Deception

Gen. 27:36

"Esau said, Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing."

With the help of his mother, Jacob deceived his father. Certainly, this act fulfilled the prophecy from 25:23 that the older would serve the younger, but if Rebekah would have waited, would God have brought that to pass in a different way? Rebekah's action seemed to reflect Sarah's use of Hagar. Impatience with God's timing did not solve the problem, but instead brought a new set of problems. It's interesting that when Esau  sought a wife, he married the daughter of Ishmael, further building the conflict between these people groups. As Jacob sought his wife, he experienced exactly what he had done. He was deceived!  It took him 14 years to get the wife of his choice. What are the lessons from this account? Could it be that deception multiplies into more deception, or could it be showing that God can use flawed, deceiving humans to accomplish His will and purpose? Since God's purposes were not thwarted, did God work through these situations to teach character lessons? Were Jacob and Rebekah changed because of their actions? 

Father,

Teach me to wait patiently for Your will to be worked out in my life. Help me to see Your hand in whatever happens in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen