Esau, exhausted and famished from a fruitless hunt, stumbled toward home camp with aching legs and a look of dejection on his sunburned face. As he neared, the inviting aroma of his brother Jacob's famous lentil stew filled the air, a scent so welcome and invigorating that it brightened his eyes. Nobody made lentil stew as Jacob did, and Esau felt fortunate, certain that his twin brother would share some of the meal with his starving sibling. And so, Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way, thus despising his birthright for the immediate satisfaction of his hunger. Esau's impulsive need to eat right then, prioritizing the temporary relief of lentil stew over the vast future promised by his birthright, cost him dearly. This bowl of lentils became the symbol of his shortsightedness, a choice to satisfy the flesh instantly rather than wait for greater rewards. Each of us faces a similar decision, where our own bowl of lentils—any sin, behavior, or desire we place before the eternal promises of God—threatens to lead us to despise our own incredible birthright. We must recognize what we are putting ahead of God's offers, identifying our personal bowl of lentils, and choose to turn from it, focusing on the eternal value of what lies ahead.