Bibledoorajar Looks at Parental Advice and Sin

We last discussed the behavior that led to the lament of Esau. With carelessness of thought he allowed his brother to induce a commitment to give up the portion the father was to give him as the firstborn.
It seems clear from the record that  Isaac, now very old, had not understood that this had taken place. It is not as clear what Rebecca may have known. However, we know that sooner or later she would make the decision to further help Jacob secure the blessing from Isaac. We know the parents were talking with Esau about godly behavior because they implored him to not marry among the Canaanite women, but rather to pursue a relationship consistent with God's purposes. However, Esau did not follow his parental advice and married not only outside of the promise ( a step too often taken today) but he married two Hittite women at the same time, Judith and Bashemath. Esau was becoming more and more separated from the morals and values of his parents. The record records that this brought great grief to his parents. To disrespect the wishes of both God and his parents led the Holy Spirit to record this about Rebecca's eldest son in Hebrews:

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."  Heb. 12:16

This comment is found in one of the Christian's primary sources of truth on faith in God and a belief in His ways as a major factor in spiritual survivability. Esau is called profane. He ruined the gracious gifts of God for his life by desecration of the principles and values that God was establishing in a future people.

I can hear Isaac and Rebecca imploring with their son. "Please, please." It is an imploring that continues to this day; "son, daughter, do not stray from the principles of God and certainly don't throw off Christianity for a lower life." Indeed, even as we mature, Christians have to help each other remember that even though we have the combination of God's power and His forgiveness, it does not mean that we are immune to major delusions or temptations. Just yesterday, the preacher warned, don't be deluded by this "spirit of hopelessness about our country's current situation." Don't be hopeless which could make you subject to temptations and other delusions." It is a good thing to remember that our hope is in God and our primary thought processes must be to secure our spiritual position. Unlike Esau, we must not let the evil one rule our minds and thoughts. We may have to fight, but in the Lord's might we can win.