Bible Truths – “Don’t Faint!”

“…as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16b

In the Old Testament, the birthright included all the rights that were bestowed upon the firstborn son.  We are not told specifically, but it probably included a greater portion of the inheritance than the other sons were given.  In Genesis, we read of Esau who sold his birthright, and all its benefits, to his younger brother, Jacob. Why did he sell it?  In the verse above, we can see that he sold it for one morsel of meat.  Why would a man do that?  Why sell all these benefits for just one morsel of meat?  Let us go back to the Book of Genesis and see.

…and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint…and Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright…and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Genesis 25:29-33

Why did Esau sell his birthright for one morsel of meat?  Because Esau felt he was about to faint.  He was out of energy.  We are told that he was so worn out that he thought he was at the point of death.  Esau serves as a warning about the dangers of fainting, or becoming weary.

We are given many exhortations in Scripture to not faint.  In II Corinthians 4:16 we read, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”  Physically, in our outward man, we will grow weary.  Jesus Himself, while He walked this earth, grew physically weary from His journeys (John 4:6).  But inwardly, spiritually, we are to faint not.  How can keep from fainting?  We must renew our spirit day by day.

In Luke 18:1 we read, “And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought to always pray, and not to faint.”  What does Jesus say will keep us from fainting, or growing weary spiritually?  Praying.  Always.  That is how we can renew our inner man day by day.

Why might our spirit grow weary during our lives on this earth?  Because as Christians, we are in a spiritual battle, each and every day we wrestle, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness, against sin.  As believers we must strive against sin (Heb 12:4) every day.  Our lives are not a walk in the park.  In fact, our lives, as believers are compared to a marathon.

Wherefore…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…for consider Him…lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.     Hebrews 12:1-3

We are in a battle, striving against sin, day by day.  We must not faint.  How can we keep from fainting?  Lay aside our sin.  Look unto Jesus.  Renew our spirit through constant prayer.  Grow through the study of the Word.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal 6:9

Pastor Lee Smith