Impulse and Consequence

"Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." Genesis 25:29-34 Esau was the firstborn, he had his father's favor, and all the rights and blessings that went along with such a position. This was not to be taken lightly, or treated casually, but in a moment of weakness he succumbed to his fleshly desires and impulsively traded away his most significant assets. Surely he knew better, surely his heart and mind, the spirit the Lord placed inside him screamed out: "Don't do it!", but he did... One of the ways God is called is "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"... Jacob, and not Esau...his small moment of weakness had eternal consequences on him, and his descendants. "Make wise choices" is a phrase we say to children parents can identify with, and the rest of us have heard something like it from our own parents. It means to consider carefully as the outcome and consequences reach far beyond the moment, each choice adjusting and redefining our direction in life, moving forward on the narrow path Jesus calls us to follow Him on, or finding ourselves off course. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 As we go about life today, beloved, ask the Lord for wisdom and counsel, seek His purposes first not your own, do not succumb to impulsive rash decisions, don't be short sighted...make wise choices.