One moment can destroy your future: The Esau decision

A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. A phrase that seems to have been around for a lifetime, warning us of high-calorie cakes and desserts, which lead to weight gain. What follows in these next verses seems most ordinary and happens every day when the urgent drowns out what is essential. In a moment, the tomorrow of Esau’s life seemed so far away to his need of today. In that flash of a moment, his life changed forever.

“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” ³² “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” ³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ 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 v 29-34)

Think of the characters who acted as Esau did. If only they had made a different decision at that moment. Aaron created a golden calf for worship to please people; Koran, Dathan and Abiram slandered Moses and died; Samson found Delilah and lost his eyesight; Eli kept silent with his sinful sons and lost God’s presence; Uzziah became proud of his achievements and became leprous; Moses struck the rock twice and missed the Promised Land; there are so many. None of these people needed to end the way they did. If only they had considered before they acted.

If Esau had acted differently, “Jacob, I’m exhausted. Let me rest. Then we talk.” Perhaps his birthright would not have felt worthless compared to satisfying his appetite.

What are you about to trade in? What will you regret tomorrow?

Our health? Our integrity? Our children’s presence? The list goes on and on.

• If we name what we are so willing to let go of, then maybe we would reconsider.
• If we check those vulnerable moments and call for wisdom before we make rash decisions, then maybe we would reconsider.
• If we had a better self-awareness of our ‘appetites’, and when they kick in, we have a way to deal with them, then maybe we would reconsider.

It’s not a guarantee we won’t make mistakes, but considering before we act is good wisdom.