Deceiver

O.T. #55  "Deceiver"
May 27, 2013
Genesis 27-Part 4
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou
badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 
Genesis 27:19

LET IT GLOW

It's easy to sit back and point fingers at Isaac for trying to run things his way as he planned to give Esau the family blessings, interfering with God's plans; at Rebekah for scheming how to get those blessings upon her favorite son Jacob, and doubting that God could handle it; at Esau for keeping quiet about selling his birthright to Jacob for a pot of stew.

Don't they say that when you point two fingers at someone, you have three pointing back at
yourself. Yes, I think we can all admit to being like at least one of the members of this family.

Shall we take a look at Jacob, whose name means supplanter, heel-catcher (overcome), schemer, deceiver.

Who was Jacob?

• He was the second-born twin of Isaac and Rebekah.
• He was not hairy like his twin bother Esau.
• He was the quiet man, a stay-at-home kind of guy, which was the opposite of Esau, the   hunter.
• He liked to cook, thus bargained Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew.
• He was his mother's favorite child.
• He know God's promise for his life, yet he listened to his mother instead of to God.
• He lied to his father, deceiving him in order to be blessed.

God confirmed the Abrahamic covenant with Isaac, emphaizing the same three elements as
before: land, seed, and blessing (26:3-5). Isaac's prayer-wish called for prosperity and superiority
and ended with a repeat of God's words to Abraham (verse 29 and 12:1-3). The words indicated
that Isaac thought the covenantal line should have continued through his eldest son, Esau.
(MacArthur)

In spite of the scheming parents, Jacob received the blessings of God.

• He would inherit the Promised Land;
• His seed would become a great nation;
• He would be a blessing to others.

Are we blessing our children with faith and obedience to God? Do they know the story of their Christian heritage? Is Jesus the head of our families?

LET IT GROW

Why do we remember Jacob as a deceiver? He pretended to be Esau by wearing his brother's
clothes and goat's skin around his neck and arms, then taking goat meat that Rebekah cooked to taste like venison, to Isaac. He lied to his father, pretending to be his older twin. Isaac was
prepared to give the family blessing to Esau.
 
Isaac used his senses of smell, hearing, and touch instead of his heart to identify this son.
As soon as the blessing had ended, in walks Esau with his deer meat. Isaac was shocked when the scandal was uncovered . He realized the blessing was final, and could not be reversed.

Esau sought the blessing with tears, yet found no place for real repentance for his sins. (Wiersbe)

Hebrews 12:16-17 NIV explains Esau: See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like
Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no
change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

When things are written in stone, they must be carried out. God's Will will be done.

Are we accepting or rejecting ?

LET IT GO

Submit to God's plans and not my own.

Don't scheme to get my way.

Trust God to bless me and my family as I am faithful to serve Him.

Admit my sins, repent, and turn from repeating them.

Learn from this family.