Esav's Destiny

This past week we learned about the birth of Yaakov and Esav. Because of our hindsight bias, we automatically think that Esav was the bad brother. However, as we discussed in class, maybe he wasn't bad. After talking a little bit about the situation, it seems to be that the way the two sons turn out was predetermined by Hashem or else we might be learning the entire story with a different view. But, what if their lives were not already determined? Yaakov's temperament was more calm and simple, but that does not mean that he was going to be the better brother. Esav seemed to have equally, if not better, qualities. His temperament could have led him to become a great leader, or a politician rather than a manipulative person. He had good hunting and gathering qualities as well.

Think about anyone: If our lives were already going to be determined for us, would we act the way we are supposed to according to what we know our futures will become, or would we try to act differently. If Esav would have known that he was going to become a manipulative, powerful man, would he have changed his actions as a young man to become a better person, or would he have lived with what he knew his life was going to become, even if he did not like the outcome?