The Draw of Deception
"God's plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception." [Pastor Marc Webb]
Genesis(55) (Part of the Origins(54) series)
by Stuart Johns(59) on November 2, 2025 (Sunday Morning(76))
Confession(10), Deception(1), God's work(1), Sanctity of life(1), Truth(3)
Origins
The Draw of Deception
(Genesis 27:1-29)
INTRODUCTION
“In 1992 a sophomore at Simon's Rock College in western Massachusetts named Wayne Lo went on a killing rampage with a semiautomatic rifle. He killed two people and injured four others. Why did he do it? The New York Times reports:
After the crime and for the first years of his imprisonment, he said not long ago, he believed that God had chosen him to commit carnage. Now, he calls that his period of denial.
‘At the time I thought I did the right thing,’ he said recently. ‘But as I look back at it over time, more and more it doesn't make sense to me. And more and more I ask myself, Why? Why did I do it? I mean, Why?’…
The story Mr. Lo long told himself came down to this: In December 1992, he received a divine message to go to the gun store, order the ammunition with his mother's credit card, then lie and deceive and kill. He was so convinced that he was justified in his acts that he raged at his lawyers during his trial because they insisted on asserting that he was insane. Instead, he argued, his lawyers should have investigated his victims to uncover why a heavenly power had selected them to be shot.
Sitting back and talking one afternoon in a small, concrete-block room with a glass wall facing the main visiting area at the prison, he said the command to kill was a feeling. ‘It's not visual. It's not auditory,’ he said. ‘It's just, you realize it.’
Seven years after the shootings, he had a change of mind:
Mr. Lo carefully described the evolution of his thoughts. As he had come to realize God would not have chosen him to inflict so much pain, he said, he had struggled to understand what made him into a killer. He remains convinced, he said, that it was something outside of himself that gave him a message to do what he did. Perhaps, he said in answer to a question, it was a supernatural or satanic force.”
Source: William Glaberson, "Man and His Son's Slayer Unite to Ask Why," New York Times (4-12-00)
[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2000/april/12398.html]
BODY
ME
Deception
My phone is set to send any call immediately to voicemail that comes from a phone number that is not in my contacts
I have it set this way because of the endless number of telemarketing and scam calls
Some telemarketing companies are even spoofing phone numbers and caller ID
When we lived in PA I got a scam call that went directly to voicemail from Knouse Foods, the local apple processing plant
Our oldest son received a call from his best friend while he was texting him (someone had spoofed the caller ID)
I’m frustrated by the number of scam phone calls, emails, text messages, and posts on social media
WE
Deception
My guess is that all of us are frustrated by the fact that someone is trying to deceive us by assuming the identity of someone we know
Isaac was ready to hand over the family responsibilities to Esau, but that was not part of God’s plan for his family. Rebekah heard about her husband’s plan and devised a counter plan to make sure that Jacob would be the one who would be blessed instead of Esau. Her plan required Jacob to deceive his father by appearing to be Esau, but deception was not part of God’s plan to accomplish His purposes. In spite of another attempt by the patriarchal family to achieve God’s plan by human effort, we will learn from this passage that . . .
BIG IDEA – “God’s plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception.” [Pastor Marc Webb]
Let’s pray
GOD (Genesis 27:1-29)
Decline of Isaac (vv. 1-4)
Isaac’s condition (v. 1a)
Isaac was 137 years old at this point [#1 – Young people, how old was Isaac? (137)]
His half-brother, Ishmael, had died at the age of 137 (14 years earlier), so perhaps Isaac was keenly aware of this fact
In verse 31, when Esau brought his meal to Isaac, he asked his father to sit up
We know that his eye sight was failing, to the point that he could no longer see
But maybe he was experiencing the failure of other parts of his body too
Isaac did what the patriarchs of every family probably did in the ancient Near East – he prepared for his successor
He was preparing for what would happen after his death
In our day and age, people prepare their will, so that their wishes can be executed after their death
“Isaac is planning to give the patriarchal blessing, which must be distinguished from the material inheritance (birthright) discussed at the end of Genesis 25. The blessing has nothing to do with material goods or birth order.” [Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 554]
Normally the blessing ceremony would have been a public event involving the entire family
When Jacob was about to die, he called all of his sons together so he could bless each one (Genesis 49:1, 28)
When Joseph was nearing death he called his brothers together for an oath ceremony concerning his bones being taken out of Egypt (Genesis 50:24-25)
Moses had the twelve tribes of Israel gather together for his final blessing before his death (Deuteronomy 33:1)
This was not the case with Isaac
Isaac’s request for the ceremony preparation was discussed privately with Esau, only
Isaac’s request (vv. 1b-4a)
Isaac called for Esau and explained that he was now an old man and did not know when he would die
Perhaps he felt like it was imminent – like it would happen within a few days or weeks
As we will learn in Genesis 35:28, Isaac was stronger than he thought, because he lived for another 43 years and died at 180 years old
PRINCIPLE #1 – God is the One who gives and takes life.
Job 14:5, Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed
Psalm 139:16, All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be
#1 – My Next Step Today Is To: Rejoice in the fact that God knows the number of my days.
