Tag: Jacob the deceiver

Genesis 27:14-27 lists the account of how Isaac was deceived by his wife, Rebekah, and his secondborn son, Jacob, who usurped the blessings of Esau, the firstborn of Isaac.
Upon the command of Rebekah, Jacob fetches two young goats which she uses to prepare the favorite dish that Isaac loved. Interestingly she was so adept as a cook that she cooks the goats as it it was venison which was Isaac’s favorite dish. She put on Jacob the good garments belonging to Esau and then she put the skins of the young goats on Jacob’s hands and neck to make him hirsute as Esau. She gives the savory meat and the bread to Jacob, who brings it to his father Isaac. When Jacob comes to his father, he addresses Isaac as “My father” but Isaac recognizing that he did not sound like Esau, questions him as to who he is. Jacob lies that he is Esau and that he did what Isaac had asked him to do, which was to hunt game and bring him venison. When Isaac questions again as to how he had returned so quickly from his hunt, Jacob even lies by bringing the Lord God in the picture, saying that the Lord God brought the game (deer) to him. Still not convinced, Isaac, asks Jacob to come close so that he could feel him and determine if he was being deceived. Upon feeling Jacob, Isaac exclaimed that the voice is that of Jacob, but the hands are that of Esau. Then Isaac questions Jacob, one more time if Jacob was indeed his firstborn son Esau and Jacob lies again. Isaac then summons Jacob to bring him his venison and after he had eaten and drunk the wine presented, he asks Jacob to come close to him and kiss him and when Jacob gives him the kiss (of betrayal), Isaac smells the smell of the Esau garment on Jacob and is now convinced (completely fooled and tricked) into thinking that Jacob was Esau and blesses him.

Isaac’s eyesight (sense of sight) was failing and he was turning blind, so much so he could not see (27:1).
Isaac’s ears (sense of hearing) was not quite as bad for he discern the difference between the voices of his sons (27:22).
Isaac’s hands (sense of touch) was unable to discern between goat hair and a his son Esau’s hair (27:23).
Isaac’s tongue (sense of taste) was unable to discern between goat meat and venison (27:14, 25).
Isaac’s nose (sense of smell) was unable to discern the smell of Jacob masked under the smell of Esau’s garments (27:27).

First of all Isaac should not have attempted to change God’s plan and bless Esau instead of Jacob for the Lord God had promised Rebekah that the elder shall serve the younger. In the deception of Isaac, all of his five senses failed him and he was deceived. Isaac should have instead depended on God and trusted in the inner sense, the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God to guide him.

Points to ponder:
Many of the times, we rely so much on our five God given senses and they are subject to fail in doing what they are supposed to do. What we ought to rely on is on the Holy Spirit of God, who indwells in all who believe in Jesus and who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13) and not let us be tricked by the ancient deceiver, the devil (Revelation 12:9). Are you being guided by your senses or by the Holy Spirit of God?

Genesis 27:14-27 (KJV)
¹⁴ And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
¹⁵ And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
¹⁶ And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
¹⁷ And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
¹⁸ And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
¹⁹ And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
²⁰ And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.
²¹ And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
²² And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
²³ And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
²⁴ And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
²⁵ And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
²⁶ And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
²⁷ And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which theLord hath blessed: