Think about how often we make cavalier statements. We sloppily allow words to stumble from our lips. We say things flippantly, without ever considering the power of words and the wrong thinking behind them. How many times have you said things like: “My neck is killing me,” or, “I’m starving to death.”? These are exaggerated statements that declare serious things we don’t really intend. Isn’t the truth more like: “My neck hurts,” and, “I’m hungry.”?
How about the way we diminish what words mean, at times, when we say things like: “I love my new truck; I love my job; I love my football team.” Love is not reserved for things, but for people. God is love and as much as you might enjoy your new “4 X 4”, you can’t love it!
Do you think I am making more of this than I should? Well, I bet Esau wished he could take back his words. He was simply tired and hungry, but said this instead. “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” He didn’t know it at the time, but his entire future was wrapped up in those thirteen words. Stinking thinking and rash remarks changed the trajectory of his life and the course of history. His entire legacy was at stake and he didn’t even know it.
No one describes it better than the prophet Obadiah many years later. “”And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” for the Lord has spoken.” Esau had surrendered his birthright and spoken death over his own life. The true proverb says it like this; “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” “I am about to die…” Yep, Esau spoke death over his own life and that is the fruit he ate.
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