Tuesday 28 February

I contribute to an online devotional, called Vertical, and I also use it in my own devotion time. I always like to have a nosey at the ‘about the author’ section to find out more about my fellow contributors.  One day last week all it said was ‘Michael Petersen, Chase Oaks parishioner.’  Now most people talk about their family, maybe their occupation or life experience; I usually include that I write this quick word for Christian radio.  I want people to respect me, to think I’m worth listening to.  In short, I want people to know something impressive about me.  But not Michael Petersen.  He was happy to be known simply as a part of the church.  It struck me as very humble.  And not much like me!

The devotional reading that day was Genesis 25:19-34 a story of two brothers.  Here’s what happens –

“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!” …

 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.”

When I started reading it I couldn’t imagine how Esau could be so crazy – to put something like a bowl of food above his future.  It seemed like a crazy, inconceivable swap to fulfil an instant need or desire at the sacrifice of an eternal one.  But then I came to that author’s note at the bottom and started to thing about the things the Bible has to say about being humble. “Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5 v 5) for example.  Letting people think I’m cool, making them impressed with me, being prideful, it’s a momentary pleasure.  It fulfills me in a way, yes, but perhaps at too great a sacrifice.  Maybe I’m not that different from Esau after all – maybe I too swap an instant need or desire at the sacrifice of an eternal one.  Maybe, in different ways, we all do.  It’s something to think about today.