"Greetings Everyone in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "The Deceit of Jacob"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Genesis 27:1-29
Today's Key Verse: "Then he said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said "I am."
Genesis 27 contains an ugly but too typical portrait of parental favoritism. Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah Jacob. Rebekah's scheming to advance Jacob was foolish as well as wrong. God had promised in Genesis 25:23 that the"older will serve the younger". Rebekah had no need to lie and cheat to gain what she wanted. The story is rich in irony. In choosing deceit, Rebekah so provoked Esau's hostility that Jacob her favorite, was forced to flee. All her conniving did was take Jacob away from her for 20 years of her life. Ends never justify adopting sinful means. Today's blog will be part 1 of 2 parts of Chapter 27.
Isaac was old, and because of his poor vision this allowed Jacob and his mother to trick him. It was the custom that the father would give the primary blessing to the firstborn yet God worked against contrary to cultural expectations and Isaac's favoritism, because God had already blessed the younger. Isaac desires to give his son Esau his blessing with a savory meal prepared by him. In verses 8-11 we see Rebekah starts her plan to deceive Isaac, even after God had told her earlier that the younger would have precedence over the older.
Jacob then ask his mother how he could pass as his brother since Esau was hairy from his birth. You will note here that Jacob feared that he would be discovered , not that what he was doing was wrong.
In verses 18-20 we now see that Jacob lies to his father when he says, "I am Esau" and then his lie leads him to blasphemy when he tells his father when he asks him, "How have you found it so quickly, my son" and Jacob replies, "Because the Lord your God brought it to me."
We now see at the close of part 1 of this Chapter in verses 21-27 that Isaac has Jacob come to him to feel him, hear him, question him, kiss and smell him before he finally believes Jacob's repeated lies. Even though Isaac heard the voice of Jacob, he now thinks that he is talking to Esau because of Jacob's one lie after the other.
Closing Question and Comment: "How does dishonesty and deceit hurt a relationship with family and friends?" In part 1 of Chapter 27 we have seen how Rebekah schemed with Jacob to get the blessing of Isaac. Even though Rebekah already knew that God had said that the older would serve the younger she still gets Jacob to lie and deceive Isaac. Tomorrow we will have part 2 of this Chapter and see Isaac blessing Jacob and the reaction of Esau to the deceit of Jacob.
Lord, look upon my need, I need You, I need You
Lord, have mercy now on me, forgive me, Oh Lord, forgive me
And I will be clean
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love and guidance. May we as believers listen to you Lord and follow you to where You would want us to good. May we be honest in our dealings with our family and friends.
Amen
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go In Peace, Serve the Lord, and Love God More Today.
Yours In Christ,
Cindi
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