THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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have disobeyed the mother, for it is only “ in tjie Lord” that obedience to parents must be rendered. Note that Jacob deceived his father about three things: his clothing, his skin, and the meat; and note that he told four delib erate lies about the matter: “ I am Esau;” “ I have done according as thou badest me;” “The L ord helped me.” Was not the last the worst pf all? One would think that Jacob would be afraid to. lie about the L ord ... Notice how Isaac trusted to his feelings in this matter (v. 22), “Thus saith the L ord ,” is always a safer guide than any “ feel ings.” We are not saved by feeling, but by faith. The dialogue between Isaac and Jacob is intensely interesting. How it must have burned in Jacob’s heart, for he had some conscience. The plan seemed to prosper, however, and Isaac conferred the blessing upon his younger son (vs. 27-29; cf. the coven ant with Abraham in Gen, 12:1-3; 13: 14-17; 15:4-7; 17:1-8). When Jacob left his father’s presence he carried with him a heavy heart as well as the birthright promise. We should never forget to reckon sin’s “ afterwards.” IV. Esau’s Despair. How the picture of Esau stands out as we read it. His returning in tri umph with the venison, his preparing it with his own hands, and his carrying it lovingly and proudly to his father. How dumfounded he was to listen to his father’s announcement of what had taken place! His cry of agony has rung down through the ages a solemn warn ing to countless millions who have read it, John Bunyan among the number (Heb. 12:17). Do not be confused about the meaning of the repentance spoken of. Repentance means a change of mind. It was not a change of mind on Esau’s part that was lacking, fbr he had changed his mind very thoroughly, and the birthright blessing now was a very much more important matter than it was the day he bargained it away for the mess of pottage. The difficulty was
God’s will, Rebekah failed in not rest ing on God’s promise alone, but had to do something to try and make sure that the promise would be fulfilled. Of course, this second failure on her part is an almost direct consequence of her first failure. Probably our hearts go out to the mother, and we will make all the excuses for her that we can, never theless, we must not overlook the les son and the warning. In her case her planning ended sadly for her, as it always does when we take things out of God’s hands. Surely her heart must have rebuked her for her part in deceiv ing the husband whom she loved; in seeing day after day the widening breach between her twin boys; in see ing Jacob depart from the home in which it was her plan to keep him at the head; and last and saddest of all, to close her eyes in death without ever again seeing the son whom she loved. How sad the picture is of the mother coaching the son to deceive the father, and yet are there not mothers now adays who deceive the father concern ing his son, hiding things from the father, things that it would be better for the father to know in order that he might deal with them lovingly and firmly, and save the boy? The details of the story are so plain and simple that they need no explanation here.. iil. Jacob’s Deceit. Here is Jacob’s failure. He himself was conscious at first that the thing was wrong, and yet he seems to have been more conscious of what would result if the plan failed than he was conscious of the actual wrong-doing. However, he demurred when his mother suggested the plan which was all of her own manufacturing. How many of us are like Jacob, more afraid of the consequences than of the sin itself? How often also when we fear the con sequences rather than the sin do we finally give in to the thing that is wrong and risk the consequences. Here was one time when the son ought to
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