“Away from the Presence of His Brother Jacob” (Gen 36)

(vs6-8) “Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.”

The Lord Jesus is the pearl of great price, the most precious thing in all the world. Esau, however, didn't see it that way, losing his soul. He left Jacob, the one that God had blessed, and went off on his own, thinking that he had enough (Gen 33:9). His sons grew up to become great men, but they didn't have the gospel. And, what good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul (Matt 16:26)?

Esau pictures all who choose the “here and now”. They'd rather have the comfort of sin and the comfort of indifference to Christ, than to have the joy of obedience and the world to come. They choose the carnal, what can be seen and felt, over the spiritual, which is received by faith. But, in this short existence, it isn't worth it.

Unbelieving scientist estimate the world is several billion years old. They say, if the age of the earth were shortened into a single hour, man has only been in existence for 2 seconds. Yet, what about eternity? In the light of eternal hell or heaven, we've only been on this earth the blink of an eye, less than the snap of fingers together, and yet we live like eternity is easy to endure and everything is about what pleases me now.

Jacob had the blessing because he wouldn't take “no” for an answer (Gen 32:26). He sought it and got it. Esau had enough, so he didn't beg for the blessing, didn't stay near Jacob, didn't humble himself saying, “Jacob, you are blessed, and God has declared that He'll bless all who bless you. I am your servant. I bow to you. Just make SURE that I'm blessed of God, too” (Gen 27:27-29). If he'd done this, he'd be in heaven, instead of awaiting judgment for his sins.

Don't think that becoming great in this world will make up for the Judgment Day and ease the pain. Becoming a NFL star, governor, billionaire, or otherwise happy and worldly wise person will account for nothing. Esau's sons were chiefs and great men, ruling kingdoms, and yet without God's mercy, it is nothing but short lived pleasure that will be vomited out in the tortures of hell (Gen 36:15-19, 40-43).

Don't be so foolish as to choose this present and very brief world over the eternal world to come. Don't choose to WALK AWAY from the One whom God has blessed, the Lord Jesus. Bow to Him, and He'll be gracious to you.