Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. (Gen. 25:34)
In college, my professor took us to meet an urban minister. I was excited to learn from this seasoned leader, until I heard the size of his ministry. “Do you ever wonder if your time would be better spent in a larger ministry?” I asked. His response was swift, “This is where God called me. Overcoming this neighborhood’s systemic brokenness is not easy. However, if I lead these twenty-five people through God’s deep healing, their families will be transformed for generations.”
Esau’s grandfather, Abraham, had given away much of his wealth before he died, leaving his son Isaac with God’s promise of inheriting the land of Canaan (see Gen. 25:5–6). Canaan was famine-plagued, and Isaac hadn’t struck it rich yet (see Gen. 26:1, 12–13). Unable to see past the currently small value of his inheritance, Esau despised God’s promise to immensely bless his family.
So often, the lack of visible proof tempts us to give up on our God-given dreams. Yet Hebrews 11:1, 6 warns us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. . . . And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Do not let your current circumstance keep you from seeking God’s best for your life.
Pray for faith that sees past size.
Tamar Eisenmann and her husband are Wesleyan pastors from Jackson, Michigan. She is a Wesley Seminary doctoral student and a fan of Transformers, her kids, and Jesus.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
