See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterwards, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

She took sermon notes, and I found a sheet in her Bible on which she had jotted down some great ‘quotable quotes.’ I was struck by this phrase: ‘Don’t sacrifice the ultimate on the altar of the immediate.’

That’s what Esau effectively did.

‘Short-term relief, long-term misery’, observes Tom Wright.

Someone said, ‘We make our choices, then our choices turn around and make us.’

Esau’s issue was not sexual, but he did nevertheless cave in to another lust of the flesh. He was like a child who preferred to have a chocolate bar, rather than a cheque for £1,000.

However, the text does speak seriously about avoiding sexual immorality. The church is increasingly hated in these days because we applaud, and communicate, and seek to honour the fences God, in His Word, has put around sex. ‘For best results follow the Maker’s Instructions’, and He who created human sexuality knows what is best for us. People are quick to say that the church is oppressive and repressive, but we want to simply say that the Lord has put those fences there for our protection, not to spoil our fun. He knows the danger that lies beyond them.

We cross His boundaries at our own peril.

‘God’s grace does not fail, but we can fail to depend on God’s grace. Esau is a warning to us not to live for lesser things.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘New Testament Commentary’, p.841.