Ralph Porter

© 2003

    A good friend of mine tells the story of a conversation that took place in his ordination council. Near the conclusion of the council a godly old gentleman spoke up. He commented, "Young man quite frankly you frighten me. What scares me about you is that you are just talented enough that you could pull this off without God!"

    A Chinese church leader, who was visiting churches in the United States was asked what was his most striking impression regarding the church in the United States. He responded, "What impresses me most is how much American Christians have been able to accomplish without God!"

    What scares me about myself, and others like me, is how self-sufficient we are--as if we might somehow "pull it off" without God! As a child, I was pretty clever. If I broke something I could get it fixed before mom and dad came home and found out--at least most of the time! Some of my deepest "impressions" come from the times when I couldn't cover it up. But such instances were few and far between! Usually, I could fix things or manipulate other people to get what I wanted. Do you know anyone like that?

    When faced with a challenging opportunity, we take matters into our hands. We are prone to use whatever means are at our disposal to work things out for ourselves. Under pressure, we may even flirt with unscrupulous or deceptive practices to accomplish our goals.

    That's the kind of person Jacob was. He was clever and crafty. Thanks to that "R" Chromosome, which he inherited from Rebekah, Jacob could manipulate anyone, get anything he wanted. He cleverly outwitted his brother--twice. He eventually conquered Laban, getting rich at his expense. Genesis 31:1 tells us, "Laban's sons began to say "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father."

    Jacob is repeatedly mentioned in Scripture as one of the great men of faith, whom we ought to imitate. He is identified with some great traits that make him stand out in Scripture:

    * God identifies Himself as the "God of Jacob"

         Ps. 46:7, 11; 146:5; Matt. 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 3:13; 7:32, 46

    * God calls Jacob: "My Servant" Deut. 9:27; Isa. 41:18; 45:4; Ezek. 20:5; 28:25

    * God refers to him as "My Chosen" Isa. 41:18; 45:4; Ezek. 20:5

    * God is "Jacob's Possession" Jer. 10:16; 51:19

    * God appeared directly to Jacob Gen. 32:30; Exod. 6:3

    * God says: "I have loved Jacob" Mal. 1:2; Rom. 9:13

    * Jacob is included on the "guest list" for the kingdom Matt.8:11; Luk. 13:28

    * God makes His covenant with Jacob Lev. 26:42; Deut. 1:8; 34:4; 2 Ki. 13:23; Mic. 7:20:

        Heb. 11:9

    Why are all these positive things said about someone who is known as "the schemer"? None of this happened to Jacob because he was "the good child" in the family. If one of the sons should appropriately be referred to as a respectful, submissive, obedient son, it probably would have been Esau, not Jacob!

    God didn't choose Jacob because he deserved it! He was chosen because of God's grace! In spite of his scheming, Jacob is listed among the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. Like his father and grandfather before him, Jacob trusted the God of his fathers. He didn't deserve a special relationship with God, but God chose him (Romans 9)!

    Even Jacob's name points to his character. Originally he was named because he had grabbed hold of Esau's heel at birth. While the name describes the heel as a part of the human body, it came to be used figuratively for someone who "attacked the heel" or who "overreached" his appropriate sphere of authority. That thought was then applied to anyone who schemed to get their own way or who deceived others for their own benefit. Thus Jacob's name labels him as "the deceiver" or "the schemer."

    Jacob went through life known as "the manipulator." How would you like to grow up with that name? Every day at school, on the playground, the kids call out to you: "Hey, schemer! Hey, deceiver! Hey, cheat!" That's what his name meant! We see that play on words used repeatedly in Scripture:

        Gen 25:26 "After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he

            was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them."

        27:36 "Esau said, 'Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He

            took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!"'

        29:25 "When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you

            have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?'"

        31:20 "Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running

            away."

        31:26-27 "Then Laban said to Jacob, 'What have you done? You've deceived me, and

            you've carried off my daughters like captives in war. 27 Why did you run off secretly

            and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and

            singing to the music of tambourines and harps?'"

    This raises an ethical problem: Is Yahweh the God of a scheming, deceiving cheat? God chooses Jacob in spite of his character; but He isn't content to leave him the way He finds him! God transforms Jacob from a "deceiver" to "one who overcomes" with God. Jacob's scheming character is revealed in the biblical descriptions of his relationship with Esau.

    Even in the family of Isaac, the promised son, there is conflict. The most noteworthy aspect of Isaac's life as depicted in Genesis is the rivalry between his sons! Esau is introduced as a "man's man." He reveals normal humanistic attitudes. He proceeds through life without seeking to follow God. Jacob, on the other hand, seeks to follow God's will; but he attempts to do that through deceptive means. Jacob has to learn to trust God to accomplish His plans, His way, in His own time!

Barrenness cured 19-21

    The first struggle in their story is the result of Rebekah's barrenness. When she is unable to have children, Isaac remembers the story of his own birth. God intervened and made it possible for his parents to have a child in their old age. When Isaac had to deal with the same problem, he asked God to intervene and give them a child. God's promise to make of his seed a great nation could never be fulfilled unless God intervened and gave them a son. When God intervened, He gave them more than they bargained for!

