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. 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.
REFLECTIONS
It is hardly possible, to close our view of the life of Abraham, without blessing God for such an illustrious testimony as his history affords of the triumph of faith. Lord, I would say, give to me a double portion of the same spirit! But do we not behold in the Patriarch, some faint outlines of resemblance of Him, who according to the flesh, was in after ages, to be his seed! Was not Abraham, as the chosen of God and the covenant head and father of millions of redeemed souls, a lively type of that Almighty Saviour, who was set up as the Covenant head of his people; and the one chosen of the Father before all worlds, in whom all nations are blessed! It is said, that by faith the Patriarch, when he was called of God to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed and went out, not knowing whither he went! and do we not from hence call to mind, the obedience of the Son of God, who left the realms of bliss, and Came down a stranger in this strange land, that all his people might afterwards, through Him, receive the gift of an eternal inheritance? Blessed Jesus! May everything of a gracious nature in thy holy word, lead me to discover somewhat of thyself, that while I admire and learn to praise God for the exercise of the faith and grace which I behold among men, I may be looking up, with gratitude and thankfulness unto thee, who art both the Author and Giver of Faith, and of all our Mercies.