Jacob’s Deception
Genesis 27:1-17 “When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
“Look,” said Isaac, “I am now old and do not know the day of my death. Take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out into the field to hunt some game for me. Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac told his son Esau. So when Esau went into the field to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’
Now, my son, listen to my voice and do exactly as I tell you. Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so that I can make them into a tasty dish for your father—the kind he loves. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned. What if my father touches me? Then I would be revealed to him as a deceiver, and I would bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing.”
His mother replied, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey my voice and go get them for me.”
So Jacob went and got two goats and brought them to his mother, who made the tasty food his father loved. And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob. She also put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she handed her son Jacob the tasty food and bread she had made.
Rebekah has given birth to twin boys; however, she loves Jacob, the quiet one who remains at home, while Isaac loves Esau, the brawling macho hunter, for the game Esau brings him. What’s wrong here? Rebekah loves Jacob for his nature, probably similar to hers, while Isaac loves Esau for what he can get from him. Isaac is a spoiled only child, raised to believe that everything should come to him aand that people should do things for him because he is entitled.There is also another problem: Isaac’s willingness to betray Rebekah to save his own skin. When Isaac moved his family to Gerar, he lied about Rebekah, stating that she was his sister rather than telling the truth that she was his wife. Rebekah may have had no idea that Isaac had lied about her status. Only when King Abimelech of Gerar rebuked Isaac did Isaac admit the truth. All these years, Isaac’s faithlessness has rankled with Rebecca, embittering her, and now it’s payback time. There’s also the possibility that Esau has refused to respect his mother, slighting her by taking his cues from his father. And then there are Esau’s wives.
Esau has married two Hittite women, both of whom are shrews, fighting each other and mocking every word Rebekah utters. Even though Esau and his wives and children have their own tents, they are still living next door to Isaac and Rebekah and screaming fights go on day and night. Sometimes it is even difficult to sleep because of the noise these two women make. Perhaps these women or their children refuse to greet Rebekah in the morning, a major social offense or perhaps they even dare to invade Rebekah’s tent, trying to steal jewelry and anything else that attracts them. Perhaps each of these women has borne several children and they are using their fecundity as a means of mocking Rebecca for only having one set of twins. No doubt about it, these women have gotten on Rebekah’s last nerve!
Rebekah can’t very well advise Isaac to send Esau away; however, she can manipulate the situation so that Jacob winds up with the bulk of the family assets rather than Esau. After all, a guy who will give away his birthright for the sake of one meal is scarcely the one you want to have as the head of the family when Isaac dies. Who knows what other foolish decisions this man might take?
Blinded by bitterness, Rebekah has no notion of God’s will in this situation. Perhaps Esau would mature if given more responsibility; however, Rebecca doesn’t want to take that risk. And perhaps Rebekah fears that once Isaac dies, she will be relegated to an isolated tent and neglected, reduced to near-starvation; it’s happened before and Esau doesn’t appear to have any love or respect for his mother. So the stage is set for another round of deception with Rebekah pushing the situation and manipulating Jacob. Rebekah is afraid and is taking the only means she can think of to protect Jacob and herself, particularly herself.
Hindsight is 20/20, and we know that this decision will result in Jacob fleeing to Rebekah’s brother Laban, where he will remain for twenty years. Reading this story, we might wonder how God can possibly use these people; after all, we routinely refer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Despite all the chicanery, God will still use these people; however, for the next twenty years, they will have very little tranquility. Manipulation and forcing situations just don’t bring us peace!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and not to manipulate or force situations into shapes that You never intended. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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