VERSE:
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau [his brother] came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” …
… Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 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.
— Genesis 25:29-34

THOUGHT:
Temptation always looks good for the here and now, but distracts us from thinking of the future consequences. It shows us the bait, but never the hook. It promises satisfaction, but leads to sorrow.

In the above story, I imagine that Jacob made the stew smell and taste delicious; adding all the right ingredients to get Esau’s attention focused on satisfying his temporal cravings; all the while forfeiting His future blessing. Esau’s decision to trade a lasting inheritance for temporal satisfaction unfortunately mirrors the actions of most of us.

APPLICATION:
Don’t be deceived by temptation’s promises of temporal satisfaction. No matter how sweet the temptation looks, let the hope of your future inheritance dictate your actions. Don’t be a part of the Esau cycle.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, give me eyes that are fixed on my future inheritance in Christ, so that the temptation of temporal satisfaction would seem repulsive. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!