Meet the Man Who Could Not Repent

For you know that afterward, when he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Hebrews 12:17

Maybe you’ve been a Christian for some time. You’ve tried to get free from certain sins, but you haven’t been able to, so you’re convinced that real, lasting change is no longer possible for you. When you hear the word repentance, you say to yourself, I would if I could, but I can’t.

Repentance is the hidden path to a transformed life. The reason it is a hidden path is that many people never find it. There are many who would love to be free from bitterness, pornography, or alcohol. They may have deep regrets. They may shed many tears. But they do not change.

Hebrews 12 tells us about a man just like this. His name is Esau. “See… that no one is… unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal” (12:15-16). This refers to the Old Testament story about two brothers, Jacob and Esau.

One day Esau came home from hunting, and he found his brother Jacob cooking stew. Jacob said to Esau, “I’ll give you some stew if you sell me your birthright.” Esau was desperate, so he sold his birthright for one meal.

But later on, when Esau wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could not change what he had done (12:17). Esau was the man who could not repent.

If you find yourself saying, “I cannot change,” you’re identifying with Esau. Repentance is a hidden path to you. You would like to travel on this path, but you cannot find it.

Have you recently thought something like this: I’d like to change, but I can’t?