Today we take a step back to look at the bigger picture.
In this week’s parsha, Toldot, the Torah tells us (25:29) that Jacob was cooking a lentil soup as Esau returned from the field one day. Then the Torah adds, “and he was tired.” Esau asks for soup since, as he explains to Jacob, “I’m tired.”
Why all this emphasis on Esau being tired? If the Torah wants to quote his words, explaining that he’s tired, why tell us before? Or just tell us why he wanted soup and leave out his exact words!
What do you think the Torah is trying to teach us with this detail? How does it teach us something significant about Esau, and how is it a necessary set-up for the sale?
Think about this: Would you have sold your first-born birth-right for soup because you were weak and tired? (Presumably not!) Why not?
It seems that Esau cared more about the here-and-now than what would be later. He needed his needs met pronto! He was weak and tired and needed food. That was more important to him than something he wouldn’t be using/needing this second. He failed to think ahead, weigh the importance of two things, and consider the big picture.
When do we sometimes do that – live in the moment, the here-and-now while we should be thinking ahead or about the bigger picture?
Go around the table and give an example of when you lost sight of the greater goal or when you gave in to a fleeting mood/need/thought.
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