done what you told me . Now sit up and eat some meat of the animal I hunted for you . Then bless me ” ( Gen . 27:19 NCV ).
Isaac fell for the ruse .
How do we square up this story ? Grace . The “ yet-Godness ” of God . Just like Jacob and his mom Rebekah , we break promises , yet God forgives . We forget commitments , yet God appears . We turn away from him , yet God turns toward us .
That ’ s not to say our waywardness has no consequences . The relationship between the twins crashed like a lawn chair in a tornado . “ Esau hated Jacob . . . , and Esau said in his heart , ‘ . . . I will kill my brother ’” ( Gen . 27:41 ). Rebekah heard about the pledge from the duped brother , gave Jacob the head ’ s up , and told him to scoot while the scooting was good . Jacob skedaddled . Rebekah and Jacob got what they wanted , but at what a cost !
He forfeited all the prosperity he would have received from the birthright . No flocks , herds , or possessions . His life was a mare ’ s nest of misery . The next time we see him he ’ ll use a rock for a pillow . Jacob went from prince to palooka in a day .
All because he took a shortcut .
All because he couldn ’ t wait .
A Garden of Eden of joy , hope , life , and love is ours for the asking . All we need to do is wait on God . But he is so slow ! His timing is out of sync with ours .
So we cut corners . We cheat , we cheat on exams , on taxes . We deceive . Not with goatskins and a lamb , but with lies , exaggerations , and misstatements . We polish apples , inflate facts , drop names , and work the system .
“ God wants me to have this job . I ’ ll just pad my résumé .”
“ God wants me to be happy . I ’ ve found happiness in the arms of a woman who is not my wife .”
“ I know God wants me to tell the truth . But in this case the truth will get me into trouble . A little lie won ’ t hurt .”
How many shortcuts have been justified with the best of intentions ?
There are no shortcuts with God . None . Zilch . Zero . He doesn ’ t need your foot on his accelerator . He doesn ’ t need my help with his plans . If God had wanted Jacob to have the blessing , Jacob would have had the blessing . Rebekah didn ’ t need to connive . Jacob didn ’ t need to deceive . If God wanted Jacob to carry the mantle , it was as good as done .
And us ? What shortcuts are we taking in life ? God has promised to give us all that we need .
All Rebekah and Jacob needed to do was the one thing they found hard to do : wait on the
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