GENESIS 27 DECEIT God allowed me to look inside the home of Isaac and Rebekah through the eyes of the written word. And as I watched, I could see choices that bring the consequences of long-lasting negative actions. One son loved to roam the country and married two women who did not fit in the life of a family of faith. In spite of the grief those two unbelievers brought to Isaac and Rebekah, Esau was still their son - and was also the favorite of Isaac. Jacob, on the other hand was the favorite son of his mother.
There are times in family life when crisis times arise and the hidden differences are exposed. What we pass on to our children may have consequences we would never have foreseen. The expectations that we have perhaps unwittingly promoted, can bring conflict. It is important, I learned, to not leave unsaid things that should have been taught throughout the life of our family. At the same time, some things are better left unsaid. There will come a time when it will be too late for a father to be an instructor. When that time comes, all we can do is pray a lot.
Esau expected to get the blessing of the firstborn even though he had despised it earlier in his life. He had not learned that God is "The silent Listener to every conversation." On the other hand, Rebekah remembered the promise that the elder would serve the younger. She knew the promised blessings would come through Jacob. Even so, she did not act in faith, but set about to manipulate what God had already promised. I learned that when we put our hand to try and bring about what God has promised, I will only produce difficulties and troubles that will last a long time because of my willful interference.
As I followed that scene from my watchful place in the word, I saw the actions of the flesh reproduce the sound, smell, touch and taste of a person who had lost only one of his senses - sight. When a person loses one of his qualities of discernment, there can be very serious consequences that follow. I may not think one event in life is all that important compared to all the days of living and laboring. But there are more people involved in my life than just me. The quiet subtlety of deceit doesn't do its work overnight. It has a tendency to trap us and then stays with us to degrade our character. It can also be passed on inadvertently at first, but then we may see it in those who follow our example and begin to model their own life of deceit after ours. Jacob's hesitation wasn't so much in regard to deceit he was involved in, as the danger of getting caught. Deceit was already a factor in his life. To stop in the middle of an action of deceit may bring us humiliation and hurt, but there is also a freedom of honesty recovered that makes the confession and forsaking of sin a real blessing to us.
Jacob got what he wanted through the deceit, but he lost a lot too. His brother wanted to kill him. He never saw his mother again. He was to be deceived himself by his uncle, and his family lived with strife and practiced deceit themselves. His brother formed a nation that was against him then and still is against Israel today. He lived in a far country for years before he could claim what was his.
The loss of Esau's birthright was really Esau's fault, but the steps of getting it by interference with God's plans had lasting consequences. If we are not careful, we too can overlook the blessings we have now, and let our minds dwell on what we don't have. The practice of counting blessings and not letting our minds be stayed on the deceitful subjects the flesh promotes, will keep us away from a lot of wasted effort and lost years. God has His plans for us. It is possible for us to be found in the will of God. We do not have to resort to the actions of deceit to find our fulfillment in life. The consequences of deceit just won't go away. Even though the place we live and the people around us leave much to be desired, it is important that I do not resort to deceit as a means of escaping the difficulties I face. Our character is usually formed under the pressures of the wrong that is going on around us. We are constantly feeding on information and events in life that produce certain effects, that in turn form the basis of character. The outcome of that in times of stress is when we know what is really of value to me.
Deceit is always ready to work its havoc on even me!
Why is he prowling around in those distant places? The urgency evident on his and on other faces Indicates something serious is going on in that family. By watching and learning the outcome of deceit we can see.
One might think it makes no difference as long as the outcome is right. People involved may nod and smile, and everyone seems so polite. But when deceit is working its way in the mind, soon it will come out in the open. And what long has been covered and denied, no longer is holpened.
Deceit finds its source in the enemy of God; he was a deceiver from the beginning. And he has an agenda to bring people down; it sometimes seems like he is winning. He will use anything he can, appealing to our senses one and all. If possible, he will use words from the Bible to try and make people fall.
There are times when we think things are happening too slow. In order to get our own way, too far into deceit we will go - To bring about in our time what we want to be done. And if we are not careful, God will leave us alone.
When the last act of deceit has been done and failed - Then we look back and see all that sinful deceit has entailed. There may be the loss of integrity, of family trust and of friends. We will grieve the rest of our life over deceit's awful ends.
Far better to go back to living the life God gave us by faith. And when the pressures come to act, just to rely on God's grace. He has a way designed by Him alone to bring the right things to pass. And when the burdens bear us down, them on Him we will them cast.
The principles God stated still hold now to be very true - "What a man sows he reaps," applies to both me and you. Deceit reaps deceit, and as time passes it gets more. And the things that once were small, are much larger now than before.
What deceit said we would gain, brought great losses to us. /Many who once would've been friends, no longer will trust The words and actions because our deceit let them down. Now instead of being near us, that friendship is gone.
When either deceit or anger comes, it is important to remember, Our choice is to not act deceitfully nor let any kind of anger Claim our feelings, but recognize the danger for what it is; And pray to God for strength and help to bring us out of all of this.
"O Lord God, there are times when it is apparent that the enemy is seeking to control the affairs of my life. I am asking Thee today for the wisdom to discern the dangers around before they claim a hold on me. May I be yielded to the Holy Spirit and have His power and strength. to deal with, and overcome, the evils that threaten to bring me down. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."