We have all heard or read the story of how Jacob bought the rights of the first born from his brother Esau when he was tired and hungry from hunting. I think he was trying to make happen all that his mother had told him of God's promise to her of His plans for her children. That promise was written in Genesis 25:22-26a. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. This may be the very reason that started Rebekah's doting on her younger son. Jacob was born second, so she knew that it was he who would be the leader of the family after Isaac's death, because of God's promise. This proud mother repeated the promise of God to her sons while they were growing up. As Esau was born Jacob grabbed onto his heel and came out shortly after his older brother. And so a cliche was also born, right on the heels of his brother. The name Jacob in the Hebrew literally means 'he grasps the heel', but figuratively it means 'he deceives.'
So when Jacob found Esau in a weakend state he deceived him into giving up the rights of a first born son by selling him a bowl of lentil stew in exchange for these rights.
A few years later when Isaac felt he was near death he called Esau into his tent and asked him to go hunting and bring some game home to prepare him his favorite meal so Isaac could pass on the blessing to him and his family after him; but Rebekah heard her husband giving Esau these directions and she called Jacob to her and she plotted to have him receive Isaac's blessing instead of Esau. I think she was trying to fulfill God's promise for her favorite son, just as Jacob had stepped in when he bought the rights of the first born earlier in their lives. When Esau learned of his brother getting there ahead of him to get the blessing of their father he became angry and threatened to kill Jacob after the passing of their father and the mourning period.
To save Jacob from Esau's anger Rebekah sent him off to her brother's home in search of a wife, or so she told Isaac.
Now in today's reading Jacob in living and working for his uncle Laban and had been there for about a month. Laban asked Jacob what he thought his work was worth. Jacob, having fallen in love with Rachel, said that he work seven years to marry her. When the time had passes, Jacob came to Laban and requested his wages - his bride. Laban called the neighbors together and through a great feast to celebrate the wedding. That night he dressed the bride in the veils of their tradition, and sent her to Jacob in his tent. It was dark inside so his briide was not easy to see, but they went about the normal process of becoming one flesh, as is described in Genesis 2:24; That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
In the morning when all was bright in the sunlight of the day Jacob saw that he was now married to Leah, not Rachel - the love of his life. In his anger he confronted his uncle Laban who shrugged it off saying, 'It is not our custom to marry off the younger daughter before the oldest. Stay with Leah for the seven day bridal period and then you can marry Rachel. Laban knew a good thing when he saw it. He was getting 14 years of free labor from Jacob and marrying off both his daughters with our providing a dowry for either of them. He saw it as a win/win for both him and his daughters. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he agreed to Laban's terms and served seven more years, but to him they seemed as only a few days as he was so in love with her.
Now this is only the beginning of the deceptions that Jacob would suffer under Laban's hands. But I believe it is where Jacob begins learning that this is not how people should be treated. God has placed him in the Bible School of Hard Knocks and as we read through Genesis furthervwe will see the many lessons that he learns along the way.
Today the Deceiver has been deceived and learns that deception is not the right way to receive the promises of God. Deception has taken him away from his father and mother, lost him any relationship he might have had with his twin brother and has made him delay his marriage to his true love. Before he returns home to his family his mother dies and he will never see her again.
Such great losses he has had from his deception and that of others in his live. Let's hope he learned what we can from reading this passage, lets hope he learns to put the deception of others in his past and follow God's leading only in the future. We will read more on the life of jacob in the days ahead, and while we do lets ask God to remove any inclination toward deception from our hearts and give us a closer walk with Him.
Deception Vs Trust
Deception is taking matters in your own hands
While trying to see the fulfilling of God’s Plans
It’s lying and stealing while trying to receive
The things for which God only asked you to believe
Trust is leaving all thing is in the palm of God’s hands
It is for our good that He has laid down the best Plans
Watching and waiting for His perfect timing
Raising from the valleys, His mountains to be climbing
Rebekah heard that God had a good plan
But she thought she could help out by lending a hand
God’s plan did win out, but she lost her son then her life
By trying to help God, it caused her such strife
She should have trusted and let God take the lead
Then she may have lived Jacob’s grandchildren to see
But when Jacob returned, his mother had passed
The price of his deception has he learned at last?
Jacob wrestled with God and He surely did win
Now a new life Israel would begin
His wives and his family were headed toward home
But on the road back to Canaan they weren’t alone
Esau was headed his brother to meet
So he sent his servant with presents him to greet
Israel didn’t want to face him and restart the fight
That had sent him off to Paran on that long ago night
Where once had been deceit he wanted to build trust
So meeting his brother was truly a must
Together they spoke and made up a pact
Jacob – now Israel – and Esau, the brothers were back
Learning to live in the old neighborhood again
And trusting God that no war would begin
Israel settled in Sukkoth nearby
And Esau returned to Seir with his guys
The moral of this story is to trust God and wait
If it is His plan, he will never be late
Deception is not the way to get there
It’s by trusting in God and staying in tune with prayer
Until Next Time;
Leigh
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