THE PROFANE MAN

GENESIS 25:27-34, 27:34-41, 28:6-9, HEBREWS 12:14-17

Pastor Rick Jackson

God’s Word declares that Esau was a profane person. Profane is not a common adjective in our time but it is an apt one. “Profane” means a thorough secularization, someone who is profane has no place for God but are open to everyone and everything else. The profane person was unable, unworthy, and even unwilling to enter a sacred place. Esau was such a man- godless, without God, without thought of God or without caring what God may say about aspects of his life. The life of Esau is a great warning about losing so much to gain so little.

I. WHAT DID ESAU LOVE? The answer is simple- Esau loved Esau.

1. Self-centered [John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.]

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

2. Self-confident [Eph. 2:8-9]

Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Psalm 44:8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
Psalm 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psalm 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

3. Self-indulgent [2 Timothy 3:4]

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

II. WHAT DID ESAU LACK?

1. Discernment [2 Corinthians 4:18]

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

He could not discern true quality- the difference between the passing and the permanent. He, like many others, sacrificed the eternal on the altar of the immediate.

He could not discern true value- the difference between the “pricey” and the priceless. “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose.”

2. Devotion [Deuteronomy 6:5] He recognized no cause but his own.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

3. Discipline [Deuteronomy 6:6] He recognized no authority except his own.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

III. WHAT DID ESAU LOSE?

1. He Lost the Delight & Blessing He Could Have Been to Others [Gn. 26:34-35]

2. He Lost the Earthly Destiny that Could Have Been His [Heb. 12:16]

He wept but- Not because he was a sinner but because he was a loser
Not because he sold the birthright but because he lost it
Not because of his sin but because of his loss

3. He Lost the Eternal Destiny that Could Have Been His [Heb. 11:20-21, 12:14-16]