Deception

Deception is a nasty game.

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called his elder son Esau and said to him, ‘My son’; and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘See, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me. Then prepare for me savory food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.’ Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘I heard your father say to your brother Esau, “Bring me game, and prepare for me savory food to eat, that I may bless you before the Lord before I die.”Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savory food for your father, such as he likes; and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.’ But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a man of smooth skin. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.’ His mother said to him, ‘Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my word, and go, get them for me.’ - Genesis 27:1-13

In today's reading, Rebekah is being deceitful.  Her intention is clear, even if her motive is not.  She wants one of her sons to be given a blessing by her dying husband, denying the blessing to the one who deserves it.

Isaac might not be able to see well, but he could hear, and he knows the voice he hears is not his son Esau, but he is fooled by his smell and feel.  He is deceived.

Now, if we obtain something by false means, is it really ours?

Even though Jacob was just going along with his mother's plot, he knew if it succeeded, he stood to gain the inheritance his brother deserved, so he is not blameless here.  It is a conspiracy and he is an active participant.

Jacob's reluctance is justified.  He is afraid he will be caught and cursed, rather than blessed, and that would shut him out of everything.  He would be cast out.

So, he was willing to risk everything.

But his mother convinces him she will be the one cursed, not him.  Should he have believed her?

What is interesting here is these are the ones God chose to be examples for us.  Isaac and his son Jacob were both crafty.  The honest son, Esau, is t he one fooled out of his birthright and out of the blessing of his father.

So, there could be a mixed message here.

It is important for us to be good, but also to be wise and aware. 

Jacob will go on to be redeemed, while Esau will be forgotten.  So, there is hope for the sinners, even though their sins are great.

Whatever deceit we engage in, we can come back and be in God's graces.

That's the good news.  But there is also a warning.  If we choose to go our own way and abandon God, even if we do good, we are on our own.

So, while it seems like deception rewarded, it is really our choice to return to God that gets the true blessing.  And that is all that matters.

More to come...