A Tale of Deception

It is important at this point in the tale of Israel’s history to tell a few things about what goes on between the first instance of Jacob and God at Bethel and the instance of Jacob and God before meeting with Esau.

As is known by most, Jacob meets up with his uncle Laban in the land his mother grew up. There he comes up his beautiful cousin Rachel and her not-so-pleasant sister Leah. Upon meeting Rachel, he comes to the decision of wishing her hand in marriage, a feat Laban is willing to allowing should Jacob work for him seven years. Thinking nothing of it, Jacob performs the task with great pleasure and expectance. We see this as we read his statement and the end of the seventh year, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her” (Gen 29:21). In spite of the promises of God upon his life, Jacob appears to be a man still driven by his own passions and abilities, but he is about to learn that things are never what they appear to be.

The marriage is a great success and everyone enjoys themselves…until the day after when Jacob awakens and finds himself with Leah, the weak on the eyes daughter. Furious Jacob demands of Laban why he was deceived to which Laban responds, “It is not our custom,” clearly a cop-out to get an additional seven years from his nephew (and most likely the only way to get Leah married). Rachel, being as beautiful as she was in the eyes of Jacob, was worth another seven years of labor, yet the problems would not stop there for Jacob.

As time goes on, God notices Leah not favored by Jacob despite being betrothed to her and opens her womb (Gen 29:31-32). Thus starts the feud to have the most kids between Leah and Rachel even to the point of involving their handmaidens in the process (Gen 30). From their continuous feud arose many children yet still neither wife was happy with the attention received from their husband. But it was not only the home front Jacob would derive his problems. His time with Laban was coming to an end.

Wishing to return to his homeland, Jacob makes a decision that it is time for him to move on and asks of Laban his dues for working diligently with the flocks. Laban, believing his kindness to Jacob was blessing himself (Gen 30:27), does not wish for Jacob to leave. Jacob again demands of it and in doing so asks his wages be every speckled lamb among the flock. Using his shepherding skills to his advantage, Jacob acquires the very best flock for himself allowing himself a bountiful possession. This fact though would make things grow worse in the Laban household.

Laban’s sons would grow upset over their cousin having more than they. Thus Jacob decides to leave without warning Laban infuriating him. Yet all is not lost as God appears to Laban warning him not to do anything. Stricken with fear by Jacob’s God, Laban rushes toward Jacob and makes a pact with him claiming, “This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and piullar to my side to harm me. May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us” (Gen 31:52-53).

Thus the dramatic story of Jacob’s surviving his exile from his homeland comes to a close, yet what is revealed within this story is the hand of God still upon his life in increasing his family, in extending his wealth, and in preparing him to become a great nation. But before all this could happen, there was still one more thing for Jacob to endure…

God in the Midst of the Unknown

'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.' Genesis 28:16

The blessed son was left to survive in the wilderness as he journeyed to his uncle's, hiding from the hatred of his older brother over the loss of the birthright and the blessing.  Jacob's current predicament seemed quite desperate despite being promised abundance and power above all else.  It is in this scene of desperation as his head rests upon a rock that God reveals himself to the promised heir of Abraham's promise.  Viewing a stairway to heaven, Jacob hears the voice of God speak His blessing upon him, a blessing all too familiar to the reader:

'I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.  All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'  Genesis 28:13-15

A few items within this promise to Jacob are worth taking note with respect to the promises spoken before:

(1) 'I will give you and your descendants the land' - This is important considering Jacob was running to the land of his mother, a place the reader can assume to be distant from the Promised Land considerin g the importance of bringing Rebekah immediately to marry Isaac and Isaac's unable to go to her (see Genesis 24).

(2) 'All peoples will be blessed' - An allusion to the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12 of all nations being blessed through Abraham's faithful obedience is made.  The irony of this statement to Jacob though is that this statement is made to him in light of both his deceptions to his father and brother as well as no requests are made of Jacob as they were of Abram to leave his land (12:1).  This promise to Jacob in fact would follow as a continuation of the promise made to his grandfather for his obedience.

