Why did Jacob want the spiritual birthright?
Jacob wanted the spiritual birthright because he understood there was something to be gained in the spiritual realm by being in the line of the promise made to Abraham. The birthright was associated with the coming of the Messiah, and Jacob valued that spiritual blessing, unlike Esau who was destitute of faith.
Les explains that the spiritual birthright was associated with the coming of the Messiah. Jacob understood that there was something to be gained in the spiritual realm by being in the line of the promise made to Abraham. Esau, by contrast, was destitute of faith and saw no value in the birthright; he would rather have a bowl of bean soup. Hebrews chapter 12 shows Esau was not just physically hungry but spiritually destitute, and when there is no faith it shows throughout the whole being. Jacob later also ended up with the blessing, the material part of the estate.