Published in: Christian Life

Your Birthright is not for sale! Guest Post, Vijay Belola

Author Hari Rao

Published on: March 26, 2012

Today’s post is written by a good friend of mine, Vijay Belola. He is an anointed preacher of the Gospel. He is also the lead vocalist of Mumbai based Gospel band called Beacon Call.  Above all he is a dear friend to me and a Jesus Addict.

As soon you see the name ‘Esau’, what are the first thoughts that come to your mind? A red hairy man. Hunter by profession; obviously strong in body as his job required that he should be this way yet he was still defrauded by his younger brother. He lost everything that could have been his and then lived… or should we perhaps say that he survived an existence much less than his potential.

As I write this today, I want us all to be reminded of the fact that we are not called to live life even a single degree lesser than the potential that God has placed inside of us. The Bible tells us about how Esau sold his birthright to Jacob just for a meal to satisfy his momentary hunger. But the question that really gets me thinking is this; Why did Esau have to go to his brother, whose name itself meant deceiver,  to satisfy his hunger? Was Jacob the only option available to him?

As I meditated on this thought, I learned something that has given me a new perspective of looking at the two things which I feel everybody faces at some point or the other in their life.

1. Failure
2. Fear of the consequences of failure.

Now in Genesis 25:29-30, it says “Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom”.

Failure
Esau came back from the field. That implies that he had returned from a hunt yet he still wanted to have the stew that Jacob had prepared. Why? It is possible that maybe he could not find any prey and had returned empty-handed.

Fear of the Consequences of Failure
The same chapter in verse 28 tells us, “And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game” Esau had failed to bring anything to his father’s table and was scared of looking into his face admitting that he had failed at doing what he was designed to do. He was not willing to go to his father who loved him because his failure seemed to be far more bigger than his father’s love for him. He had made a choice to stay out of his father’s sight and had resorted to taking help from his brother.

The problem with most Christians today is that we find it easy to go to a brother or a friend, but we find it extremely difficult to go to our Heavenly Father. Our Father who loves us beyond measure even though we failed at something. We fall under the false assumption that we will not be accepted and that His love for us depends on our success and failures.

My dear friends, there’s not much to say but I just want to encourage you that our Father’s love is not the selfish kind of love. He loved us even before we knew Him. No matter how big your sin or your failure is, His cross has already taken care of it. Esau forgot that he was the eldest son to his father; everything that Isaac had was his; that was His birthright. He could have asked any of the servants to get him anything to eat, but he bought it at the price of his birthright.

As children of the living God, we have the right and privilege to come into His presence just as we are, covered by the blood of Christ. He knows it all! Everything lies bare in front of Him. He knows you would make a mistake even before you did or the thought entered your mind. And He loves us irrespective of our failures. Nothing can separate us from our Father’s love.

There are two things that I have learned to be extremely helpful.
Draw close to Him when you succeed; draw closer when you fail. Either way, run to him with all of your strength. Take all your failure and weaknesses and disappointments, and lay them all down at His feet. Let Him make something beautiful out of what you give Him.

Fear God only. The fear of man will only stunt your growth and create a roadblock on the way to your destiny. The fear of God comes out of a place of reverential love. He alone is worthy of all your devotion.

No mess we create is so big for Him that He cannot clear it. Do not let a Jacob rob you of your blessings and leave you with just the leftovers. We have been called to live life to the fullest of the potential he has placed in us and He that has called you and has started a good thing in you is able to bring it to perfection.

What have been your fears? How have you handled failure in your life? Do share with us your experience and let us know in the comments section below. We love hearing from you. Stay blessed!