cmiller

Esau is condemned because he acted as a man without grounding in the faith of his ancestors. He disregarded God's promise to his grandfather, and he acted without regard for the potential inheretance of his decendants. Bestowing Esau his birthright would be like casting pearls before swine. And, what about Jacob, the opportunist, the deceiver, I find it hard to reconcile his behavior. He believed his mother's counsel, that God told her he would be master over his brother ,and not trusting in God, took matters into his own hands to make it happen. It reminds me of the story of Sarah, Abraham and Hagar.