(3) 'I am with you and will watch over you' - Focusing again on Jacob's character thus far, this is the first time God has promised to be with one of His own without any strings attached.  Adding irony to this promise given to a deceiver is Jacob's statement after realizing God's presence, 'If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God' (28:20-21). 

Thus the reader is shown the heart of God in light of the questionable humanity through whom all people would be blessed.  A moment that was painted for disaster is given hope by a stairway to heaven.

The Rivalry That Birthed Nations

'May God give you of heaven's dew
       and of earth's richness—
       an abundance of grain and new wine.
May nations serve you
       and peoples bow down to you.
       Be lord over your brothers,
       and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
       May those who curse you be cursed
       and those who bless you be blessed.'
Genesis 27:28-29

As previously noted, the blood between Jacob and Esau was not mixing well.  Already Jacob had tricked Esau into giving him the chosen birthright (25:27-34).  Now this hatred would be escalated through the actions of Jacob under the promptings of his mother Rebekah.

To paint the picture of the setting, many years have passed in the life of the miracle son Isaac.  He has gotten to the point where he has gotten so feeble he is barely able to see (27:1). Knowing his time is slowly drawing to an end, he beckons his firstborn, the traditional blessed son, Esau to be ready to receive the blessing passed onto him from his father before.  But first Esau must go to the wilderness to find meat to prepare Isaac a meal.  As Esau leaves, another leaves with plans of her own.

Having heard of Isaac's desire for Esau, Rebekah ushers Jacob two prepare two lambs for her to cook.  Knowing her mother's plan, Jacob aides in the plan covering every base to ensure the deception holds true: from the clothing her wore to the hairy skin to be made so by all appearances Jacob was Esau.  We cannot understand what would possess Rebekah to go to such lengths to deceive her husband save the prophecy given to her by God upon their birth (25:23).

Whatever the motive, the plan succeeds and Jacob is given the blessing given to his father of becoming a prosperous nation with supremacy over all nations including his brothers.  Thus the continuation of the promise given to Abraham so long ago would continue through the seed of the second-born rather than the first.

Yet the deception done by Jacob did not go without its repercussions.  Esau too was promised to be a great nation, one that would be dominated by his brother's, yet this domination would not last forever:

'Your dwelling will be 
       away from the earth's richness,
       away from the dew of heaven above.

You will live by the sword
       and you will serve your brother.
       But when you grow restless,
       you will throw his yoke
       from off your neck.'
Genesis 27:39-40

Thus through the deception of Jacob, Esau would struggle but this struggle would not endure forever.  Yet this response would not be enough.  Esau wanted blood.

Knowing of the hatred of her son, Rebekah warns Jacob that he must leave immediately for fear that his brother would kill him, the best place being with her brother Laban (Laban was introduced once before when Rebekah was first asked to leave her home - perhaps a segway to the audience of his importance later).  To make the way for his leaving, Rebekah tells Isaac that she does not wish for Jacob to marry any women of the Canaanites.  Yet this deception too would once again bring her more torture as Esau would overhear this and decide to take a woman of the Ishmaelites for himself (28:8-9).

So the dysfunctional family is seen to be falling apart and the hopes of God's chosen people rested upon the life of the deceptive Jacob.  Having reached this point, the reader is hesitant upon moving forward with so little hope in sight.  Yet what is yet to be seen is the hand of God would watch over His chosen throughout the course of struggles yet to come.

The Line is Drawn Again

'Two nations are in your womb,
   and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be strong than the other,
   and the older will serve the younger."
Genesis 25:23

Before mentioning the birth of the final patriarch, it is worth mentioning a consistent theme within Genesis 25, a theme mentioned on many occasions before: the setting apart of the God's chosen people Israel.

