Genesis: The Beginning
Blessed by Deception 1-26-16
READ: Genesis 27
Yesterday, we made the journey with Isaac through the land of the Philistines; the circumstances grew ridiculous, but Isaac chose to remain in God’s peace. Today, we will witness a dark place in Jacob’s heart as he steps on the platform of deception with his mother to manipulate Isaac.
Isaac has lived a full life; he is 137 years old and his vision is extremely poor. Isaac has always had a special place in his heart for Esau. Isaac calls for Esau and says, “I am an old man now and I don’t know when I may die. Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.” Esau leaves to honor his father’s request, but we are aware that his mother, Rebekah, has been listening to the entire conversation.
Rebekah has always had a special place in her heart for Jacob. Remember, God told Rebekah years earlier when she was pregnant for the twins that she held two nations in her womb and the older son would serve the younger son (25:23). So the battle for the blessing begins and deception is built one lie at a time…beginning with Rebekah.
Rebekah formulates a plan of deception to get the blessing for Jacob before Esau returns from the hunt. She orders Jacob to kill two goats and she will make a meal for Isaac. Rebekah takes some of Esau’s favorite clothes and instructs Jacob to put them on. She covers Jacob’s arm and neck with the skin of the goats so he will be hairy like Esau. Then, she sends Jacob to deliver the dinner to Isaac.
Isaac hears the voice of Jacob, but the exterior of this son before him appears to Isaac’s senses as Esau. (NOTE: We must listen to the Spirit not our physical senses when it comes to deception). Isaac gives Jacob many opportunities to tell the truth, but Jacob continues to swear to his father he is Esau. Isaac invites who he believes is Esau over to give him a kiss (this is the kiss of deception we equate with Judas) and when he smells the clothing he sets down his doubts and believes it is actually Esau. Isaac eats the food as a ceremonial meal associated with the blessing.
Following the meal, Isaac pronounces Esau’s blessing over Jacob. Now, rather than Esau, Jacob will enjoy fruitful crops and dominion over nations and his brothers. Furthermore, anyone who curses Jacob will be cursed and anyone who blesses Jacob will be blessed (reminds us of the covenant with Abraham). Jacob leaves his father just missing Esau; Esau brings in the stew he has made at Isaac’s earlier request. Isaac is entirely shocked when he realizes he has blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Esau begs for a blessing, but the blessing is irreversible. Esau cries as he realizes he has missed the blessing that would have changed his entire life; losing a father’s blessing was considered a curse. First, Jacob steals Esau’s birthright and now the blessing. Esau is filled with resentment and hatred; he plans to murder Jacob when Isaac dies, but Isaac lives another forty years.
God always has a way to reveal Truth and Isaac gains a glimpse of spiritual Truth even though his physical eyes are failing. Isaac is aware he has been deceived, but he also remembers his own sin of deception from things he did earlier in his own life. Now, he reaps what he has sown and God knew this would all take place before Isaac and Rebekah did. Still God will use this deception for His higher purpose.
Rebekah hears of Esau’s plan to kill Jacob, so she steps into deception one more time and sends Jacob away to her brother Laban’s where he will be safe from Esau. Isaac is told Jacob is leaving under the pretense he is going to find a wife that honor’s God. Jacob has been a cheater and has dishonored his father through deception, but now he is supposedly concerned about the influence of the Canaanite women? I wonder what will grow in Jacob’s life from the seeds of deception he has planted, don’t you?