Deception

Introduction

Over 17 million people had their identity stolen in 2014. This represents billions in costs. It is estimated that for every stolen identity about $3500 worth of products are bought before things can be shut down. Additionally, it can take months even in some cases years to restore a family’s good name. While there are things we can do to lessen our chances of having our identity stolen, there are no guarantees. A stolen identity means that someone is stealing from you. They are stealing your name and making others think badly about you.

Today we are going to look an identity theft that occurred between Esau and Jacob. Our purpose today is to increase our appreciation for who we are in God’s eyes, while at the same time reminding us that the temptation to pretend to be someone that you aren’t is often close. Let’s be encouraged.

The Story

Isaac is an old man. He is blind. He is approaching the end of his life. He wants to pass on the blessing that he has to Esau. Esau is the firstborn. As the firstborn he has numerous responsibilities. One of those is to carry on the family name but more importantly he will be responsible for taking care of the family. He will be leader but he will also do all he can to ensure that the family remain financially viable. Isaac is ready to give the inheritance to Esau. It will start with a spoken blessing. But Isaac doesn’t want just a time to speak words, he wants a time to share a meal with his son. This sign of closeness and fellowship would seal the deal for Isaac.

The plan is laid. Rebecca overhears what Isaac wants and intervenes with Jacob. The carefully laid plan works well. Jacob dresses up as Esau. Rebecca attaches goat hair to Jacob so that he feels hairy like his brother. The food is prepared. Jacob captures the blessing from Isaac. Isaac isn’t sure. He hears Jacob’s voice but smells and feels Esau. Convinced Isaac gives Esau’s blessing to Jacob.

Understandably, Esau is upset. He begs for an additional blessing. He begs for anything from Isaac. But the damage has been done. There is nothing left. What Isaac gives him is a blessing to be a warrior and the promise that eventually Esau will shake off Jacob’s rule. It isn’t much of a blessing. It is a consolation prize at best. Everyone knows that Jacob has lived up to his name. His character is secure. He is the deceiver; the heel grabber and he trips up Esau once again.

Lessons

The story is straight forward. We have a story about deception. We also have the fulfillment of a promise made before the boys were born. So what are the lessons for us. First, notice verse 20. Rebecca is the instigator of this lie and deception. She wants her favorite son to get the blessings. But Jacob participates. He is aware of what he is doing. But in this verse we find that Jacob is going to engage in his deception using God as part of the process.

How did you get the food so quickly? God was with me. There is nothing in the text to suggest that God actively endorses what Jacob is doing. But it isn’t interesting that Jacob justifies his actions by using God. It is very much like the liar proclaims that he would not lie while swearing that God is his witness.

There are times that justify what we want to do by claiming that God must be endorse our actions. We make the claim negatively. “God hasn’t stopped me so he must be okay with it.” We make the claim positively. “This feels so right, it has to be from God.” We make the claim based on our perception. “God wants me to be happy.” “It can’t be wrong if it feels so right.”

Jacob lies and drags God into the process. It not only deepens his lie but he gives the lie credibility by calling on God’s demonstration of favor. Do not be deceived. Justifying immoral behavior by claiming that God hasn’t stopped it is to live with denial. Admit the truth --- we do what we want and use God to approve of our sin. Such doesn’t change the outcome but at least it is honest.

Second, look at verse 36. Esau is half right. Jacob stole his blessing but Jacob did not steal his birthright. Esau sold it. The lesson has to do with taking responsibility for the outcome of our sin. At some point we can no longer blame others for the choices we make. As long as we blame others we keep repentance from taking place. You may have had a terrible childhood and trusted adults hurt you. I am not minimizing the effects, but you are no longer a child. You choose now what you do. The person who hurt you is no longer responsible for the actions you choose. While the effects may linger, the choices are still yours.

The Hebrew writer in 12:17 says that Esau had gone so far in his life that repentance was no longer possible. By the time the blessing was given to Jacob, the choice that Esau made earlier could not be undone. It was too late. The time for Esau to change and repent was much earlier.

So we, too, must repent and accept responsibility for our choices before it is too late.

There is a third lesson that I want to talk about. It isn’t a central part of the text but it is important. The practice of giving a blessing to our children isn’t talked about much. Most of us do not have a practice of passing on a blessing to our children. In the Jewish faith there is a bar or bet mitzvah that occurs. This rite of passage from child to accountable person contains an inherent blessing. The person is told that they are now responsible for their actions and the parents are no longer held responsible for the child’s behavior. There is a great celebration even as the child must read part of the Torah as a sign that he or she will remain committed to the word of God. We have very little that compares to this practice. Certainly none that I can think of that have the spiritual significance such as this practice.

Blessing our children and grandchildren is something that can benefit the children long after we are gone. Informal blessings may take place. Words are often spoken with the intent to encourage our children. Words like “I am proud of you. Here is what I see for your life” can go a long way in helping a child move into adulthood with purpose.

He was 92 and in a wheelchair. It would be the last time he heard me preach and it would be one of the last coherent conversations we would have. My grandfather would live another 8 years but his mind would begin slipping soon. By the time we celebrated his 100th birthday, all the people frightened him more than encouraged him. I had just finished preaching at the congregation where he had served in various capacities for 70 years. I had spoken to so many but he was the one that I wanted to speak with. My uncle was bringing him out to the parking lot. I bent down and he placed his hands on me and said these words, “Dana, I am so proud of you and the work you do. You keep preaching the word. You take care of your family and you keep honoring God.”

I cried that night. His words were powerfully simple but filled with the beauty of a blessing. We need to give that to our children and grandchildren.

Listen to God’s blessing. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Invitation.

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