Jacob ended up with the birthright because God sovereignly ordained the younger before birth and because Esau, a man destitute of faith, sold it to him.
In Genesis 25:23, the LORD told Rebekah before the twins were born that the elder would serve the younger. Les Feldick teaches that Esau canceled his place in the Messianic line by his lack of faith, so the birthright fell to Jacob. Les also says Jacob did not deceive Esau; Esau agreed to sell the birthright for food.
Genesis 25:23 — This is the pre-birth declaration that the elder son would serve the younger, which directly answers why Jacob ended up with the birthright.
Genesis 25:25-26 — This records the twins' birth order and Jacob's birth while gripping Esau's heel, the historical context for the younger being chosen.
Genesis 25:29-34 — This is the actual transaction where Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for food, showing the human side of the event.
The Scripture records that Rebekah asked the LORD why her twins struggled within her, and the LORD replied that two nations were in her womb and that one people would be stronger than the other, with the elder serving the younger (Genesis 25:23). After the boys were born, Esau came out first, and Jacob came out second with his hand taking hold of Esau's heel (Genesis 25:25-26). The birthright itself was transferred when Esau came in faint from the field and asked Jacob for the red pottage. Jacob said to sell him the birthright, and Esau agreed and swore to it; the text concludes that Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).
Les Feldick teaches that the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position: the eldest son was the family priest and spiritual leader. In Abraham's line, the birthright carried the line through which the promised Messiah, the Redeemer, would come, which made God's sovereign will essential. Esau could have been in that line by being born first, but he canceled it because of his lack of faith, and it fell to Jacob. Les says Jacob got the birthright not really by deceiving Esau; he cannot see that Jacob deceived him. God had mandated Jacob's position before the boys were ever born, and Les points to God's foreknowledge: before the lads were born, God could see the end from the beginning and knew Esau would be destitute of faith. The material blessing was a separate matter, and Esau cared about the double portion of wealth, not the spiritual birthright.
Les explains that the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position. The eldest son was more or less the priest of the family and its spiritual leader. But in Abraham's family, it was more than that: through this line the promised Messiah, the Redeemer, would come. This made it essential that God's sovereign will be accomplished. Esau, though firstborn, canceled his place because of his lack of faith, so the birthright fell to Jacob.
Les does not see the birthright transaction as deception. He says Jacob got the birthright not really by deceiving Esau. On the day the birthright changed hands, Esau was the one doing the asking: he wanted Jacob's red bean soup. Jacob simply said to sell him the birthright, and Esau agreed and swore to it. Later, when Esau claimed Jacob had taken his birthright, Les says that was not true — Jacob simply was in a position to ask Esau to sell it, and Esau sold it.
God told Rebekah before the twins were born that the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Les stresses that God mandated Jacob's position before they were ever born. He explains that God in His foreknowledge could see the end from the beginning and knew Esau would be destitute of faith. For Les, this makes the outcome God's purpose, even though later Rebekah and Jacob connived to obtain Isaac's blessing — that conniving was still within God's sovereign plan.
The Birthright Explained: Why God Chose Jacob Over Esau
so forth. And then Abraham came on down into Canaan. Now it's time for Isaac to have a wife. He's 40 years old. But contrary to the behavior of Ishmael, who married Canaanite women, I imagine God laid it upon the heart of Abraham and Terah that Isaac has to have a wife from the place of their forebears, which was up in Syria.
The Birthright and the Messiah Line
Les explains that the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position and carried the line through which the promised Messiah would come. Esau canceled his place by lack of faith, so it fell to Jacob.
Birthright Sold at Age Twenty-Four
Les places the birthright sale when the boys were 24 and says it did not create immediate enmity. Esau's later choices reinforce that he was a man destitute of faith.
God Mandated Jacob's Position Before Birth
Les stresses that God had mandated Jacob's position before the boys were ever born. Even Rebekah and Jacob's later conniving was within God's sovereign plan.
The Blessing Was the Material Double Portion
Les distinguishes the material blessing from the spiritual birthright. The blessing included a double portion of Isaac's wealth, which is why Esau cared about it.
Esau Cared About the Blessing, Not the Birthright
Les shows that the birthright meant nothing to Esau, so it caused no hard feelings. Esau became upset only when he lost the material blessing.
God's Foreknowledge of Esau's Lack of Faith
Les says God in foreknowledge knew before the boys were born that Esau would be destitute of faith, which is why Jacob was the one through whom the promises would come.
Esau's Own Choice to Sell the Birthright
Les counters Esau's later claim that Jacob took his birthright. The first transaction was Esau's own asking and choice to sell it.
Genesis 25:23: And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
This is God's direct answer to Rebekah before the twins' birth.
Genesis 25:25-26: And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
This records Esau's birth first and Jacob's birth while grasping Esau's heel, setting up the younger son.
Genesis 25:29-34: And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 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.
This is the historical account of Esau selling the birthright to Jacob for pottage.
Genesis 27:36-37: 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? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
This records Esau's later complaint and Isaac's reply after Jacob received the blessing.
Yes. In Genesis 25:23 the LORD told Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and that the elder would serve the younger. Les Feldick says God mandated Jacob's position before they were ever born, and that God in foreknowledge knew Esau would be destitute of faith.
Les says Jacob did not really deceive Esau. Esau was the one who asked for the red bean soup, and when Jacob said to sell him the birthright, Esau agreed and swore to it. Later Esau's claim that Jacob took his birthright was not true.
Les teaches that the birthright was the spiritual side of the family position and, in Abraham's line, the position through which the Messiah would come. The blessing was a double portion of Isaac's material estate, which is what Esau cared about. Esau's lack of faith caused him to cancel his place in the birthright.
Watch the Teaching: The Birthright Explained: Why God Chose Jacob Over Esau