When faced with hunger and tiredness after a hunt, Esau was quick to think that he was “going to die soon”. What benefits could he gain from being the firstborn son? 

(Genesis 25:32 NIV)

Esau – he hunts. When he is hungry, he hunts and gets immediate gratification from hunger.

Jacob – he grows his own produce and rears his own sheep and cattle. When he is hungry, he harvests and cooks a meal knowing that there are more to come.

Not just instant gratification but also long-term planning. 

Who would you rather be? We need to be both Esau and Jacob.

We need to gain short-term results, as well as have long-term goals in mind.  

Perhaps you are holding a job which gives you short-term gratification of a salary that meets your daily needs. But look beyond it, and have long term goals.

Who do you want to be, and what you wish to achieve in your lifetime, are long term goals you should always keep in your mind. 

Even the far-sighted Jacob had not thought of venturing out beyond his familiar territory. 

Now having received the blessings of the firstborn son, and faced with murderous intent from Esau, he took the chance and fled to his uncle’s home faraway to start a new life.

This escape to Laban, his uncle’s home, was the next turning point in Jacob’s life towards fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac…

And towards becoming who he desired to be; and what he aimed to achieve.

Set your sights on your short term goal, while keeping your long term goal in mind!