Trickery, Deceit and Manipulation

The scene opens between elderly Isaac and grown-up Esau.  Isaac tells Esua to go get some wild game and fix a great meal, the time has come for him to get his birthright.  Esau runs out to obey his father and Rebekah overheard the conversation.  Now God told Rebekah earlier that Jacob would get the blessing so she had to help God out.  She gets Jacob and tells him to do exactly what he is told.  He questions her a little and look at Rebekah’s resonse.  “My son, listen carefully and do what I tell you.  Do not worry about anything.  Let the curse fall on me if you get caught.   Just do what I say; go and get them for me.”  What was she thinking?  

I hope you are familiar with the story, if not read Genesis 27.  Rebekah fixes a meal and puts Esau clothes on Jacob and has him go into Isaac and get Esau’s blessing.  Read Genesis 27: 20-27.  I was amazed at how Isaac doubted that it was really Esau.  In every verse except verse 25 there is doubt.  But still he goes ahead and blesses Jacob.  If he was going to doubt that much that it was not really Esau and went ahead and blessed him anyway, don’t you think that was God’s doing and nothing to do with Rebekah?  Isaac would never have blessed a person unless he was really sure it was the right person.  The blessings back then were sacred.  Once the words were said there was no going back.  Isaac knew that!  God was fully in control of the situation and had Isaac bless the wrong person. Or was it really the right person?

Aren’t we so much like Rebekah?  Thinking we have to help God out?  God has His own plans and man’s means can never undermine God’s purposed results.  We do not need to manipulate to help God out.  We need to surrender to Him and He will carry out His plan.  I am sure that Rebekah and Jacob suffered consequences.  Total surrender and trust is what God wants, He does need our trickery.