Jacob Gets the Blessing: Con man in God’s family?
Gen 27:36 “He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!”
Ask people why they don’t go to church, and you’ll often hear this answer: “There are too many hypocrites.” It may be an excuse, but there is a disturbing reality behind it. How can a religion with such high standards include so many people who fail to meet those standards?
Jacob’s life poses the same question. If Abraham is renowned for faith, his grandson Jacob is renowned for treachery. A twin, Jacob enters the world with one hand grasping the heel of the brother who precedes him. His parents memorialize that scene by giving him a name meaning “he grasps the heel” or “he deceives”
The Bible does not downplay Jacob’s grasping, con-man character. He takes advantage of his twin brother’s weakened state to get the birthright, an inheritance document much like the family will (25:29-34). Later, seeing that his father still favors Esau, Jacob and his mother plan another trick.
This chapter describes Jacob’s ruse to get from his tottery father the blessing meant for his elder brother. In the process, Jacob flatly lies to his father and takes the Lord’s name in vain.
Most people in Isaac’s day regard blessing as a kind of magical power that pass on prosperity from one generation to another generation, but for Isaac it meant far more. He is transferring to his son the covenant blessing that was passed down from his father, Abraham- a blessing that will one day produce a whole nation of God’s favored people.
The Trick Backfires
Jacob the trickster gets his due. After pulling off the scam, he has to run for his dear life and spends 20 years with his uncle. Uncle Laban then gives Jacob a dose of his own medicine by planting unwanted sister in his wedding day bed and by repeatedly changing his wages as head shepherd.
As you read these stories, you might find your sympathies leaning toward poor Esau, who gets tricked out of his blessing and sells his birthright for a hot meal. Jacob certainly doesn’t seem like choice material for a religious leader. But the Bible comes down clearly on Jacob’s side, blaming Esau for despising his birthright(25:34) and calling Esau “godless” ( Hebrews 12:16 ).
Jacob, willing to lie, cheat and steal to get in on God’s blessing, would flunk anyone’s morality test (and Genesis surely does not commend his trick-Jacob has to pay dearly for them). However, his life offers an important lesson: God can deal with anyone, no matter how flawed, who passionately pursues him. The story of Jacob gives hope to imperfect people everywhere.
Is this fair?
Apparently God’s choice does not depend on how a person behaves. God simply chooses the people he wants. In this case, he chooses Jacob, the deceitful younger brother. Is this fair? The apostle Paul raises that very question in Romans 9. He concludes that we have no right to find fault with God’s choices because we know so little, especially when compared to the infinite wisdom of God and his understanding as well. And while we may never understand God’s choices, we should note that all “rejected” brothers of Genesis-Cain, Canaan, Ishmael, Reuben, Esau and Manasseh-are treated more than fairly. Their offspring multiply into nations under God’s protection.
For his chosen people, God has a much greater honor in store. Good or bad, they will be made a channel of blessing for the whole world. God tells Abraham right from the beginning, “All people of the earth will be blessed through you” (12:3). By selecting a few, God plans to extend his blessings to all. And that is exactly what happens: Abraham’s small, fault-ridden family grows into a sizeable, fault-ridden nation that brings forth, in the fullness of time, a faultless Jesus.
No wonder Paul wrote that we have no business questioning the wisdom of God. We may not see why God chooses people like Jacob, but unquestionably these choices work out for good-and the whole world becomes eligible to join the “chosen people.” As Paul wrote, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…… There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3:26, 28-29). God has a habit of choosing flawed people to achieve great good. Who can say what he is doing with the hypocrites of our day?
Life Questions
In the Old Testament time, names like Isaac (“laughter”) or Jacob (“grasper”) carried great significance. Do you know what your name means? Does the description fit you? If not, what kind of descriptive name would fit you better?
