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DAY FOUR
- Read Genesis 27:1-46. Describe the deceptive scheme Rebekah and Jacob played on Isaac.
- Did it succeed?
Rebekah had always remembered the words spoken to her by God during her pregnancy. Jacob would be the one to rule over Esau. Isaac also was aware of these words. It was Esau who had sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a meal. (Gen. 26:30-31) It was also Esau who had married foreign women, bringing much heartache and shame to the family. (Gen. 26:34-35) It was Jacob who was more sensitive and caring. He was around the tents more and kept himself pure from foreign women. Rebekah knew that God had chosen Jacob for the blessing, but her faith was weak. She plotted to take the blessing from Esau by scheming with Jacob and taking advantage of Isaac's blindness.
- What was the motive behind Rebekah's scheme?
Although it was God's plan for Jacob to receive the blessing, Jacob and Rachel did not chose God's way of bringing it about. Rebekah took action to get the blessing for Jacob, but she did it her way, not God's. She ran ahead of God and paid for it dearly in the end. Jacob also had to bear the results of his deception. Sin always has consequences!
- What happened because of their scheme to deceive Isaac? (Gen. 27:41-45)
- Was Rebekah's plea to Isaac about Jacob completely true? (v.46)
- How long did Rebekah think that Jacob would be gone (v.44)?
How long was he gone? (Gen. 31:38-41)
It is believed that Rebekah died sometime in the 20 years that Jacob was away. No further mention of his mother is made after this. However, Rebekah's nurse, Deborah, is mentioned in Genesis 35:8. She died in the company of Jacob and his family. It was common that when a mother died her nurse would be given to the firstborn son, in this case Jacob.
The cost of deception was heavy for Rebekah and Jacob. Rebekah had to live with Esau and his rebellious lifestyle. She also mourned for her beloved son, Jacob, and never knew about the blessings in his life.
Jacob had to work seven years for each of his wives. He was deceived by his father-in-law. He also had to live with bickering, backbiting, and dishonesty in Laban's household for 20 years.
There is a heavy price for going ahead of God and following the will of man.
LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS
- Dishonesty in any form brings separation from God and one another. What deceptive scheme are you working on now that should be stopped before disaster strikes?
- Showing favoritism can be destructive. Who are you showing favoritism to with costly results?
- Sin is separation from God and His will for you. What sin in the past has cost you something today?
How can you keep from that sin in the future?
- One lie leads to more lies. What lie have you told that has become more severe with time?
Are you willing to confess it now and move into wholeness and purity? (1 John 1:9)
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