Toldot “Generations”
Genesis 25:19–28:9
Malachi 1:1–2:7
Mark 1-5

All for a Bowl of Stew

"All your inheritance for a bowl of this stew." These are the words of Isaac to Esau. As you and I think over those words we consider just how ridiculous the offer is that is being made. Who in their right mind would accept such an offer and give up all that is his for a simple bowl of stew? Just how stupid can one man be anyway?

All the above may go through our minds, but truth is Esau is not the exception in the world, he is the rule! We see the spirit of Esau everywhere we look in this world of ours and in fact if we take an honest look we may be surprised how much of him we see in ourselves.

The attitude of Esau is one of instant gratification. It is the desire to have what I see in front of me right now, forgetting about the consequences of the decision or who it may affect or hurt in the end. It is an attitude which affected Eve's decision in the garden, and continues to this very day. It is an attitude which we must always guard against in these very turbulent days.

Today, America and much of the world is going through a very turbulent time – an understatement to say the least. No matter what governments and powers seem to do, it appears as if financial ruin is just around the corner. What is the reason for this global crisis? It is no more than the attitude of Esau being lived out and the consequences of this life being brought to full measure. It is living for the bowl of immediate stew for lunch at the expense of selling out the whole pantry of the future.

You and I are not immune from this attitude of Esau. Just think back to the last time you or I should have said no to something immediate and spent some time praying about it instead. How many decisions could we have made better if we had submitted those decisions to a few days of prayer and seeking the will of Elohim instead of taking immediate gratification?

Here we are nearing the end of the year 2008. We all are trying to find out where this year went. Time is going by so very fast. And with this speeding up of time we are all susceptible to decision making the Esau way, instead of His way. We all need to take time to take control of the world around us and the way we make decisions on a daily basis. We need to keep our eyes off the bowl of stew, which is repeatedly set before us throughout the day, and keep our gaze firmly affixed to the inheritance which is coming into view just over the horizon. If we will do this, we will not be swayed by every spiritual and physical bowl of stew that may be good for the moment, but in the end may cause us to lose sight of the inheritance which is rightfully ours.

I realize that most people reading this commentary do not base their lives on the Gregorian calendar, but yet we all are affected by it in some way. We see a year coming to an end and another one approaching. It is a time we all take to consider changes we should make in our lives. May I suggest that we take a few minutes today to consider how many decisions we made in the previous year that were based more on Esau's stew than on the will of HaShem. What were the consequences of those decisions and actions? How would your checkbook or life be different today had you waited instead of acted?

Let's all make a decision that throughout the coming year we will ask our Creator to reveal to us when the stew of Esau is placed in front of us. Let us ask for open eyes, minds and hearts, for the discernment to see the stew, and the wisdom to pass on eating it.

In the end passing on the stew of Esau may save us from shedding the tears of Esau!