Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

interest was in the present. He was ready to sacrifice heavenly things
for earthly pleasures, to exchange a future good for a momentary
indulgence.
"Thus Esau despised his birthright." In giving it up he felt a
sense of relief. Now he could do as he liked. For this wild pleasure,
wrongly called freedom, many are still selling their birthright of an
eternal inheritance in the heavens!
Esau took two Hittite wives. They worshiped false gods, and
their idolatry was a bitter grief to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau had
violated one of the conditions of the covenant, which prohibited
intermarriage between the chosen people and the heathen; yet Isaac
was still determined to bestow the birthright on him.
Years passed. Isaac, who was old, blind and soon to die,
decided not to delay any longer in giving the blessing to his older
son. But knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob, he decided
to perform the solemn ceremony in secret. He instructed Esau, "Go
out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, ...
that my soul may bless you before I die."
Rebekah told Jacob what had taken place, urging immediate
action to keep the blessing from going to Esau. She assured her son
that if he would follow her directions, he would obtain the birthright
as God had promised. Jacob did not agree right away--the thought of
deceiving his father caused him great distress. Such a sin would
bring a curse rather than a blessing.
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