Twins born 22-26

    From the moment of their conception, a struggle breaks out between Esau and Jacob (22-26). Jacob owes his supremacy, not to the natural order, nor to his desire and scheming to have it, but to God's choice! He didn't deserve God's blessing. T That's God's grace! There is nothing in Jacob that merits special treatment! God chose to love Jacob. God chose to bless him.

Sibling rivalry encouraged 27-28

    Esau, as an outdoorsman, attracted the special attention and love of his father. Jacob, on the other hand, won his mother's favor.

Birthright sold 29-34

    Esau demonstrated early in life a lack of appreciation for his spiritual heritage and for his family's unique relationship with God. For that reason he was easily deceived by Jacob's scheme, and easily convinced to trade his birthright for a meal.

    In contrast to Esau's failure to understand the value of his birthright, Jacob understood full well its significance. This birthright was the basis for their claim to their spiritual heritage. Jacob held that heritage in high regard, though he brazenly schemed to obtain it. He demonstrates a right view of the importance of God's blessing but a wrong view of how to obtain God's blessing. Our human manipulation never results in God's blessing and glory!

    The climax of the rivalry between Esau and Jacob occurs when Rebekah convinces Jacob to deceive his father and steal the blessing. Jacob's story teaches us several practical lessons for our life today:

    This was Isaac's problem. Like him, we begin to think that we have a better idea! Isaac sends Esau to hunt meat for a meal so that he can bless Esau, in spite of God's plan to give that blessing to Jacob. At best, Isaac failed to consult God about seeking God's will and blessing his sons. At worst, he knew God's plan, but liked his better. Either way, Isaac missed God's plan and his wife and sons paid for his failure.

Rebekah's deception 27:5-26

    Rebekah overhears their conversation and plans to deceive her husband and get the blessing for her preferred son. Jacob was hesitant to go along, not because of moral issues, but because he was afraid of getting caught (11-12)! He's afraid he'll get a curse, instead of a blessing!

    Jacob even hides behind religious words in his attempt to manipulate and deceive (20): "The Lord your God gave me success!"

    God made a promise. He could have done it some other way. His plan included what they would do. It happened that way because self-willed people took matters into their own hands. They were thinking, "We can't trust God to handle it in His time. We have to help Him out! We want what we want, when WE want it!"

Jacob's blessing 27:27-29

    God's plan was to bless Jacob-by His grace-in His time. That wasn't good enough for Rebekah and Jacob. They had to make it happen! Now!

    It appeared to work at first. We get the impression that manipulating people works-it gets us what we're looking for! But then the fruit turns bitter. It doesn't get us what we want. It never satisfies!

    As a result, the family is fragmented. People are hurt. God has to deal with the consequences of their action. God has to bring about healing.

    Their cause was just. Jacob had a right to it. God had promised it! However, they set out to make it happen, by deception. They weren't trusting God. They weren't demonstrating love. They would reap the fruit of hatred and separation. They never saw each other again!

Esau's lament 27:30-40

    When Esau returns with the meal, Isaac is alarmed to learn that he was tricked, but it's too late! He seems to finally understand that God is going to accomplish His purpose one way or another! Esau has been repaid for his failure to care about God's will for him. In spite of his grief and tears, he lost the blessing to which he was entitled as the elder son.

    God's plan included this transfer from the beginning. God wasn't surprised by what happened! It's all part of God's plan to bless Israel, even though what Jacob did was still wrong! Jacob would pay a high price for his scheming! However, eventually God, by His grace, would use it for good!

Esau's threat 27:41-42

    Because of all the deception and manipulation involved, Esau plots to get revenge. He wants to kill his brother.

Jacob's flight 27:43-46

    When Rebekah learns what Esau has in mind, once again she intervenes with a scheme! She would recommend that Jacob seek a wife among relatives in Paddan-Aram, "to avoid the influence of pagan women!" The result of all the scheming wasn't exactly what Rebekah nor Jacob desired. Jacob ended up empty. He never saw his mother again. He left home with nothing but his staff. But that's precisely when God does His best work! When we're on empty!

    Ultimately, in spite of his deception and separation, Jacob receives the full Abrahamic blessing God promised. That's grace!

    It does me. I've been a manipulator all my life! I've been able to scheme my way around people until I get my way. Jacob's story is much like mine-too much like mine!

    Why are we so slow to learn? How long will it take? What will God have to bring into our lives before we realize we can't pull it off by ourselves? Before we stop trying to control everything and everybody for our own good?

    When will we learn to stop scheming and manipulating people to get our way?!! -to get what I want, when I want it?!!

    The tragedy of Jacob's story is that Jacob-like us-even though he knew God's plan, thought he had to help God out. He had to pull this off! Otherwise it might not happen! God couldn't do it without us! He couldn't do it according to His plan, His way, in His time. Have you ever felt that way?!!! When will we trust God, and let Him work it out -His plan, His way, in His time?!!