Perhaps it is not mere coincidence that before the mentioning of the conflicting birth of Rebekah's polar opposite twins Jacob and Esau there is a repeated mentioning of splitting away between the chosen tribe of Abraham's biological son Isaac and his fellow half-brothers and sisters.  At the start of chapter 25, the reader discovers that Abraham has himself another wife - from whom the Midianites whom Moses would dwell with derive.  As Abraham recognizes his time is coming to an end, he does not grant the children of his wife anything of great wealth from Isaac's inheritance; rather, he sends them away blessing them with some gifts (see 25:1-6).  One may perceive this as the cold-hearted nature of a father showing favoritism to one son over many others, yet in the culture to which Abraham describes, the eldest of the family is given full rights to the inherited birthright.

Not only do we see conflict of interest in the sending of these children, but the author also makes the point of recognizing Ishmael's sons having 'hostility toward all their brothers' (vs 18c).

From these stories of conflict between Isaac and his half-siblings comes the birth of Jacob and Esau, two children destined for conflict from birth.  Rebekah, feeling the restlessness of them even in her womb, prays to the Lord for guidance.  To that end, the Lord promises the firstborn, the eldest, the one traditionally promised the birthright, to be submissive to the younger brother.  Perhaps most noteworthy of this chain of events is that upon labor, Jacob is seen grabbing Esau's heel in order to get out (vs 26).

The author informs the reader of this conflict continuing between Jacob and Esau, Esau becoming a hunter out in the fields gaining the love of his father while Jacob lived a quiet life among the tents gaining the love of his mother.  This would prove hazardous upon one fateful day when Esau returned from his hunt requiring nourishment and selling his birthright, the thing both cherished most in those cultures and held superiority of status among the siblings, to his brother for simple food. (vs 27-34).

Such conflict.  Such animosity in the midst of it all.  Such disregard for anything considered morally (and today socially) sound.  And yet in the midst of these divisions, God would continue to bring about a chosen people who would bring about great things for the world.

Having read of such conflicts, one would easily ask the question, "Why?  To what purpose does all this serve?"  To that question, an answer can be concluded through what has built up thus far.

Remember originally that these people had derived from one man, Noah, set apart from a corrupt world, rescued from a flood of cataclysmic proportions, and called to cultivate life once again.  Generations after Noah's life, Abram arrives on the scene receiving a promise from God Himself that He would be a blessing to all people should he remain faithful.

Despite testy waters in receiving an heir, Abraham received one from his wife although barren named Isaac.  His birth alone revealed that God's hand was at work in providing fulfillment for the promise.

So the reader would do well to look into the life of Jacob, the final patriarch who would become Israel, father of twelve tribes, to see how the God who made a promise so long ago with his grandfather Abraham would continue to keep this promise to Jacob for the years to come...

The Diligence of Isaac, the Chosen Son

'The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.  Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.  I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." So Isaac stayed in Gerar.'   Genesis 26:2-6

The story of Isaac holds very little in comparison to the other patriarchs, yet within a single chapter, his faithfulness to the God of his father Abraham is prevalent.  This faithfulness is seen within the beginning of chapter twenty six with the reinstatement of the promise to him.  With the instilling of the promise within his heart, Isaac shows his faith by remaining in the land his father had settled.  Yet this was not the only occurrence of Isaac's diligent following of God.

'Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.  But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him.  Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land." '  Genesis 26:19-22

The people of Gerar grew worried over the plentiful development of Isaac.  As such, they did everything to stunt the growth of his household including clogging up the wells Abraham had made a treaty over them with (26:15; see Genesis 21:22-32) and stealing the wells which Isaac's servants would dig.  Yet in spite of all this reckless behavior on the part of the people of Gerar, Isaac would not lose heart over the ordeals and move on believing in the faithfulness of His God to provide for the people in their need.  He even goes so far as to make a treaty of peace with the people while he dwelled in their land (26:28-31).  Such a diligent heart in the midst of oppression reveals a heart faithfully devoted to the promise of his God.

It is worth mentioning that though he was chosen, Isaac was not without his faults; he continued in the folly of his father in deceiving the men of Gerar concerning his wife (26:7-11; see Gen 12) and the disciplining of his sons could not prevent their tumultuous split.  Yet it was not by man's strength or power that he was chosen;  it was through God's divine hand, a hand that separated him from Ishmael and would continue to set apart His chosen people to bring redemption to the world through the life of the deceiver Jacob.