The woman lost weight and began to feel attractive again. Soon she grew tired of her husband and their life—a life that included four small children. She felt that she had married too young and never had the chance to explore what was out there. Eventually, she threw away family stability—the love and devotion of her husband and the kids’ well-being—to satisfy her desires. When her marital vows became inconvenient, she violated them.
Much like Esau (Genesis 25:32-33), she showed contempt for what was most important and sought fleeting gratification. The foundation of her family life was destroyed for relationships that didn’t last. They were over about as fast as Esau’s meal (Genesis 25:34). And like Esau, she wasn’t thinking of the long-term consequences of her behavior.
Her actions and Esau’s actions, their sins, remind me of the struggles I’ve faced in dealing with my own desires. Sin can easily entangle us and trip us up when we start focusing solely on ourselves. When our eyes are fixed there, they won’t be fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). And that’s when destruction can creep into our lives and the lives of those around us. And so, as the writer of Hebrews states: “Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal” (Hebrews 12:16).
As Esau discovered, life’s pleasures can’t compare to the blessings of God. Jesus said, “My purpose is to give [believers in Christ] a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). Our ultimate needs and desires can only be satisfied in a relationship with Him. May we fix our eyes on Christ today and experience the joy and fulfillment He alone provides!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 27:1-40
More:
Read 1 John 1:9 and consider how God’s grace can restore us even if we’ve followed our sinful desires.
Next:
What, if anything, are you considering throwing away to follow your desires instead of God’s ways? How can you claim God’s abundant life today and seek to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Gary Shultz on January 17, 2016 at 6:40 am
One of those nagging parts of being a human bean is we think of ourselves more highly than we ought. The late song writer Rich Mullins said we’re not as strong as we think we are. As the woman you referred to or I see it very often in men who begin looking at themselves and are able fabricate an inflated view of themselves. As you refer shortsightedness allows the view to be misdirected in instead of out, down instead of up. We, at least I, need to live to point myself and hopefully others to look up, not dreams, but vision. The vision and presence only God can bring our focus to follow. May we push pride to the side. Thanks Marlena
Mike Wittmer on January 17, 2016 at 8:11 am
Spot on diagnosis of sin, and why the life we think it offers is never the life we get. Thank you for telling us to run to Jesus.
gagirllive on January 17, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Interestingly, in Hebrews 11 we can contrast Moses’ choice to forego the fleeting pleasures of sin because he fixed his eyes on the eternal rather than the temporal like Esau did. The temporal always appeals to our flesh, and unless we reckon it as crucified with Christ, we find our choices leaving us (and often those around us) in quite a mess. This is a good reminder, Marlena. Thanks!
Roxanne Robbins on January 17, 2016 at 4:16 pm
Another good reminder how sin can quickly destroy what we’ve valued and cultivated for years (i.e., relationships). Thank you for the good reminder to put our eyes on Christ, instead of our sinful desires, so we can wisely act in ways that protect the people the Lord’s entrusted us with rather than harm them.