Lentil Stew

And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Genesis 25:34a ESV)

“Rinse and drain the dry lentils.”

“In a saucepan combine the lentils, chicken broth, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, celery, parsley, basil, garlic, and pepper.”

“Simmer for 45-50 minutes until lentils and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.”

That is the recipe for easy lentil stew by Mimi in Maine at Food.com. With the weather turning colder by the day, taking lentil stew is a good way to warm us up, especially when we are famished.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came back from the field (probably after hunting) and was famished. He said to Jacob to let him eat some of the stew because he was exhausted. We know the rest of the story, how Jacob struck a deal with Esau and how Esau disregarded his birthright and gave it up for bread and lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

Perhaps we might think of Esau as being foolish, but aren’t we sometimes like him? Do we not on occasions give up what is more important in exchange for something we long for or covet? What is the ‘lentil stew’ in our life that we are willing to let go our birthright to a closer relationship with God or even our faith? Is it our desires, our job, our preoccupations or even our loved ones? Whatever keeps us from God or a closer walk with Him is the ‘lentil stew’ we need to let go.

Many of us hunt to achieve our goals, but at the end of it all we find ourselves totally exhausted. We think to ourselves, “Surely there must be more to life than just these!”

Are we famished with desire to live out a more meaningful life? The pursuit of earthly satisfaction can never fill our heart’s emptiness for the One who created us, whose love for us knows no bounds. He is the One who willingly left His place in heaven, gave up His life and rose again so that we might call God, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6).

Whatever things were gain to us, therefore, let us now count as loss for the sake of Christ because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. In our labor and hard work, let us be found in Him not having a righteousness of our own, but through faith in Christ experience the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:7-11).

Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us what is more important than our work, our desires, our preoccupations or even our loved ones. Help us always to put You first in all areas of our life so that we might find true satisfaction in fulfilling Your will. Abba, Father, thank You for giving us Your Son so that we are able to experience the power of His resurrection through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in us. Renew in us a greater desire for our birthright to a closer relationship with You, for we long to know Christ Jesus our Lord and to become more like Him.