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)
My reaction to this account is always “Really? Trading your birthright for soup? How stupid are you, Esau?”. But you know what? I make rash decisions sometimes too. I sometimes look to my immediate need (or want) and don’t think about the consequences that I’ll face down the road.
Maybe it’s because food is so prominently featured in this story, but I’ve been working on getting healthier lately and this exchange bats about in my head when making food decisions lately. I want all sorts of sweet things and there’s nothing wrong with having them in moderation but I know they are my Achilles’ tendon. If I bake brownies I won’t just have one. I will have too many. And while they certainly do feel good going down, I know that I’ve made a trade off and I feel guilty afterward. I get upset that I made such an unhealthy decision and I know I’ll see it reflected on the scale and in my tightening clothes. But more than that, I feel bad that I lost control and that I am setting a bad example for my sons. I want them to have a healthy relationship with food.
And so I’m working on this… on having the occasional treat but not getting lost in the moment and going bananas on a pan of brownies. A while ago I read Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst and it really helped me get my head on straight when I was trying to clean up my act and get back to a healthy weight after having baby number one… maybe it’s time I get that one back out again and reread it.
Anyone else out there going through this same struggle?
I’m reading through the Bible in 3 years with Good Morning Girls. We’re reading one chapter a day and you can find the schedule for this month over at Women Living Well, where I’m linking up with other bloggers to share what God is teaching us through this study.
Cat is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom of two boys. She shares crafts, DIY projects, kids’ activities, and a little bit about life in Ohio. Learn more about her and the blog on the About page.