The Birthright and the Blessing: More Than a Bowl of Stew. Few biblical stories capture the danger of undervaluing God’s promises as vividly as Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew. The account is often reduced to a cautionary tale about impatience or bad decision-making, but Scripture presents something much deeper. The distinction between birthright and blessing is essential, as both carried spiritual weight that foreshadowed Christ.