Jacob and Esau provide an allegorical story, particularly the big blessing steal episode, which touches our lives See, Esau headed up the family birthright command chain, showing his red head a few moments before twin Brother Jacob’s hand appeared on his heal, no contest. Mom however had heard, “the elder shall serve the younger.” She started big-dreams dreaming for Jacob and frankly Esau was daily forsaking his favorite-son opportunity with animalistic displays and crude initiations.
As Father Isaac increased in age, his faculties faded including the eyes. Mom discerned the situation—a befitting time for a deceptive maneuver. She must put Jacob up to it, however, and so worked her carefully devised scheme in a systematic fashion.
Jacob, (supplanter), had experimented with this kind of cheat already, and had manipulated Esau’s birthright at an earlier low moment in brother’s famed history. His conscience, obviously prior-educated and conditioned with Mom’s deceitful ways, permitted him to at least take a gander at the new proposal.
So, the plan—deceive blind Dad into believing Jacob was Esau, so relegating the Patriarch’s late-in-life blessing to the “elder” son, who now, unknown to Isaac, was really Jacob. The trick: how to pull it off?—mom thinks savory food, hairy arms and chest, and a daring approach can get it done. Jacob says no! The big conniver has a problem with deceiving Dad? All that could go wrong, will go wrong, if fear finds out the sin; and Jake can’t help but feel the possibility of cursing-backfire.
Well, Mom steps it up—“let the curse be on me” she tells the younger son. The deceiver still fears being exposed as deceiver, the fox as the cunning manipulator. With much skepticism, he reluctantly agrees.
He starts in with the savor of meat, next, a lie about God helping him get it, then other lies follow and roll spontaneously from his lips. Dad buys the trickster’s bull, touching the phony hairiness, giving the blessing to the future Israel. Nobody but God knows what really transpired here. We do know the end of the story thanks to the Bible account.
So, what allegory, what fable, what life lesson lurks in the hidden shadows of this tale? Lets give it a whirl. Others rank ahead of us in the race for blessing’s greatly desired hand out, so we have lived. We deserve no such freebee, we numb nerves at its story. It belongs to others, worthy more, past our grasp, “not relevant” and “who cares anyway.” People always looking for a handout are not honest people, we have been taught. Layers of defense keep us far from proximity of the blessing. First point.
Nevertheless, somebody wants us to get it. This blessing is assigned to a righteous man, but goes through positional truth into the experience. Somebody desires for us a great life experience, a soul of peace, a conscience of grace, a joyful song, a relaxed mental attitude, a life of meaningful purpose and destiny, a life that blesses others with soul, spirit, and even body wealth. Healing is included and deliverance.
The encouraging voice beckons us to get in line at the Fathers table and put on the worthy coat of righteousness. But it seems too high, and we are too unworthy. The voice comes back “go.” Again we say “no.” We reason, I am so aware of my lack and my honesty will not permit a deceitful act. I cannot pretend to something I am not, but the voice comes back “let the curse be upon me” and we wonder.
How many of us refrain the blessed man’s identity because of honesty, but where lies this kind of integrity? Is it from God? Nay it is but natural goodness, it is of morality, it is my deceived self image balking at truth because of a fallen root. It is the lie at my right hand that must die today or forever forsake the opportunity of a special blessing from Father who is blind to my unworthiness because of the curse going on Christ, the eternal Son.
“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh,” commands Paul. Put off the old man, Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge. We are not being deceitful, just obeying.
In closing, The precious Spirit of God guides us into all truth. Deny self, take up your cross, and follow. Deny the old moral nature, see it dead in Christ, follow to the throne, where grace and mercy are to help in my daily time of need. Be blessed!