Eisav said, “I am going to die; for what do I need the rights of the firstborn?” (Bereishis 25:32)
What did it mean to have the bechorah, to be the “firstborn”? It meant being a kohen and serving Hashem. It meant receiving the blessings that Hashem bestowed on Avraham Avinu, with all the happiness that goes along with it.
This was truly a desirable level. And, like all truly desirable levels, it was not just happiness and reward. Connected with it were also commands and requirements and punishments, and even the possibility of forfeiting one’s life.
This is why Eisav rejected the bechorah. He didn’t want to be the firstborn because of all the strings attached. He preferred to enjoy a lentil stew today, free of prohibitions and punishments. He didn’t want to be tied down to avodas Hashem with all the difficulties that are part of the deal, and this is why he was willing to forgo the great reward and abundant happiness that it ultimately brings.
This kind of reluctance to do what it takes is what ruins all happiness; not just that of Eisav back then, but also our happiness today. Everyone knows that resha’im are destined to suffer and pay the price, and that tzaddikim will inherit eternal reward in the World to Come. But some people are too lazy to invest the effort and do the work that goes along with avodas Hashem. As the Ramchal wrote in Mesilas Yesharim:
Some foolish people seek only to make things easier for themselves. They say, “Why should we exert ourselves by engaging in so much pious behavior and renunciation of physical pleasures? It’s enough for us not to be counted among the wicked who go to Gehinom. We don’t want to push ourselves into the inner precincts of Gan Eden. If we don’t have a great portion [of reward], we will at least have a small portion. That’s enough for us. We are not going to take a heavy burden upon ourselves just in order to get more.”
This approach is the root of all evil. This is what brought Eisav to the most severe transgressions.
Let’s be honest. At times we might envy people who follow a secular lifestyle, who act as if they are free from the mitzvos, who consider themselves exempt from all the obligations that weigh down on us. Let’s say a non-observant Jew feels like eating. He goes into a store, buys what he wants, and munches to his heart's delight.
But we observant Jews have so many mitzvos to do, and so many things to worry about, before we can put something into our mouths. First, we need to make sure that all the products we want to buy have proper kosher supervision. Then, when we want to eat what we bought, it’s not so simple. We need to wash our hands according to Halachah, recite a berachah with kavanah, and then sit down to eat in a modest and respectful manner. And when we finish eating, we aren’t done yet. We need to wash mayim acharonim, and then recite birkas hamazon, which has four long and difficult blessings that are to be said with kavanah. And these blessings are then followed by a long section of harachaman and more.
An observant Jew carries a burden. He doesn’t go through life carefree. He bears responsibility for every move he makes and is always concerned about avoiding sin.
But do we ever envy a horse? A horse is carefree, it doesn’t have to work for a living, there is plenty of food for it to eat in the fields and in the barn. It can lie down to sleep anywhere it feels like. It has no worries and just enjoys life.
Yet, no one is so silly that he wants to be a horse. Everyone wants to continue being a human being, despite all the difficulties and responsibilities that entails.
The Torah tells us about Eisav Harasha, that he preferred to slurp up lentil stew like an animal, instead of bearing the responsibility of avodas Hashem – despite all the true happiness that would bring him. And the Torah teaches us to stay away from Eisav’s ways.
Yaakov Avinu recognized the virtue of the bechorah and desired it, he accepted all the difficulties and punishments that come along with it. He was thus the one who merited receiving it, and he stuck to it with all his heart. We should do the same, and it will only bring us good.
