DECEIT (GEN. 27:1-10)

1) A man was standing on a street corner holding out a small tin cup.

2) Those passing by saw the beggar’s dark glasses & concluded that he was blind.

3) One passerby dropped a few coins into the solicitators’ cup.

4) For some reason the donor, after he turned away, turned once again to face the beggar.

5) He noticed that the blind man had pushed away the glasses.

6) The blind man was eagerly counting the change which had just been put into his cup.

7) The giver couldn’t help but say: I thought you were blind.

8) “The man said, “Oh, No. I am substituting for the blind man who normally stands here.

9) The donor then asked, “Where is the regular blind man?”

10) The beggar said, “It’s his afternoon off; he went to the movies.”

FOR A LONG TIME THOSE IN OUR WORLD HAVE DECEIVED AND BEEN DECEIVED. DECEIT IS NOT NEW.

1) In Genesis 27 there is a story about deceit.

2) Isaac was old and he knew that it was time to pass on the family inheritance.

3) God wanted this inheritance to go to Jacob. Isaac had selected another heir--Esau.

4) Isaac should have known better than to interfere with God’s will.

5) Though Isaac wanted Esau to receive the blessing he should have done what was right.

6) Isaac tried to undermine God’s will and get his own way.

7) From the scripture reading we head what Isaac said to Esau.

8) Esau was told to bring back some venison and prepare it as Isaac liked.

9) After this was done Esau would receive the family blessing and inheritance.

A) While Esau was gone Rebekkah decided to deceive her husband.

B) She told the other son in the family (Jacob) to go out to the family flock (verse 9).

C) “Two good kids” were to be selected and fixed for the meal Isaac had requested.

D) Jacob would dress in clothing that would resemble his brothers’ & take the food to Isaac.

E) Isaac would be tricked into blessing the son he didn’t want to bless.

F) All of this was done. When Jacob came to his father, Isaac had some reservations.

G) Verses 18-22.

H) Once Isaac was successfully deceived he issued the blessing (vss 27-29).

I) As soon as the blessing had concluded, guess who came back home? V. 30

J) Esau said, “Dad here is the food; eat it and bless me.” Verse 31.

K) Isaac couldn’t see well (perhaps to the point of being blind, Gen. 27:1).

L) Being unable to see who was speaking he asked a question, verse 32.

M) After Esau identified himself this statement is made in verse 33.

a) The ASV and the KJV both have the words, “trembled exceedingly.”

b) The Hebrew text seems to describe a violent shaking.

c) The best illustration that comes to mind is something like a seizure.

d) Isaac appears to have been overcome with emotion when he understood the truth.

10) THINK WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR ISAAC WHEN HE REALIZED HE HAD BLESSED JACOB.

A) Isaac knew that he had attempted to override and overthrow God’s will.

B) God said that the elder would serve the younger, 25:23.

C) Isaac tried to have the younger (Jacob) serve the elder (Esau).

D) He planned to do the very opposite of what God wanted.

E) Is this attitude still found in the world?

F) Men learn what God’s will is but they decide to do things their own way.

G) The thinking is that God will not mind.

H) God will eventually “get over” His displeasure and everything will be okay.

I) God does mind when people do not do things His way.

J) When Isaac realized that God’s will and not his had been fulfilled he started to shake.

K) Again, this shaking was a violent and vigorous kind of shaking.

L) Several emotions must have been racing through Isaac’s mind all at once.

M) Even Esau was filled with emotions (verse 34) and crying (Heb. 12:16-17).

11) After Esau realized what had been done he apparently offered a suggestion.

12) His suggestion is found in verse 34.

13) Before I comment on Esau’s proposal let’s see what Isaac said - Verse 35.

14) If we combine these two verses Esau was saying, “Dad, take the blessing back.”

15) “Undo the blessing. Retract what you did and said. Let’s do it over.”

16) We surely understand the principle of doing something a second time.

17) If we didn’t get something right the first time around do it again.

18) This was Esau’s solution to his getting the blessing.

19) Remember that Isaac wanted Esau to receive the birthright.

20) Esau has made a proposal – “Retract what you said and give me the inheritance.”

21) What did Isaac do?

22) He said no – verse 37.

23) Isaac knew that redoing the blessing was impossible.

24) Once this was given it could not be changed.

