I Want It Now!

16. and [see to it] that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  (Amplified) Hebrews 12:16 16. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. (Message)Hebrews 12:16

Esau was the first born of the twins of Isaac and Rebecca and thus had the right to become the leader of his family when his father died. He also received a double portion of the family inheritance.  This was a treasured position in Israelite families. One day Jacob, the second born, who had food in his bag came upon Esau in the field. Esau had been working hard and was famished. When he saw Jacob, he was desperate for food and offered his birthright (the honor of becoming head of the family) to his brother, Jacob, if he shared his food. Of course, Jacob gladly made the trade.

I love the way The Message puts it, “trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite”. Who in their right mind would do that? I would never do that! You would never do that, right? Is that like wanting something so badly that you take matters into your own hands to make it happen?  Is it like saying if you give me this today, I’ll serve you tomorrow?  Is it like knowing a financial decision is wrong, but you can’t wait for Him to provide for you? Is it like telling God you can’t trust Him to take care of your needs and you want the issue addressed now!  Is it like saying after I get what I think I can’t live without, I’ll trust and serve You?

Thankfully, we do not live under Old Testament rule, but under New Testament love and grace. We can repent of our self-centeredness, but we lose what could have been ours if we had trusted from start to finish. We’ll never know the blessings we missed by choosing our wants over His Will. Thankfully we can determine to never miss another blessing due to our unruly appetites as we surrender those appetites to Him!

Lord Jesus, forgive us if and when we have allowed our immediate desires to overrule our commitment and faith in You. When we surrender our appetites, wants and desires to You, they will be met at the right time, in the right way, and bring glory to Your Name instead of shame for our lack of trust in You!  You, who created us, know just how to fix us, and give us what we need, to experience lasting satisfaction.  Thank You for loving us and extending grace, mercy, and strength to wait patiently on You!  Your grace is sufficient to supply all our needs! Thank You, Father.