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even hateful restraint to him。 The law of God； which was the condition of
the divine covenant with Abraham； was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage。
Bent on self…indulgence； he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he
pleased。 To him power and riches； feasting and reveling； were happiness。 He
gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild； roving life。 Rebekah
remembered the words of the angel； and she read with clearer insight than
did her husband the character of their sons。 She was convinced that the
heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob。 She repeated to Isaac the
angel's words； but the father's affections were centered upon the elder son；
and he was unshaken in his purpose。
Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the
birthright should fall to him； and he was filled with an unspeakable desire
for the privileges which it would confer。 It was not the possession of his
father's wealth that he craved； the spiritual birthright was the object of
his longing。 To commune with God as did righteous Abraham； to offer the
sacrifice of atonement for his family； to be the progenitor of the chosen
people and of the promised Messiah； and to inherit the immortal possessions
embraced in the blessings of the covenant…here were the privileges and
honors that kindled his most ardent desires。 His mind was ever reaching
forward to the future； and seeking to grasp its unseen blessings。
With secret longing he listened to all that his father told concerning the
spiritual birthright； he carefully treasured what he had learned from his
mother。 Day and night the subject occupied his thoughts； until it became the
absorbing interest of his life。 But while he thus esteemed eternal above
temporal blessings； Jacob had not an experimental knowledge of the God whom
he revered。 His heart had not been renewed by divine grace。 He believed that
the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled
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so long as Esau retained the rights of the first…born； and he constantly
studied to devise some way whereby he might secure the blessing which his
brother held so lightly； but which was so precious to himself。
When Esau； coming home one day faint and weary from the chase； asked for the
food that Jacob was preparing； the latter； with whom one thought was ever
uppermost； seized upon his advantage； and offered to satisfy his brother's
hunger at the price of the birthright。 〃Behold； I am at the point to die；〃
cried the reckless； self…indulgent hunter； 〃and what profit shall this
birthright do to me？〃 And for a dish of red pottage he parted with his
birthright； and confirmed the transaction by an oath。 A short time at most
would have secured him food in his father's tents； but to satisfy the desire
of the moment he carelessly bartered the glorious heritage that God Himself
had promised to his fathers。 His whole interest was in the present。 He was
ready to sacrifice the heavenly to the earthly； to exchange a future good
for a momentary indulgence。
〃Thus Esau despised his birthright。〃 In disposing of it he felt a sense of
relief。 Now his way was unobstructed； he could do as he liked。 For this wild
pleasure； miscalled freedom； how many are still selling their birthright to
an inheritance pure and undefiled； eternal in the heavens！
Ever subject to mere outward and earthly attractions； Esau took two wives of
the daughters of Heth。 They were worshipers of false gods； and their
idolatry was a bitter grief to Isaac and Rebekah。 Esau had violated one of
the conditions of the covenant； which forbade intermarriage between the
chosen people and the heathen； yet Isaac was still unshaken in his
determination to bestow upon him the birthright。 The reasoning of Rebekah；
Jacob's strong desire for the blessing； and Esau's indifference to its
obligations had no effect to change the father's purpose。
Years passed on； until Isaac； old and blind； and expecting soon to die；
determined no longer to delay the bestowal of the blessing upon his elder
son。 But knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob； he decided to perform
the solemn ceremony in secret。 In accordance with the custom of making a
feast upon such occasions； the patriarch bade Esau； 〃Go out to the field；
and take me some venison； and make me savory meat； 。 。 。 that my soul may
bless thee before I die。〃
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Rebekah divined his purpose。 She was confident that it was contrary to what
God had revealed as His will。 Isaac was in danger of incurring the divine
displeasure and of debarring his younger son from the position to which God
had called him。 She had in vain tried the effect of reasoning with Isaac；
and she determined to resort to stratagem。
No sooner had Esau departed on his errand than Rebekah set about the
accomplishment of her purpose。 She told Jacob what had taken place； urging
the necessity of immediate action to prevent the bestowal of the blessing；
finally and irrevocably； upon Esau。 And she assured her son that if he would
follow her directions； he might obtain it as God had promised。 Jacob did not
readily consent to the plan that she proposed。 The thought of deceiving his
father caused him great distress。 He felt that such a sin would bring a
curse rather than a blessing。 But his scruples were overborne； and he
proceeded to carry out his mother's suggestions。 It was not his intention to
utter a direct falsehood； but once in the presence of his father he seemed
to have gone too far to retreat； and he obtained by fraud the coveted
blessing。
Jacob and Rebekah succeeded in their purpose； but they gained only trouble
and sorrow by their deception。 God had declared that Jacob should receive
the birthright； and His word would have been fulfilled in His own time had
they waited in faith for Him to work for them。 But like many who now profess
to be children of God； they were unwilling to leave the matter in His hands。
Rebekah bitterly repented the wrong counsel she had given her son； it was
the means of separating him from her； and she never saw his face again。 From
the hour when he received the birthright； Jacob was weighed down with
self…condemnation。 He had sinned against his father； his brother； his own
soul； and against God。 In one short hour he had made work for a lifelong
repentance。 This scene was vivid before him in afteryears； when the wicked
course of his sons oppressed his soul。
No sooner had Jacob left his father's tent than Esau entered。 Though he had
sold his birthright； and confirmed the transfer by a solemn oath； he was now
determined to secure its blessings； regardless of his brother's claim。 With
the spiritual was connected the temporal birthright； which would give him
the headship of the family and possession of a double portion of his
father's
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wealth。 These were blessings that he could value。 〃Let my father arise；〃 he
said； 〃and eat of his son's venison； that thy soul may bless me。〃
Trembling with astonishment and distress； the blind old father learned the
deception that had been practiced upon