Choice and opportunity
" And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?... And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:32-34).

This week's Parsha starts with a well known story. Jacob makes some fine stew, somehow convinces his brother to sell his birthright for a bowl, and that's how we got to be who we are today. We all learn that Jacob got the best of this deal, but what I would like to ponder is 'what was עשו thinking'? and furthermore, why is the Torah telling us this story?

If we look closely at the psukim, we can see exactly how עשו treated his privilege.



From these psukim we can see that עשו not only gave up his birthright, but sees no worth to it and feels that he got the better of this deal with his brother. At this point of the story, the only thing עשו knows is that he is hungry and there is food right in front of him. He does not know the value of his birthright, nor does he care for it. He realizes it's worth a number of years later, when his father יצחק wishes to bless his sons. Only then does he understand some of what he gave up - but even then not all of it. Because all he sees are the worldly benefits of the בכורה, the better brachos that יעקב got. His father tries to comfort him by giving him some, but at this point he already realizes his folly.

Since we know and can appreciate the spiritual value of the בכורה, we know that our side got the best of it. But back then, עשו walked away with a full stomach and no holes in his pocket. Now we can understand how this trade took place, but are left with our second question: why is it mentioned?

The Torah does not randomly spit out stories. The selling of the birthright is indeed a one-time occurrence, but only in it's details. The idea standing behind it is one we face every day. It is the concept of choosing between two possibilities. If given the choice between a million dollars (tax free) and going to a shiur once, how many of us would pick the shiur? Shamefully I admit that I wouldn't. And there is no reason to go so far. How about going to a shiur or staying home to watch the football/hockey game? Or getting up earlier to learn in a חברותא?

We are, however, a lot closer than עשו was to realizing the best deal. We have yet a lot to learn in order to be able to make the trade from יעקב's side and not עשו's. but we know the true worth of our birthright, and that is already a huge step in the right direction.