I always wondered why Esau was not only called a profane person but also a fornicator. Fornication is a broad word used for all manners of sexual immorality in the Bible but does not extend beyond it. The connection between fornication and the selling of his birthright for a meal was simply the indiscipline of not being able to delay gratification and hold on to the future destined for him. Esau valued temporary satisfaction above future inheritance. In the book of Proverbs, after the first warnings about associating with the financially greedy and covetous, the next is the admonition to stay away from the sexually inordinate. Again, this is an area where the unlearned cannot make sense of God’s principles because He planted the desires in us and our natural instincts tend to validate all of our desires. Why these strong desires will be in us naturally only to be denied expression by God’s laws begs for heaven’s explanations. Many have simply resigned to the belief that those laws are impossible and beyond human ability.
“For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life—” Proverbs 2:18-19 NKJV
“If it feels right, then it is right”, says the world in which we live today. That position led to the legitimization of polygamy, adultery and premarital sex from time immemorial. Typical of disorder, its perpetuation is endless and so, sodomy, bestiality and other perversions have followed. The day I saw marriage between same sexes legalized in parts of the world, I knew it wouldn’t be the end of it. Today, bestials are asking that their marriages to their dogs, cats, goats and sheep be sanctioned by governments and recognized globally. Western educational systems today teach children that they do not know their sexes until they are grown up. Their biological sexes are no longer to be recognized but their feelings. If our feelings validate our actions and orientation, we should excuse every thief, murderer, liar, paedophile and criminal because they just feel like doing evil. If feeling like it makes it right, polyandry should be validated, drive-by shootings should be excused and over speeding should be overlooked. Of course, I am sounding absurd and it is to drive home the point that since the fall of man, many evil instincts have taken root in his nature, for which God introduced the law for order, restraint and man’s realization of the need for a saviour. After salvation, these baser instincts continue to rear their ugly heads in the flesh but thank God for the victory we have by the Law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2). Yes, we have the victory but all it takes is to neglect walking in the Spirit and we will fulfill the same lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:6). However, sowing to the flesh leads to corruption. The consequences are too grave.
No matter how much men wish it or no matter how much some women claim to like it, never will a day come when women will love to share their husbands with others when they love their husbands sincerely. The woman who encourages her husband to marry another has hidden sinister motives or has other challenges to cover up. God designed sex to be enjoyed in monogamous relationships and research has proven that such long term consecrated relationships enjoy more satisfaction from coitus than those who engage with multiple partners. In the sanctity of such unions is found deep trust, safety and freedom from guilt, shame, fear and anxiety that plagues unwholesome sexual conduct. In such a positive atmosphere, the spirit and soul connection is deepened and intimacy is fostered. God is wiser than we all are and human experience proves it. Wherever indulgence is the way of life, diseases, jealousies, demonic transference and other vices abound. Rather than wait till the right time and for the right relationship, the enemy would rather unwanted pregnancies, responsibilities and challenges result. Wisdom is calling out to the straying one to wait for the right time or return to the place of safety.
Back to Esau the fornicator who arrived home with a legitimate need to eat. Eating is a matter of survival. Feelings of hunger are natural and instinctive. However, the inability of many young people to delay gratification has led them to lives and responsibilities they were not prepared for. Many young ladies deceived by the claim of love by young men have been emotionally crushed on discovering that their professed lovers turned against them and disowned the pregnancies or even their love after realizing that there were babies on the way. From puberty the feelings kick in. Strong desires for conjugation arise. However, the ability to delay gratification will save them from a lot of avoidable problems and train them to stay within the confines of marriage after wedlock. It will be discovered that the need to create and respect boundaries continues after marriage and the ability to delay gratification before marriage will serve them well in seasons of temporary separation from their spouses. Wisdom calls out to this generation to learn from history. Separations, divorce, diseases, untimely death, poverty, regrets and broken hearts are the result of uncontrolled sexual desires.
A calling to ministry or to leadership is a calling to great responsibility. It’s a calling to role modelling and excellence. To be a celebrity also places a burden on such. I have in my flesh wished I had no such calling in times of grave temptation. If it were not for a sense of responsibility, we all sure have evil tendencies in the flesh. I remember a former captain of my favourite EPL football club being booed as he entered the field on a match day. He had been found in an affair with the ‘ex girlfriend’ of a close friend. A higher standard of morality was expected of him. Unfortunately, he had disappointed his fans. Young people looked up to him as a role model and the lesson was further reinforced to me that as a Church leader, I have no excuses for not being a good example. I wish there was a special anointing to strengthen the preacher against temptations but alas, all he has is a stronger anointing to be a blessing. In his humanity, he is as ordinary as every other believer and challenged by the same limitations of his mortality. The honour of representing the Lord also comes with the responsibility to pay the price to live above board. Scandals, accusations and poor testimonies lead to heartbreak and sorrow. Wisdom calls out to the man of God to save himself and those who love him from disasters and difficulties. It is good to desire to be a leader but it also comes with the burden to be a role model. May the Lord strengthen us against the things that pull us away from Him.