Esau had lightly valued the blessing while it seemed within his reach, but he desired to possess it now that it was gone from him forever. All the strength of his impulsive, passionate nature was aroused, and his grief and rage were terrible. He cried with an exceeding bitter cry, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!" "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?" But the promise given was not to be recalled. The birthright which he had so carelessly bartered he could not now regain. "For one morsel of meat," for a momentary gratification of appetite that had never been restrained, Esau sold his inheritance; but when he saw his folly, it was too late to recover the blessing. "He found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 12:16, 17. Esau was not shut out from the privilege of seeking God's favor by repentance, but he could find no means of recovering the birthright. His grief did not spring from conviction of sin; he did not desire to be reconciled to God. He sorrowed because of the results of his sin, but not for the sin itself.

Esau havde kun sat ringe pris på velsignelsen, mens den var indenfor rækkevidde, men nu, da den var gået tabt for stedse, ønskede han at få den. Hans impulsive, lidenskabelige natur vaktes i hele sin styrke, og hans sorg og vrede var frygtelig. Han udstødte et højt og hjerteskærende skrig og sagde: "Velsign dog også mig, fader!" Har du ingen velsignelse tilbage til mig?" Men løftet var givet og kunne ikke kaldes tilbage. Førstefødselsretten, som han så ligegyldigt havde solgt, kunne han ikke få. "For en eneste ret mad" for en øjeblikkelig tilfredsstillelse af appetitten, som han aldrig havde lagt bånd på, solgte Esau sin arv; men da han indså sin tåbelighed, var det for sent at få velsignelsen igen. "Han fandt ingen lejlighed til at omvende sig, skønt han med tårer søgte derefter." Heb. 12, 16-17. Esau mistede ikke muligheden for at søge Guds nåde gennem anger, men han kunne ikke på nogen måde få førstefødselsretten tilbage. Hans sorg udsprang ikke af overbevisning om synd; han ønskede ikke at blive forligt med Gud. Han sørgede over syndens resultater, men ikke over selve synden.