Year 7, Day 26: Genesis 27

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Lies. Deceit.  Sin.  Falsehood.  Broken Relationships.  Stealing. Family Division.  This chapter has pretty much everything except murder.  And as we see by the end of the chapter, Esau’s planning that much so Jacob is sent away.

As we continue to read through Genesis, we get more glimpses at humanity and how we treat each other.  Don’t forget, this is Abraham’s family.  These are the people of God.  They sure aren’t living it, though. You would tell that these are God-fearing people by looking at the witness of their life.

Let’s take a good long look at Rebekah.  Here is a woman who meddles in her husband’s business.  She is eavesdropping and hears Isaac say something that she would rather countermand.  She schemes against her own husband, pitting her two sons against one another!  She employs her own son in an attempt to actively deceive her husband.  She encourages Jacob to lie, cheat, and steal.

Why does Rebekah do this?  Rebekah is not satisfied with Isaac’s leading.  She is ambitious for her own desires, not Isaac’s discernment.

Not that Jacob is equally complicit in this plan.  He takes what his mother has cooked into where his father is and then continues the lie.  He bears a false witness, quite literally!

Given all of this, do you know what I consider to be the worst part of this story?  Look at what Jacob says when he is asked by his father how he accomplished the task so quickly.  Jacob says that this has happened because God prospered his action.  Jacob doesn’t just lie, Jacob brings God in as his accomplice and witness!  Jacob’s witness threatens to tarnish the reputation of God!

This is humanity at its worst.  This is humanity when it is focused on accomplishing its own goals.  This is people interacting with each other without concern for the implications on the other people.

However, there is a silver lining.  This chapter shows us the grand power of God.  God can take a sinful lot such as this and still bring forth people who will serve Him faithful and transmit His ways into the world.  He can redeem even our darkest sinfulness.  This happens not because of our worth but through His.

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