Our Journey Home Series
Youtube: An Evolution of Values
The Bible can be read on many levels. The literalist will read it as history. The scholar will read it as the product of the human mind setting forth religious and cultural values. The metaphysician will treat the characters, locations, and actions portrayed as elements of the human consciousness.
When treated metaphysically, we can see the story of Jacob and Esau as representing our transition from the body-centered consciousness to spirit-centered awareness. The two brothers were twins, with Esau being the firstborn and the rightful inheritor of the lion’s share of the family wealth. Esau was a physical man, a hunter, a “man of the field,” while Jacob is described as “a quiet man dwelling in tents.” Esau represents the body-based aspect of our identity. Jacob displays the characteristics of the spiritually developing consciousness. His name means, supplanter.
One day Esau comes in from the field famished and finds Jacob cooking a pottage of lentils. When he asks for something to eat, Jacob makes him swear that he will sell him his birthright (his inheritance). “I am about to die,” Esau says, “Of what use is a birthright to me?” Hence, we have the origin of selling the soul for a bowl of pottage.
Esau represents that aspect of our consciousness focused only on appeasing the needs of the body. The birthright is symbolic of our spiritual inheritance, our conscious union with God, our source. Spiritual concerns are of little consequence to this aspect of our thinking. Jacob, the supplanter, is that spiritually awakening movement of our consciousness destined to supersede and replace the mere physical level. We are beginning to think of ourselves as something much more than human beings seeking a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
The spiritual awakening is truly an evolution of values. As we begin to grasp the spiritual nature of our being, our interest turns to understanding this finer level, our true inheritance.