The First Most Hairy One

And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Genesis 25:25

450 times in the New King James version the word first comes up. Which word are we talking about here, you might ask. No, no, the word 'first' is the one I searched this morning. Esau did not have a good first day. He came out first and he came out red and hairy all over, like a fur garment. And poor Esau runs into a failing we have to this very day - naming the poor kid after an anatomical feature. Esau means 'red'... Esau probably wished for that much of his life. Esau actually means 'hairy'. Sort of like being called fur-ball all your life and being reminded of something you might wish were otherwise. Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Your first day in this world may have started out much better. Perhaps you came into the world with a lyrical name often associated with physical beauty, but more likely is that you were born in the days when babies were given a good swat by the doctor to get us crying right away. The urge to cry continues with us to this day. Be thankful you weren't the first most hairy one. At some points in history, you would have been left in the woods to die and your mother burned at the stake for consorting with an animal. 

Then again, your parents might have named you, Barfswallerol. Imagine spelling that out for the teachers in every grade while the other students rolled on the floor laughing. 

Praise the Lord for the days of this life,

Bucky