Some Things are Not for Sale
By Elizabeth Motes
“And Jacob said; sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.” (Genesis 25:31-32).
The familiar story of twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah has always been one of my favorites. It is intriguing to me how Jacob seemed to be the one who ‘made it happen.’ If he wanted something, he was determined to get it. – Even- though his brother, Esau, was born first,’ Jacob caught hold of Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26). When the boys were grown, Esau sold what was rightfully his in a weak moment of hunger. I have wondered if Esau was really that hungry. Could he not have waited for the next meal? Was it worth selling his inheritance for a bowl of pottage? Perhaps he did not think his brother Jacob was serious with his offer. Whatever his reason, it cost him everything!
Jacob knew that since Esau was born first he would receive the blessing of Isaac, their father. In Genesis chapter twenty-seven we find an interesting story about Jacob. He plotted with his mother, Rebekah, to deceive his father, Isaac, and steal the blessing that should go to his brother, Esau. Verse one tells us, “Isaac, his father, was old and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see.” Verses fifteen and sixteen continue the plot, “And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son, Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.” We read in verse twenty-one and twenty-two: “When Jacob went in to his father Isaac, disguised as Esau, Isaac said unto Jacob, come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, the voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned not, because his hands were hairy, as his Brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.”
I read an interesting fable recently that I want to share with you. A grandfather skylark was helping train his grandson to fly. Grandpa took him high up into the air, telling him important things about the art of flying. The little skylark, however, was only half listening to Grandpa’s voice. He had his eye on a man in the field below who was carrying a sign, which read, “WORMS FOR SALE: WORMS FOR SKYLARK FEATHERS.”
While Grandpa continued his rhetoric, the little bird scooped hurriedly down to the man and asked, “How much?” The man replied, “One worm for two skylark feathers.” The little bird gave his two feathers, devoured the worm and was back with Grandpa before he was missed. Each day this was repeated. On Saturday the man offered a bargain, “FIVE WORMS FOR TEN SKYLARK FEATHERS” the sign read. “Wow!” thought Grandson Skylark as he plucked out ten feathers. Unfortunately, after his feast, he could not lift himself off the ground! He had sold his wings for worms!
We soon discover there are few real bargains in life. It must be taken at face value. We must take the good with the bad. One thing is always good, and that is walking with Jesus day by day. Things may not always be smooth sailing, but with Him at the helm of the ship, it will always be sailing in the right direction. This salvation He gives is free, but we must embrace it and never let it go no matter how inviting the enemy’s bargain may seem. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth, and sell it not…..” I cherish this beautiful truth I hold in my heart!
May God’s blessings be yours as you walk each day with Him.
Elizabeth Motes and her husband, Evangelist Richard Motes, Sr. reside in Southaven, MS. They attend Heritage Christian Life Center where Rev. James Sandy is Pastor.
From,”Apostolic Accent”/Page 3, May/2008, by Elizabeth Motes
This material is copyrighted and may be used to study & research purposes only
