12:16-17 What is the story behind what the writer says here about Esau?
12:16-17 What is the story behind what the writer says here about Esau?
(CP Gen 25:27-34; 27:30-40). The reason why Esau was rejected is because "he found no place of repentance".
He was remorseful because of what he had done, but not repentant in the sense that he was not sorry for what he had done because it was wrong. Esau is used here as a warning to Christians against rejecting God after having been recipients of His good things (CP He 6:4-6; 10:26-31; 2 Pe 2:20-22).
Esau was an example of a "profane person" - one who lacks all relationship and affinity to God. Esau's birthright was God's blessing upon the firstborn, but as we learned in Gen 25:34, Esau despised it, and in despising it, he despised God.
He wanted God's blessing, but he did not want God.