Anger Can Lead to Sin
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Anger is a powerful emotion and can lead to sin (James 1:19-20).
Esau had a reason to be angry. His twin brother, with the help of their mother Rebekah, had deceived their father Isaac into giving the birthright blessing to Jacob. Even though God intended the blessing to go to Jacob, the way Rebekah and Jacob handled it was deceptive and wrong.
Unfortunately, Esau didn’t handle the situation the right way either, and he let his anger turn into a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). Once people allow hatred to develop in their hearts, they are guilty of the spirit of murder (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15). This is why Christians must be vigilant to not let anger grow and fester in their minds (Ephesians 4:26).
Esau decided to kill Jacob, but he was planning to wait until the death of his father Isaac. Rebekah found out about her son’s plan and sent Jacob away to stay with her brother Laban until Esau’s anger had passed (Genesis 27:42-45).
Anger can be disastrous in many ways. If we are angry, we must control it. And we must avoid others who routinely and consistently exhibit this powerful emotion that can rub off on us (Proverbs 22:24).
To learn more about the danger of anger, read “What Does the Bible Say About Anger?”
Tomorrow on the Daily Bible Verse Blog: “Blessings of Abraham Passed Down.”
