization. To make progress, you must walk out the process. When you walk out the process daily, you are successful by definition. You have faith that the results will come as long as you walk out the process daily.
You do not let impatience take you off course. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Your faith is as sure as someone who sets a course to take a trip to the other side of the country. They get in the car and start driving in that direction. They know they are getting closer to it with each passing mile.
Of course if that person stops driving because they decide that the destination is not worth it or they keep turning back and starting the trip over, it will take longer to reach their destination!
Once you are on a worthy road, it is best to stay on that road until you reach your destination.
Here is what you need to despise and what I’m learning to do: Despise any temptations that take you away from your worthy ideal. In Romans 8:18, the apostle Paul said,
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Disciplining yourself in your health choices can be painful in the moment, but I thank God that He gave us a Comforter and Helper to be with us in those moments. The Holy Spirit is our closest friend (see John 14:17)!
Esau’s story is a cautionary tale about what you can lose when you are impatient and sow to the flesh.
However, when you are patient and sow into Spiritual things daily, you will reap life and peace, plus hang on to your birthright and enjoy the fullness of its blessings!
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness
Kimberly Taylor
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