Read Genesis 25:28-34
“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright” (v. 34).
My father died when I was four-and-a-half years old, and my mother was left to raise my two brothers and me on a very limited income. I cannot recall a time when I left the table hungry, though many times I would have preferred something different to eat. Having grown into adulthood, and even into my senior years, I live very affluently compared to my childhood. Those early days and experiences have caused me to be frugal, sometimes eating leftovers when I preferred, and could have afforded, other things more appealing to me, thus controlling my appetite.
The Scriptures do not tell us why Esau did not kill some wildlife and prepare himself something to eat. We only know that he was very hungry, faint, and perhaps thought that he would die from his hunger. Because of this, he was willing to sell his birthright, something that was a very precious possession of the firstborn. He may have been fairly close to home when he encountered Jacob and could have found something to suffice his hunger in the tent of his parents. However, it seems that he was controlled by his appetite rather than controlling his appetite. (Larry DeOrnellis)
Controlling our appetite does not only refer to our hunger, but also to our emotional and sensual appetites. God is interested in helping us to control all of our appetites.
This devotional is the Thursday, October 1, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.
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