25) WE CERTAINLY CANNOT COMMEND ISAAC FOR TRYING TO FRUSTRATE GOD’S WILL. TRYING TO GIVE THE BLESSING TO ESAU WAS WRONG. HOWEVER, ISAAC MUST BE COMMENDED FOR AFFIRMING THAT ONCE THIS INHERITANCE WAS GIVEN IT COULD NOT BE CHANGED.

26) The attitudes of Esau and Isaac in this story are very relevant to modern day life

27) Scores of people think like Esau. A small number think like Isaac.

28) Isaac said he gave the blessing and this could not be changed.

29) In a similar way God has said many things in His word.

30) What has been said by God cannot be retracted or changed.

31) The Bible describes this principle in Jn. 10:35 with the expression,

32) “Scripture cannot be broken.” The blessing in Gen. 27 could not be broken.

33) God cannot change or retract the promises in His word.

34) This principle is not understood by a lot of good people.

35) A common belief is that God is not bound by His word.

A) In other words people picture God in human terms.

B) Men may make an agreement or a promise.

C) Though men make promises and agreements the promises fail.

D) The agreements are broken.

E) People act like Esau wanted his father to act. “Dad, take back the promise.”

F) Esau wanted his father to say to his brother, “Jacob, Esau gets the blessing”

G) Though men may change or break their word and agreements, such is not true of God.

H) God has said that most of the world will be lost (Mt. 7:13-14).

I) Jesus was very clear about this point.

J) In spite of God’s word many believe that most will not be lost.

K) On judgment day it is thought that God will somehow change His mind.

L) The words in Mt. 7 will either be modified or retracted.

M) God will not really do what He has promised in His word.

36) This same error is expressed when people discuss Hell.

A) A large number of people do not believe that the lost will suffer in hell.

B) Even within the church some deny that hell will be forever.

C) Even though the Bible says that hell is eternal, some say that this untrue.

D) It is believed that God will somehow take back or withdraw eternal punishment.

37) Going back to Mt. 7 Jesus taught that many religious people will be lost (Mt. 7:21-22).

A) Yet, what do we many saying about those who die?

B) “He was a good man; God is a loving God. There is hope for him.”

C) “He was not religiously right, but he was religious. God understands.”

D) This conclusion cannot be right. God does not understand.

E) Isaac’s point was: I have spoken; this is the end of the matter.

F) This cannot be changed. This same principle applies to God.

38) The principle in Gen. 27 is one that must be understood.

39) Wednesday afternoon I went to the jail to make a visit. It was a busy day at the jail.

A) While waiting I viewed some court t.v. A local magistrate was conducting a hearing.

B) It is possible to watch the magistrates conduct these hearings on closed captioned tv.

C) The magistrate said to a prisoner, “If you are convinced, you may appeal.”

D) Esau would have liked America.

E) We live in a world where decisions may be appealed and changed.

F) There are no appeals with God as far as changes to His word.

G) Mal. 3:6 says (speaking of God), I change not. God and His word are constant.

40) This important fact will be one of the dividing lines between those who are saved & lost.

41) Most here speak with people about worshipping in truth (just as God describes, Jn. 4:24).

42) A common response from those who worship in error is, “It doesn’t matter.”

43) “We love God and He accepts our worship.”

44) God is concerned about our attitude instead of the details concerning worship.

45) Is this true?

46) God said that worship MUST be in truth, Jn. 4:24.

47) Jesus said that scripture cannot be broken, Jn. 10:35.

48) That is, God cannot change His word.

49) If the word says that true worshippers worship in truth, this is like the blessing in Gen. 27.

50) This information cannot be changed. This truth cannot be re-written.

51) There is no other way to worship God besides the way that is true.

52) If someone does not worship as the Bible describes, they are not a true worshipper.

53) The mindset of Esau is certainly a lot more popular than the mindset of Isaac.

54) Esau may have used the very same lines that some of us hear. He may have said:

55) “Dad, God will understand. Your unwillingness to change the inheritance is rigid.

56) “Not changing your promise is legalistic. You are being too technical.”

57) You don’t need to abide by what you sid.

58) Isaac knew what was right.

59) Modifying a sacred act or the words given by God will always be wrong.

CONCLUSION:

Most of those in this room have come to accept that fact.

Most in gathered here tonight have determined to not be like Esau.

What God has said is what we will abide by and teach; there will be no alterations.

Even if we would prefer to do things differently we stay with the truth.

If the world wants to be like Esau and not abide by God’s written word, they can.

We must avoid that choice at all costs.

If we are not a Christian but the illustration of Isaac appeals to us;

We find the right way, obey the right way and we want to stay on that way, tonight we become a child of G