s, according to the law of primogeniture in that day, gave him
special privileges, among which was the right on his part to a double
portion of the heritage to be received from the father.

This right Jacob treacherously bought of his brother Esau. Rebekah,
their mother, was favorable to the contract, and laid the plan for its
successful completion. Esau had been unsuccessful in his pursuit of
game, and soon found himself in a famishing condition. Jacob took
advantage of this, and proposed to purchase the birthright. He said to
Esau: "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 he sold his birthright to Jacob. "Then Jacob gave Esau bread and a
mess of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up and went his
way: thus Esau despised his birthright."

Esau is here regarded as a profane or wicked person, because he did
not more highly esteem the blessing to which he was born. Paul refers
to this fact, to teach us that it is our duty, as the regenerated or
"firstborn" children of God, to place a very high value upon our
relation to him conferred by this birth.

"Esau found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with
tears." This means that all his sorrow or regret for the foolish
bargain he had made would not and could not place him back where he
was before. The blessing of his father had been given to another past
all possibility of calling it back. I do not, and can not, however, as
some do, apply this to the sin against the Holy Ghost. The blessing of
Jacob was all external. It comprehended only earthly things. I will
read it, so that you may hear it: "God give thee of the dew of heaven,
and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let people
serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren,
and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that
curseth thee; and blessed be he that blesseth thee." There is nothing
in all this giving Jacob any claim to special favor from God, beyond
that of mere earthly good. Neither does the sale of the birthright
exclude Esau from any higher claim. He did not sell his right to serve
the Lord, and thus inherit a heavenly blessing.

The people of God sometimes do things in the way of sin that cause
them deep distress. At the same time they do not shut themselves
irrevocably out of heaven, because repentance and reformation of life