Hebrews 12:17 – “For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
The scripture above is referring to Esau. The previous verse says, “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” These two verses coupled together give us insight into what was going on in Esau’s life. He wanted to inherit the blessing, the birthright, so badly that he even wept over it. Remember Genesis chapter 25? Esau’s brother Jacob deceived his father Isaac into pronouncing the blessing of the birthright upon him instead of his brother Esau. This infuriated Esau to the point of threatening to kill him. Esau’s loss of the birthright caused him to weep, but not in repentance for what he had done. He was sad that he missed the blessing. Our text says that he “found no place for repentance.” He was after the blessing but not interested in change.
This verse captivated my attention because of some thoughts I’ve had recently. People seem to be very interested in getting saved, but not as interested in becoming Christian. In other words, people want the benefit of salvation (eternal life) but not the discipline of Christianity (a changed life). I’ve thought about challenging people at the end of my messages to a changed life rather than a decision to “escape the fires of hell.” Who wouldn’t want heaven? But we are called to make disciples aren’t we? That means something has to give. There has to be a rearranging of priorities. Something has to die in order to live. Something must be turned away from and forsaken. Not too popular I know, but nonetheless essential to maintain the power and purity of the message of Christ.
Esau wanted the blessing and not repentance. Let’s not get suckered into a message that is not life changing.