Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022 | Lesson 16 || Esau Sells His Birthright
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022
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Youth STS LESSON 16 | Esau Sells His Birthright
MEMORY VERSE: “And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:31 ,32).
TEXT: Genesis 25:1-34
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022 | Lesson 16 MESSAGE
Our study today introduces us to the consideration of the end of Abraham’s life. The text reflects on his loneliness due to the death of Sarah, his wife. It also shows his care and concern for his children. The passage highlights the problems, patience and prayer life of Isaac’s family. It is obvious from Isaac’s family experience that there is no problem that can defy God’s intervention.
Though the wife had delay in child bearing, “…Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21).
Question 1: What lesson does the life of Esau pose to a Christian youth that desires a fulfilled life?
Esau, though a clever hunter by profession represents careless, foolish and visionless youths who demonstrates carefree attitude to the pursuit of their future goals. On the part of Jacob, his life was not plain, but cunning and deceptive. He used food to obtain the birthright of his brother. A Christian youth cannot emulate such a character. God wants us to be our brothers’ keeper, instead of being a supplanter.
CARE AND CONCERN OF ABRAHAM FOR HIS CHILDREN (Genesis 25:1-18; 18:18, 19; Matthew 5:45; Ephesians 6:1-3; Romans 12: 18)
After the marriage of Isaac to Rebekah, Abraham decided to take a wife named Keturah, who gave birth to six children namely Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The life of Abraham poses a great challenge to the youths today on the necessity of foresight in the fulfilment of their dreams.
Abraham showed concern for Isaac, the covenant child, and his other children. Thus, he gave large portion of his inheritance to Isaac (Genesis 25:5). He also gave sizeable gifts to his other children for their sustenance (verse 6) before sending them away from Isaac to avoid unhealthy rivalry and conflict.
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022 | Lesson 16
Question 2: What lessons do we draw from Abraham’s concern and preparation for his children’s future?
The cooperation of Abraham’s children at his burial confirmed the acceptability of his care and concern for them. How instructive is this to youths on the importance of preparation for the future. There are fundamental lessons to be learnt such as: one, just like the children of Abraham utilised what he gave them to make a fortune, we should make use of what our parents can afford now to achieve our desired destiny.
Two, proper preparation prevents poor performance. Youths must cooperate with their parents to prepare adequately for a glorious future (Ephesians 6:1-3). Three, youths whose parents are unbelievers that are polygamous should take a cue from Isaac who related well with his half-brothers. The Bible encourages us to live peaceably with all men as much as it lies within us (Hebrews 12: 14; Romans 12:18).
CONFLICT OF CHARACTERS: ESAU AND JACOB (Genesis 25:19-27; 27:6-10; Hosea 12:3; Hebrews 10:36)
After twenty years of marriage with no child, Isaac turned to the Lord in prayer for his wife and God answered (Genesis 25:21). Though Isaac was a child of promise, he still needed to pray for the fulfilment of God’s promises (Ezekiel 36:37).
Question 3a: How should youths handle the challenges of life facing them today?
3b: Enumerate the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian youth.
Many youths suffer today and remain below God’s expectation for their lives because they failed to pray. The prayer of Daniel broke the hold of the prince of Persia over Israel (Daniel 9, 10). In like manner, when the children struggled in Rebekah’s womb, she prayed and sought the face of God.
The result of that prayer brought up a revelation that lasted through many generations. A song writer said, “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear – All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”. The revelation God gave to Rebekah showed a conflict of two nations which she would give birth to later. Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022 | Lesson 16
This Scripture by extension reveals to us the fight for supremacy and unnecessary rivalry among the children of men. They are unmindful of the biblical truth that, “It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16). God has a plan for all His children. It is needless for us as youths to engage anyone in a conflict over temporary things of this world.
Christian youths should not strive over the selection of school prefects, school fellowship leadership or any other leadership position. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and Setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6,7).
Question 4: Outline the character differences between Esau and Jacob.
The prophecies concerning Esau and Jacob are: (1) One will be stronger than the other. (2) The elder shall serve the younger. At birth, Jacob grabbed his brother’s heel. As they grew older, their personalities became more prominent. Esau was a cunning and good hunter while Jacob was a man dwelling in tents, probably helping the mother with domestic chores. Esau was hairy, while Jacob had smooth skin. Youth should realise that we are all created with different character traits that is meant to complement one another.
THE CARELESSNESS OF ESAU WITH HIS BIRTHRIGHT (Genesis 25:28-34; Ecclesiastes 11:9,10; Acts 1:17-20; Hosea 8:3; Proverbs 1: 10; 23:23)
A temporary hunger made Esau to despise his birthright because he relegated its importance. The position God has given him as first born is exchanged for a pot of pottage. Christian youths need to control their appetite for food and material possession.
Question 5: What can Christian youths liken to be their birthright today?
What we can liken to our birthright today includes: (a) Christian experiences such as salvation, sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism. (b) Standard scriptural doctrines of the Bible. (c) Spiritual gifts. (d) Our moral integrity and honesty (Job 2:9). (e) Your God-given talents and dreams. These birthrights should be held tight and must not be traded for anything; because, more often than not, Satan in his subtle way desires to take away our godly inheritance (1 Peter 5:8).
Question 6: How can a youth trade off his spiritual birthright?
From the life of Esau, youths should be careful not to lose their birthright in the following areas: (a) Careless visitations. (b) Undue closeness to opposite gender. (c) Lack of patience in material possession. (d) Bad influence from friends. (e) Lack of self-control. (f) Lack of spiritual examination and evaluation (1 Corinthians 10: 12; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 17 April 2022 | Lesson 16
Examples abound in the Bible of people who lost their birthright such as Reuben, Amnon, Samson and King Saul. Many had to live the rest of their lives in sorrow due to the loss, like Esau who sought it with tears. “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears”. (Hebrews 12: 16, 17).
The consequence of losing one’s birthright is grave. For Saul, it cost him total removal from the lineage of kingship. Other consequences are the loss of God’s presence, power, plan and protection from such individual (Acts 1:17-20; 1 Samuel 31:3-6). To keep our birthright, we must be determined like Joseph (Genesis 39:7-9), Daniel (Daniel 1:8), The Rechabites (Jeremiah 35), and consecrated like Joshua and his family (Joshua 24: 15). Christian youths should live after these good examples, but not like Esau.
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