When We Practice To Deceive

January 14

Genesis 27-28

Psalm 9:7-12

Proverbs 2:9-10

Matthew 10:1-20

When We Practice To Deceive

“But Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob, saying, ‘Behold, I heard your father speaking to your brother Esau, saying, ‘Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat and  bless you in the presence of Yahweh before my death.’  So now, my son, listen to  my voice as I command you. ‘Go now to the flock and get for me two choice young goats from there, that I may prepare them as a savory dish for your father, such as he loves.  Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.’”  Genesis 27:6-10 LSB 

Rebekah engaged in an elaborate plot to make sure that her favorite son, Jacob, received the blessing that rightfully belonged to her other son, Esau.  There is so much wrong with this entire story.  Favoritism of one child over another can lead to so many problems in families.  Jealousy and hatred tears apart relationships and destroys families.  Rebekah deceived her husband in order to ensure that her favorite son would have an advantage over her other son.  The animosity this caused led to Jacob being sent far away to protect his life.  Rebekah died before he returned so she never saw her beloved son again. 

            When Jacob was sent away he went to Rebekah’s brother Laban’s home.  When he arrived he fell in love with Laban’s daughter, Rachel.  He agreed to work for Laban for 7 years to marry her.  It is interesting that Laban deceived Jacob into marrying his other daughter, Leah, first and he had to work another 7 years to marry Rachel.  It seems that deception is a common theme in this family.  We are not given any history about Rebekah and Laban’s parents but it seems likely that deception was a common occurrence in their home.  Both of their children easily resort to deception to get what they want.  You would think that Jacob would have learned his lesson, but later when he wanted to leave Laban’s house, he again turned to deception to increase the number of the livestock in his flock.  God restored the relationship with his brother and he was able to return home but only after many years of difficulty caused by deception. 

            “Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive,” is a quote from Sir Walter Scott’s 1808 poem Marmion.¹  When we act dishonestly, it can create problems that lead to a chain of complications that can quickly get out of control.  Deception leads to more deception.  When we lie we have to tell more lies to cover up the lies we have told.  Pretty soon it is difficult to keep up with all the lies.  If instead, we choose to live a life of integrity and honesty we avoid many of the problems that lies and deception cause.