I’m Starving!

I wish they had dad jokes in biblical times. Certainly, we see some pretty comedic things in the Scriptures and we see that God definitely has a sense of humor, but we don’t explicitly hear any jokes, which is a major bummer. If I had been asked to participate in the composition of God’s Word, I definitely would have added a joke or two, assuming that God ‘okayed’ it. For example, dad jokes. Who doesn’t love a good dad joke? One of the best of all time is:

“I’m starving!”

“Hi, Starving, I’m Kevin.”

We all know the intent of this joke. You’re not really starving, just hungry for a snack after a long day of work or play. I get a laugh out of it every time, even while writing about it, and if I had been asked to document the exchange between Jacob and his brother Esau in Genesis 25 I most certainly would have inserted this dad joke. It might have looked something like this:

“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob laughed and said, “Hi, Exhausted! I’m Jacob!” Esau rolled his eyes in disgust at his brother, saying, “Just give me some soup.” Jacob continued, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” (Genesis 25:29-32 revised).

Let’s be frank (insert another dad joke). Esau was not starving. Esau was a man’s man. A hunter of game, a worker of the field. We can guess the guy may have been also been pretty ripped. Even after a long day in the field, he was not exhausted to the point of death, as he asserts. Esau was merely overexaggerating so that he could get some food that, apparently, he had been smelling a long way off. And Jacob takes advantage. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

The exchange between Jacob and Esau is interesting to say the least. God tells Rebekah previously that the “older shall serve the younger (v. 23).” In other words, the younger is going to receive the birthright and blessing, rather than the older. Since Rebekah loved Jacob, more than Esau (v 28), we have reason to think that she more than likely told Jacob about this promise. All Jacob had to do was wait for his time, which arrived after he put some delicious lentil stew on the stove.

“Sell me your birthright!” Jacob says as Esau appears to be keeling over ready for death. “What good is my birthright if I die!” Esau responds in agony. Esau’s willingness to give up his birthright so fast for some “red stuff” tells us that Esau was comtemptuous toward the spiritual matters, including his inheritance which would have been great.

Having the birthright (given to the eldest) was something special. It meant a double portion (Deut. 21:17). It meant you were the head of the family, you received the title to the land of promise, and you inherited THE promise of God. Esau was eager to give this all away to his brother for what? A bowl of lentil soup? What a sellout. He would come to regret this decision later. The author of Hebrews takes note of Esau’s carelessness:

^“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; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 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” (Heb 12:15-17).

Each believer in Christ has obtained the grace of God in faith. Each has a birthright, just like Esau did. Paul writes that in faith we are sons of Abraham and that those who are in faith are blessed with Abraham (Gal 3:7-9)! We have been given this gift because of the love that God has for us and the promises that he makes to us as well. Because we are sons and daughters of the King, we too will be inheritors of the Kingdom of heaven (Rom 8:17). When materialism stares at us in the face and tempts us with smells, pretty colors, and temporary happiness, we may be willing to sell this birthright for a simple bowl of soup. But, like Esau, we will regret it later. And by then, it will be too late.

To quote our true eldest brother, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matt 16:26).” Christ lost all, so that you would have all.

Hold tight to that promise.