A Pot of Stew

Critics of the Bible say it’s outdated and irrelevant to modern society. Allow me to share just one example of why that’s not true.

Genesis 25 tells the story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau, the firstborn, was entitled to his family’s inheritance, a responsibility that required strong character and wisdom. Unfortunately, he had neither. That becomes clear when Esau returns home after a long day of hunting. He’s so hungry that he begs his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. Jacob, who was devious and conniving, says, “I’ll give you my stew if you’ll give me your inheritance.” Shockingly, Esau agrees to the trade.

What kind of a fool would trade their future for something worthless? People do it every day. They abandon their family for drugs and alcohol, their marriage for an affair, or their career for a risky get-rich-quick scheme.

A modern-day example of this is Jontay Porter, a professional basketball player who was banned from the sport after he was caught gambling on NBA games. His winnings amounted to just $21,000. Compare that to the millions he would have made over his career in the NBA. Porter risked everything for a bowl of stew. And lost it all.

Ancient wisdom is ancient precisely because it transcends generations, cultures and the ever-changing circumstances of the human experience. Ancient, yes – but as relevant today as the day it was written.