While Isaac lived another 43 years, he probably recognized that his ability to lead his family had come to an end
Isaac asked Esau to get his quiver and bow and go hunting for some wild game, so that they could have a meal together to commemorate the blessing
Esau was obviously an accomplished cook, since Isaac asked him to prepare some tasty food the way that he liked
Isaac’s intentions (v. 4b)
Isaac was going to use the meal as the time to bestow on Esau the patriarchal blessing
Unknowns
We are not told if Isaac’s intentions were to deceive his wife and son, Jacob, by having a private ceremony with only Esau in attendance
If that was the case, then he was potentially trying to subvert God’s plan
“God’s plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception.”
We do not know if Isaac was aware that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red stew
We do not know if Rebekah shared with Isaac what the Lord had said to her about the twins in her womb and that the older would serve the younger
We do know that Abraham wished that Ishmael could have been the covenant carrier as his firstborn son (Genesis 17:18), but God redirected him to Isaac as the covenant carrier
Maybe Isaac had similar feelings as his father, Abraham, had about Ishmael
Again, this ceremony was going to be a private event and not something the other family members were invited to attend
We are not told directly in the passage, but perhaps there was some tension between Isaac and Rebekah, Esau and Jacob, which led to a desire for a private blessing
It is likely that Isaac believed he and Esau were alone when he made this request of him, but we find out that was not the case
Deception of Rebekah (vv. 5-17)
Rebekah’s eavesdropping (v. 5)
Eavesdropping may be too strong of a word
Isaac would not have seen Rebekah in the tent since he was blind
Tent walls were probably not very thick and were definitely not sound proof
The unknowns we discussed earlier may have played a part in what Rebekah did
As the matriarch and perhaps in better health than her husband, she probably played an important role in the family
How many of us would agree that our mothers and/or wives are the glue that keep our families together
Rebekah waited for Esau to leave on his hunting trip before talking with Jacob
Rebekah’s report (vv. 6-7)
She shared exactly what she heard from Isaac and Esau’s conversation
The only thing that she changed was that she added that the blessing would take place in the presence of the Lord
Rebekah wanted Jacob to understand the brevity of what Isaac was about to do with Esau
This was not merely an insignificant “at-a-boy”
It had religious significance
Because of the seriousness of this blessing, Jacob should have thought twice about participating in this ruse, especially since it would be in the presence of the Lord
Instead of stopping his mother immediately, Jacob listened to her plan
Rebekah’s plan (vv. 8-10)
Rebekah did not ask Jacob nicely, “Please, go and get two choice young goats…” [#2 – Young people, what did Rebekah command Jacob to go get? (2 goats)]
It was a command for Jacob to obey what she asked him to do
Perhaps she felt pressed for time, not knowing how quickly Esau would find wild game and when he would return
Rebekah knew how Isaac liked his food prepared
She probably did all of the cooking when the boys were younger
Perhaps she taught Esau and Jacob how to cook
Esau’s recipe for wild game was most likely her recipe
After Rebekah prepared the food, Jacob would take it to his father, so that Isaac would give him the blessing instead of Esau
“O what a tangled web we weave / When first we practice to deceive.” [Sir Walter Scott in his poem “Marmion” cited by Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 121]
PRINCIPLE #2 – Deception has no place in a Christian’s life.
Deception is simply one way of manipulating a situation, so we get what we want
This goes back to my belief that all sin is based in selfishness – I want my own way
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be characterized as people who are trustworthy and honest
Philippians 2:3-4, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2 Corinthians 8:21, For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
Colossians 3:9-10, Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Ephesians 4:25, Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Proverbs 10:9, The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 11:3, The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Read James 3:13-18
#2 – My Next Step Today Is To: Confess any deception in my life and strive to live a life of integrity and honesty.
Jacob probably understood what a tangled web this would create, which is why he questioned his mother’s plan
Jacob’s apprehension (vv. 11-12)
Differences
Jacob reminded his mother that he and Esau, while twins, were very different
They were obviously not identical twins, since Esau’s body was covered in hair and Jacob’s body was smooth
Concern
“Jacob is clearly less concerned with the rightness, the morality, of his mother’s suggestion than he is with what happens to him if his disguise is discovered and his impersonation revealed.” [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 216]
“Jacob’s concern wasn’t ‘Is it right?” but “Is it safe?” He was worried about the eleventh commandment: ‘Thou shall not get caught.’” [Wiersbe, 122]
“Reputation is what people think I am. Character is what I know I am. And most people today, like Jacob, are concerned about reputation over character. How do you know what your character really is? You’ll know by what you do when no one is around.” [Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament, Volume 1: Genesis-Job, 131]
What are you concerned with today, reputation or character; what is right, or what is safe; what is moral or what is immoral?
It is so easy for us to justify doing what will protect our reputation instead of what will protect our character
It is so easy for us to justify doing what is safe, instead of doing what is right
It is so easy for us to justify doing what is immoral, instead of doing what is moral
We adhere to the philosophy that “the ends justify the means” or it is easier to “beg forgiveness than to ask permission.”
We need to remember, “God’s plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception.”
