The birthright was the spiritual inheritance and the blessing was the material inheritance; Esau forfeited both through lack of faith, and God gave them to Jacob.
Les Feldick teaches that the firstborn son received both the spiritual birthright and the material blessing. Esau, being destitute of faith, saw no value in the spiritual birthright and sold it for food. Isaac then pronounced the material blessing on Jacob, and under ancient law it could not be revoked. Esau was not cheated; he simply had no faith and deserved nothing.
Genesis 25:32-34 — Records Esau's willingness to sell his birthright for food, showing his disregard for the spiritual inheritance.
Genesis 27:33 — Isaac's declaration that he has blessed Jacob and 'he shall be blessed' shows the permanence of the spoken blessing.
Hebrews 11:6 — States that without faith it is impossible to please God, the standard Les applies to Esau's disqualification.
The Bible records the transaction in Genesis 25. Esau comes in from the field and says, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" (Gen 25:32). Jacob asks him to swear, and "he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob" (Gen 25:33). Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and "Esau despised his birthright" (Gen 25:34). Later, when Isaac realizes Jacob has received the blessing, he tells Esau, "And he shall be blessed" (Gen 27:33). The New Testament affirms that "without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb 11:6).
Les Feldick explains that the birthright and the blessing were two different aspects of the firstborn son's position. The birthright was the spiritual side—the spiritual blessing that belonged to the eldest son and, in the family of Abraham, was tied to the coming of the Messiah. The blessing was the material side: the double portion of the estate. Esau was destitute of faith, so he saw no value in the spiritual birthright and sold it for a bowl of bean soup. He only became upset when the material blessing was at stake. Les emphasizes that Jacob did not steal the birthright—Esau willingly sold it. In God's sovereign plan, Esau's lack of faith disqualified him, while Jacob, who had at least a flicker of faith, received both. Once Isaac spoke the blessing, it could not be taken back because in the ancient Middle East a spoken decree was final. Therefore Esau was not cheated; he simply did not deserve it.
Les Feldick teaches that the birthright was "the spiritual blessing" that was "a part and parcel of the eldest son." In this family descended from Abraham, the spiritual birthright was associated with the coming of the Messiah. Esau, however, was destitute of faith and saw absolutely no value in it, so he gave it up for a bowl of bean soup.
The blessing concerned "the double portion of the material estate." Les says this was what Esau really cared about—it was getting into their pocketbook. While the birthright did not cause turmoil between the brothers, the blessing did, because it involved the physical inheritance.
God had seen that Esau had "no faith," and Hebrews 11:6 says "without faith it is impossible to please God." Les teaches that no matter how good Esau might have been morally, God could not use him. Esau also showed his condition by despising the spiritual birthright and later marrying among the Hittites and Canaanites.
No. According to "the Law of the Ancients," once a spoken decree was made it was done. Isaac therefore could not change the blessing that had already been given to Jacob. When Esau begged for a blessing, Isaac trembled and said, "And he shall be blessed."
In the matter of the birthright, Les says Jacob did not take it away—Esau himself asked what profit it was and agreed to sell it. However, when Esau said, "He hath taken away my blessing," Les acknowledges that this was true; the blessing had indeed been given to Jacob.
God Rejects Esau for Lack of Faith
Les teaches that God could not use Esau because he had no faith, and that Jacob's claim to be firstborn was in line with God's mandate.
The Blessing Is the Double Portion
Les explains that Esau was not concerned about the birthright; the material blessing—the double portion of the estate—was what caused the conflict.
Esau Sells His Birthright
Esau's question, 'What profit shall this birthright do to me?' shows he was ready to trade the spiritual birthright for food because he had no faith.
The Birthright Points to the Messiah
Les connects the spiritual birthright to the coming of the Messiah, showing why Jacob valued it and why faithless Esau did not.
The Blessing Cannot Be Changed
Under the Law of the Ancients, the spoken blessing was final; Esau deserved nothing because he lacked faith and was immoral.
Jacob's Flicker of Faith
Jacob's plea for a blessing while wrestling with God reveals the small flicker of faith that Esau completely lacked.
Jacob Did Not Steal the Birthright
Les corrects Esau's accusation: Jacob did not take the birthright—Esau willingly sold it; but the blessing truly was taken by Jacob.
Isaac Confirms the Blessing Stands
Even while trembling, Isaac says of Jacob, 'And he shall be blessed,' demonstrating the irreversible nature of the spoken blessing.
Genesis 25:32: And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
This verse captures Esau's disregard for the spiritual value of the birthright.
Genesis 25:33: And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Esau sealed the transaction with an oath, transferring his birthright to Jacob.
Genesis 25:34: Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
The passage concludes that Esau despised the very birthright he had sold.
Genesis 27:33: And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
Isaac confirms that the blessing he gave to Jacob cannot be undone.
Genesis 27:36: And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Esau accuses Jacob of taking both his birthright and his blessing.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This is the standard Les uses to explain why Esau could not be used by God.
Genesis 32:26: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Jacob's insistence on receiving a blessing shows the faith that Esau lacked.
No. Les Feldick teaches that Esau willingly sold his birthright to Jacob for food. Jacob simply said he would not give him the food unless Esau sold him the birthright, and Esau agreed.
Esau lost the blessing because he was destitute of faith and had no regard for spiritual things. Once Isaac spoke the blessing over Jacob, it could not be changed. Les says Esau deserved nothing.
According to Les Feldick, the birthright was the spiritual blessing that belonged to the eldest son, and in the family of Abraham it was associated with the coming of the Messiah.
Les doubts that Esau was morally good and points to his marriages to Hittite and Canaanite women as evidence. Even if he had been moral, his lack of faith disqualified him.