Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/120

 of it  Jacob,  especially,  was  strengthened  in  confidence  in  God,  and purified by  the  very  consequences  of  his  deceit,  his  long  exile  and  servitude. He was  by  them  confirmed  in  humility  and  piety,  and  trained to be  a holy  man  of  God,  and  the  worthy  heir  of  the  promises.

The frivolity  and  greediness  of  Esau.  The  elder  brother  sinned by longing  too  greedily  for  the  mess  of  pottage,  and  by  selling,  in order  to  gratify  a desire  of  the  moment,  his  birthright,  to  which  were attached such  great  privileges. He ought  not  to  have  given  up  his right to  be  the  heir  of  the  promises,  and  the  forefather  of  the  Divine Redeemer, for  any  price  which  the  world  could  offer  him. By giving way to  a momentary  and  sensual  desire,  he  proved  how  little  he valued  the  good  things  of  a higher  kind  which  were  held  out  to  him. St Paul,  therefore,  calls  him  “a  profane  person”  (Hebr.  12,  16). Esau should have  overcome  his  inordinate  appetite. In order  to  attain  to the  virtue  of  temperance  we  must  carefully  deny  ourselves.

Sinful oaths.  Esau  also  sinned  by  lightly  taking  an  oath  which was not  necessary.

Anger is  a capital  sin.  Even  as  Esau  was  outwardly  rough  and hairy, so  also  was  his  character  harsh  and  ungovernable. He conceived a great anger  towards  his  brother;  his  anger  turned  to  hatred;  and hatred induced  him  to  form  the  wicked  project  of  killing  his  brother. In his  blind  passion  he  quite  forgot  how  the  murderer  Cain  had  been punished, and  gave  no  thought  to  the  grief  which  his  hatred  was  causing his parents  (compare  Commentary  on  the  envy  of  Cain.  Chapter  V).

The prophecy  of  Isaac.  While  blessing  Jacob  he  said: “And  let peoples serve  thee  and  tribes  worship  thee; be  thou  lord  of  thy  brethren and let  thy  mother’s  children  bow  down  before  thee. Cursed be  he that  curseth  thee,  and  let  him  that  blesseth  thee  be  filled  with  blessings.” This promise  has  found  its  most  complete  fulfilment  in  our  Divine Saviour who,  by  His  human  nature,  was  descended  from  Jacob. To Him all  Christian  nations  bow  down  as  to  their  supreme  Lord.

The folly  of  sinners.  Many  men,  alas,  imitate  foolish,  frivolous Esau, who  sold  such  great  treasures  for  a mere  mess  of  pottage. Every Christian who  commits  a mortal  sin  acts  more  foolishly  than  Esau;  for he barters  away  treasures  which  are  priceless  and  eternal  for  a passing, sinful desire. He renounces  the  grace  of  God,  inward  peace  and  joy, and all  his  merits;  and  draws  down  on  himself  the  curse  of  God  and eternal damnation. Therefore St  Paul  says:  “Look  diligently,  lest  any man be  wanting  in  the  grace  of  God,  lest  there  be  any  profane  person like Esau  who  for  one  mess  sold  his  birthright”  (Hebr.  12,  15  &amp;c.). Esau wept  loudly  for  the  loss  of  his  father’s  blessing;  but  how  will the children  of  this  world  mourn  and  wail  on  the  great  Day  of  Judgment? Stupefied by  their  passions,  they  bartered  away  their  claim  to  heaven and all  the  imperishable  treasures  of  the  children  of  God,  for  the