The Esau Syndrome.

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Google defines syndrome as a group of medical signs and symptoms that happen together. They point to a specific condition, problem, or mental state, even if the exact root cause is still unknown. Keeping in mind, let’s examine the life and struggles of Esau.

Most of us know the story of the struggles Esau endured. Genesis 25 warns of the coming conflict in his life. Genesis 25:21 “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. Genesis 25:22-23: “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord

The Lord said to her,“Two nations are in your womb,and two peoples from within you will be separated;one people will be stronger than the other,and the older will serve the younger.”

Esau was the older who would serve the younger. This is not an issue that God created. It is an issue that God foretold. God knew the nature that Esau would choose. Jacob was a usurper by nature and the nature of Esau gave room for Jacob’s nature to develop. Both parents enabled the personalities of their sons by playing favorites. Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob. The essence is that this family of four each chose to do things their own way instead of choosing God’s way.

The storm escalated. First, because he was hungry from hunting, Esau sold his birthright as first born to Jacob for a pot of lentil soup. Genesis 25: 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.”

Esau’s further rebellion was expressed in his marriages. Genesis 26:34-35 “ When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.”

Years later, with the help of his mother, Jacob tricked his father into giving him a blessing meant for Esau. Jacob already had the birthright, but he wanted the blessing as well. Even though he had despised his birthright, Esau wanted the blessing. Perhaps he thought that through the blessing, the birthright would return to him.

When Esau cried out for a blessing, Isaac gave him the truth. Genesis 27:38-40 “His father Isaac answered him, “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.”

Although both brothers were involved in the improprieties, Jacob repented and Esau did not. Both became rich, powerful and influential. Jacob became an ancestor of our Lord. Esau and his descendants, the Edomities, eventually were absorbed as a recognizable group and vanished from the pages of history.

One distinctive descendant of Esau was Herod who was appointed king during the Roman occupation of Israel. He was the appointed king when Jesus was born. He was appointed, but not anointed. He sought to remain king of the Jews by killing the rightful king. Hence, the massacre of the infants. That horrific incident was set in motion 2000 years earlier when Esau despised his birthright.

Our actions and decisions can set in motion blessings or cursings. Repentance and forgiveness allow us to step out of the Esau syndrome and into the glorious truth and blessing of a life following the Lord.