Weekly Sidra: Toledot (Generations)
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haftorah: Sh’muel Alef / I Samuel 20:18-20:42

31. And Jacob said, "Sell me as of this day your birthright." 32. Esau replied, "Behold, I am going to die; so why do I need this birthright?" 33. And Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day"; so he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob. 34. And Jacob gave Esau bread and a pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank and arose and left, and Esau despised the birthright. (Bereshit 25: 31-34)

This week’s reading is all about choices.  We begin by reading about the struggles of the twins (Esau and Jacob) in Rebekah’s womb and the fact that the older shall serve the younger (25:23b).  We also read that Isaac favoured Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah favoured Jacob. (25:28) 

Then we read that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. The rights of a firstborn male in Judaism are important and are blessed by HaShem. We read of the redemption of the firstborn in the Pidyon HaBen ceremony. (Pidyon HaBen) So this was something not to be taken lightly.

There is a famous phrase that says “You are where you are by the choices you make”.

Now Esau did not have to sell his birthright.  He could have made his own bowl of stew.  He was a hunter and we see later on that he prepares game in order to get a blessing from his father.  So he simply does not seem to care about his birthright.

He trades the eternal blessings for a temporary meal.  He does not stop to consider the consequences of his actions.  Afterwards, Esau loses the blessing of his father. [Esau] said, "Was he, then, named Jacob that he might supplant me these two times? First he took away my birthright and now he has taken away my blessing! (27:36)

Although, it may appear that Esau was tricked by Jacob, it could be argued that Esau got what he deserved because he spurned the blessings of HaShem.  The lineage of the Jewish people is the antithesis of Esau, instead of firstborn after firstborn after firstborn; the spiritual legacy which we carry is of those who chose to serve God regardless of station, and at times despite modest ancestry. This is the significance of God’s resounding declaration that we are His firstborn.

Others willing to serve in the future will likewise merit this status: Rabbi Natan said: "The Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses: ‘Just as I have made Jacob a firstborn, for it says: Israel is My son, My firstborn, so will I make the King Messiah a firstborn, as it says: I also will appoint him firstborn (Psalms 89:28). (Midrash Rabbah – Exodus 19:7)

One day the Messiah himself will merit to be called a firstborn. He will help teach the world that being a child of God transcends lineage. And that being a firstborn of God is about how we lead our lives, it is the manifestation of the image of God within, not a question of sequence of birth.

How about our lives? Are we willing to trade the Blessings of HaShem for the temporal things of this world?  Do we want to work on Shabbat because we just need the money?  Do we want to eat treif because it is too hard to keep kosher?

The Blessings of HaShem are ours for eternity.  Let us not sell them for one bowl of stew.