Romans 9:13-15 - "Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Why did God hate Esau? If God hated someone, shouldn’t there be a genuine reason?

As a first-born, Esau was assumed the birthright, the double portion of his father’s blessings, and the priesthood of the family. But, instead of gaining his rightful blessing, he lost it all.

Why was Esau hated by God and how did he lose his blessings?

Hebrews 12:15-17 - "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done."

Genesis 25:29-34 - "Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 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."

He couldn’t overcome temptation

1 John 2:15 - "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life."

Like Esau, we can end up trading what God wanted to give you for a single bowl of stew. Fleshly desires can derail destiny if you let them, because if you don't understand your calling, you'll undervalue it.

Eve was deceived by the same temptation in the garden of Eden, but Jesus overcame that same temptation in the desert.

He sold his inheritance right as the oldest son for a single meal

He lost his position just like the angels lost their position in heaven

Jude 1: 6 – “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”

He rebelled against his father by marrying gentile women

Genesis 26:35 - "When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah."

Genesis 27:46 - "Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women."

Genesis 28:8-9 - "Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; 9 so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had."

Colossians 3: 20 - "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."

Parents have the God given authority to bless their children – if children disobey their parents, it will be considered as though we disobey God.

We can have a hundred promises but lose them all at the same time if we do not live up to the level of our call.

Esau should’ve been known as one of the patriarchs. It should’ve been “Abraham, Isaac and Esau”.

Reuben also had a birthright as the oldest son – the double portion blessing and the priesthood.

But he also did not keep his position.

Genesis 49: 3 - “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.”

Reuben lost his birthright.

God took his double portion and gave it to Joseph and the priesthood to Levi.

Revelation 2: 5 – “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Revelation 3: 11 - “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

Satan knows that you are a believer and you have a great reward in heaven, and if he can't take you to hell, he will definitely keep you from receiving your reward from heaven.

Satan is the one who will tempt you. However, once you give into temptation, he is the same one who will condemn you. Remember God convicts, but Satan condemns. He will tell you that because of your sin, God can no longer use you and make you feel wretched, enough to make you give up your calling.

Don't trade forever for a moment. Resolve to stand up and take your place in the kingdom of God that you were born to inherit.

Let us examine our hearts – if we have failed in any area causing us to miss our promises and blessings, let us return to God, our blessings will not be removed.

Hebrews 12: 23 – “The church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.”

Because we are called the firstborn, with all the birthright given to us, let us hold onto what we have through the cross and our Lord Jesus Christ!