Have you ever made a decision, that you really didn’t think about at the time, but it ended up changing your world forever? To me, this is what Rebekah and Jacob were doing. It is kind of the same scenario that Abraham and Sarah went through. God told Rebekah that Jacob would be greater than Esau. But, Rebekah “listened” and said to herself, ‘I need to step in and help God’. How many times have I tried to help God? Why is the flesh my first go to? Why was it for Sarah and Rebekah?
And so, the scheming began. Rebekah and Jacob covered all the bases: the food, the clothes, the hairy arms and neck, all but the voice.
When you become disabled in one area, your other senses kick in and work double time. Isaac was blind. He heard Jacob’s voice. He thought the food had arrived way too quickly. He should have trusted his instincts, but he didn’t. He felt the hairy arms, smelled the clothes of Esau, and tasted the delicious food. After all, 3 things were right out of 5. But in school that grade would be 60% or a D. It just shows me that my flesh can lead me astray very easily. It makes me believe what I want to believe, even if it is a lie. This applies to both the deceived and the deceiver.
And so, Isaac blessed Jacob:
“See, the smell of my son is the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and
plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” (Genesis 27:27-29 ESV)
I always enjoy it when I get my way! But the enjoyment is usually short lived when afterwards I think about how I went about it. Will Jacob and Rebekah regret their actions?
Then Esau came into his father’s room with his stew. And within a short time, Isaac realizes he was duped. Isaac trembled violently and Esau cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry. I am sure it was heard by the deceivers. How did it make them feel? Horrible?
Esau conveniently forgets that he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Does that make Isaac and Esau the deceivers? Does the blessing belong to the one with the birthright? I don’t know, but it is possible. Was Isaac going to curse Jacob? We will never know for sure.
Isaac said to Esau:
“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high.
By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
(Genesis 27:39-40 ESV)
Esau now hated Jacob and plotted to kill him. His words got back to Rebekah, so Jacob had to leave.
Have you ever been angry, but later realized it was something not worth being angry over? That was what Rebekah hoped for. She was sending Jacob, her favorite, away, until Esau’s anger subsided.
Well evidently Isaac loved his wife so much, he believed her words. Isaac fell for another of her schemes, proclaiming Jacob needs a wife from my tribe, not these Hittite women or Canannite women.
What would have happened if she just communicated with Isaac and explained the situation? Perhaps Isaac could have reasoned with Esau and peace would be restored within the family. Perhaps, but again, we will never know.
Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. God Almighty bless and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Padan-aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother. (Genesis 28: 1-5 ESV)
Nothing good ever begins with a lie. Once a lie is started, it just balloons. You have to keep making more to cover the previous one. But God was with Jacob, in spite of his deceptions. (Genesis 28:12-17)
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth go you.” (Genesis 28:20-22 ESV)
Sometimes God takes me on a journey, away from all distractions, out of my comfort zone to lead me to Himself. Sometimes that is the only way for Him to make me be still and know that He is God!
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalms 4:8 ESV)
Father God, there are secrets of the kingdom of God. Those who don’t have an ear bent towards You cannot understand them. I must hide Your word in my heart, and I must shine to those around me. Help my faith to be strong in You. Help me to sit at Your feet and soak in Your teaching, and when the time is right, help me to proclaim ALL that You have done for me! (Luke 8) I am so thankful for Your presence in my life, and I pray for my faith and trust in You to be strengthened day by day, until I see you face to face. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
Carol (carolvorwe)
Sixty-six books in a year 