Sunday Service: 03/07/2022
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 25:30-34
Title of Message: Watch Your Weak Moments
Delivered by: Pastor Mercy
Watch Your Weak Moments – (Genesis 25:30-34)
“And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore, was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus, Esau despised his birthright.”
Every one of us experiences weak moments in our lives and in our decision making. For example, in a weak moment a dieter may see an appetizing dessert and yield to temptation. In a weak moment a man may a see a beautiful woman and succumb to temptation that can lead to disaster. In a weak moment, someone can lie about another person and that can be deadly.
Some examples of a weak moment are:
- When you are angry
- When you are drunk
- When you are impatient
- When you are fearful.
Weak moments can cause us to lose our character.
Esau had a lot of advantages. He was the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah and therefore had the birthright.
You might say, “Well what was the big deal about birthright? There were five major things contained in a birthright which directed the lifestyle of a person who received it.
1. The oldest son would receive a larger part of the father’s property (He would benefit FINANCIALLY).
2. He would have the rule and authority over the younger members of the family (he would have POWER).
3. He would have the sacred dignity of being the family priest (He would have STATUS.
4. He would have permanent possession of land for their future inheritance and access to it (a rich and fertile choice land for PRODUCTIVE crops).
5. He would have fellowship with God. (SPIRITUAL ACCESS).
Esau was a skilful hunter. Unfortunately, he had a flaw that cost him dearly. He had trouble handling weak moments. He placed no value on the birth-right. He was impulsive and only lived for the moment. He didn’t consider the consequence of his decisions. He made bad choices. Hebrews 12:16-17
“Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
This flaw caused him dearly when he sold his birthright to Jacob because of sheer hunger.
Esau only valued the world, and the bowl of stew was so tempting to him. Jacob found just the right moment to seize the birth-right from him. In a moment when he was hungry, the stew looked like a good trade.
The story of Esau teaches us some valuable lessons about the weak moments of life. Let’s consider these lessons today and take them to heart.
I. We Must Tame Physical Desires.
The first lesson we learn from Esau’s life is that we need to tame our physical desires. Esau allowed physical impulses to dictate his actions, and he lived to regret his carelessness.
Consider the occasion of Esau’s weak moment. He had been in the field hunting. When he returned home, Jacob was cooking some red stew. Esau was hungry and tired, and that was his favourite dish. He asked Jacob to give him some of the stew, and Jacob refused. Under only one condition could Esau have the stew, —he would have to sell his birthright. Listen to Esau’s response:
“Look, I am about to die. So, what is this birthright to me?” (Gen. 25:32).
You see, weak moments are inevitable. These are the times when our focus shifts to the temporal, and we zero in on satisfying the particular appetite that is bothering us and give little heed to the consequences.
I believe that God gave us every desire we have, and no desire is bad in itself, but we must control those desires. So, the first lesson here is to allow God to tame your physical desires.
II. We must treat privileges responsibly.
The story of Esau teaches believers a valuable lesson about treating the gifts entrusted to us responsibly.
Consider the gift of Esau’s birthright. Esau being the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah was in a distinguished position, because in those days the firstborn son had the privilege of ruling the other children. The family inheritance would ultimately belong to Esau as well.
Esau had a marvellous privilege that naturally belonged to him, unfortunately, he despised his gift during a moment of weakness. Feeling the pains of hunger caused him to treat his privilege carelessly.
Gifts are not to be taken lightly. God endows every person with one or more gifts, and he greatly desires that we acknowledge and use those gifts. We must not disregard them as Esau did. Let’s learn to cherish our privileges and to treat them responsibly.
III. We must consider decisions carefully. – ((Mark 8:36-37).
“For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Perhaps the greatest lesson Esau learned is the importance of making instant decision. The decisions we make can influence our lives and the lives of our families forever.
Esau’s decision was a crucial one at the time. It was the decision to either remain hungry and keep his birthright or to satisfy his appetite and lose his birthright. At that moment the decision he made seemed great to him. But he lived to regret that decision because he could never get his birthright back. That decision in a moment of weakness cast a shadow on the rest of his days on earth.
Beloved, the decisions of life demand great care. Life brings all kinds of decisions, both big ones and small ones. We should be ever conscious of God’s leadership in our lives. He leads us during our moments of strength and during our moments of weakness. If we look to him for guidance, he will never lead us to regret a decision. All of us have those times, when we need help from someone greater than ourselves. Make sure you invite Jesus Christ into every decision you make – whether great or small and He will make you an overcomer.