There are many lessons to be learned from Hebrews 12:15-17.  So far this week, we have observed three of them, all of which teach us to avoid missing out on the grace of God.  Read the passage below and then consider another lesson we must learn from it.

Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV)
¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Esau’s troubles were self-inflicted.  He failed to obtain the grace of God when he sold his birthright and lost the blessing of it that he was due to inherit.  Why did he so quickly sell his birthright to his brother Jacob?  It was because he devalued the valuable.

The KJV calls Esau a “profane person,” which is a good translation of the Greek word “bebēlos.”  Webster tells us that the word “profane” means “to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt.”  This is what Esau did with his birthright.  He failed to see the true value in the special birthright that he had.

All eldest sons had the greater part of the father’s inheritance as their share, along with inheriting the leadership role and responsibilities of the family as its new head.  If that was all that was involved in Esau’s birthright, it would have still been profane to sell it for a bowl of stew.  However, with Esau, his birthright was special and unique; we could even call it sacred because he was a descendant of Abraham.  If he had not sold it, the messianic lineage would have flowed through him instead of Jacob.   Nothing good comes from a person being profane, that is, not treating sacred things with proper respect.

As Christians, we too have birthrights, only they do not have anything to do with being the firstborn.  We all share the same birthrights that come to us through Jesus Christ, the true firstborn of God (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 1:5).   When we obeyed the gospel, we became joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Galatians 3:29 (ESV)
²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Titus 3:7 (ESV)
⁷ So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

While eternal life is the greatest part of our inheritance, we have other birthrights such as prayer (John 9:31), fellowship with God, and ongoing access to the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).  These things we have by the grace of God.  We must remember that we can fail to obtain that grace, along with all that it provides, including our birthrights, if we do not live according to the will of God.  Being profane like Esau by failing to understand the sacredness of what we have in Christ will cause us to do this.

Let us not devalue the immense privilege of being a part of the family of God.  If we do, we will probably follow the steps of Esau and sell our birthright for earthly prosperity, power, or popularity, things not worth much more than a bowl of stew.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.