So instead of fighting against God’s plan or trying to “help” Him out, we need to choose character, what is right, and what is moral
#3 – My Next Step Today Is To: Choose character, what is right, and what is moral as I face ___________.
Jacob expressed his apprehension at the success of his mother’s plan, but she was ready with her rebuttal
Rebekah’s rebuttal (v. 13)
Rebekah was willing to accept the consequences of failure
She would defend Jacob before Isaac if the ruse was uncovered
This showed the extent to which Rebekah would go to make sure her favored son received the patriarchal blessing
Jacob’s submission (v. 14a)
Jacob chose his reputation over his character, his safety over what was right, and deception over morality
He went and got the two choice young goats for his mother to prepare
Rebekah’s revised plan (vv. 14b-17)
Food
Rebekah completed the first part of her ruse
She prepared the two choice young goats just the way Isaac liked it
Costume
The second part of her ruse required Jacob to play dress up
Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau that she had in the house and put them on Jacob
She took the skins from the goats she had just prepared and attached them to Jacob’s hands and the smooth part of his neck [#3 – Young people, what did Rebekah use to cover Jacob’s smooth skin? (goatskins)]
Most of us have played dress up at one point in our lives, whether it was trying on Dad or Mom’s coat or shoes or having various costumes to be a princess or a pirate
How many of us have taken the skin of an animal and used that for dress up (maybe a coonskin hat perhaps)
I did not see any of our youth attaching animal skins to their hands or neck for the costume contest during the Faith-based Trunk or Treat
Rebekah gave Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made
The ruse is complete
PRINCIPLE #3 – “God’s work must be done God’s way.” [Courson]
“As we saw earlier, it was clear Jacob was to be the blessed one (Genesis 25:23). Because Rebekah knew this, when she heard Isaac was about to bless Esau, we see her doing what you and I can fall into oh, so subtly: knowing God’s Word and doing God’s work—but not in God’s way. You might have a sincere heart and pure motives in wanting to see God’s work done in the ministry or in your family. But God’s work must be done God’s way.” [Courson, 131]
There has been a recurring theme with the patriarchs, where their lack of faith in God’s ability to accomplish His plan or protect them comes into question
They in turn try to “help” Him out, especially with deception
Abraham and Sarah tried to rush God’s plan for a son by using Hagar as a surrogate child bearer
Abraham and Sarah lied about their marital status to Pharaoh in Egypt (Genesis 12) and Abimelech in Gerar (Genesis 20)
Isaac and Rebekah lied about their marital status to Abimelech in Gerar (Genesis 26)
The patriarchs are not alone in trying to do things their own way, the way of the world
We see this throughout Scripture and have experienced it for ourselves
Take a moment to reflect on a time where you have done God’s work, but not in God’s way
Did it feel like you were fighting against God?
Were there obstacles that kept popping up?
Did you get frustrated when things were not going as smoothly as you had hoped?
Did you eventually begin doing it God’s way?
I would venture to say that all of us have been guilty of this at one time in our lives
I want to encourage us all to do God’s work His way, since we know what His Word says
#4 – My Next Step Today Is To: Begin doing God’s work of __________ His way.
“God’s plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception.”
God’s plan was for Jacob to be blessed and be the covenant carrier, but would he and his mother wait for God’s plan to be accomplished?
Would their ruse work?
Dishonesty of Jacob (vv. 18-29)
Jacob’s lies (vv. 18-27a)
He lied about his name (vv. 18-19a)
When Jacob went to his father, Isaac, and was asked who he was, he said, “Esau your firstborn”
That was his first lie (lie #1)
He lied about the food and the Lord (vv. 19b-20)
Jacob had not done as his father had told Esau
He had not gone hunting (lie #2)
He simple went to out to the flock and chose two choice young goats
The animals were not wild game (venison), but were domesticated goats (lie #3)
Jacob used the Lord in an attempt to hide his deception
When Isaac asked him how he found the wild game so quickly, Jacob claimed it was Isaac’s God that gave him success
God did not have anything to do with the capture and preparation of the goats – that was all Jacob and Rebekah’s doing (lie #4)
“To use the Lord to cover up sin is a step toward blasphemy.” [Wiersbe, 122]
Exodus 20:7, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Notice that Jacob does not refer to the Lord as his God, but as Isaac’s God
“This is ‘[co]nsistent with Jacob’s language elsewhere (31:5, 42; 32:9). Not until his safe return from Haran did he speak of the Lord as his own God (cf. 28:20-22; 33:18-20).’ The God of the patriarchs is not his God until he experiences the divine protection for himself (see 28:20-22; 33:18-20).” [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 379]
Jacob was not done lying
He lied again about his identity (v. 24)
When asked a second time about his identity, he lied again
He told his father a second time that he was Esau (lie #5)
Being truthful
“See how one lie led to another, for deception can be defended only by more deception.” [Wiersbe, 122]
The tangled web that Sir Walter Scott talked about in his poem created a sticky situation for Jacob
Telling the truth is much easier than lying, because you don’t have to remember the lie(s) you have told in the past and you don’t have to remember to whom you lied
Lying simply creates that tangled web
While Jacob was lying, Isaac was trying to discern the truth
Isaac’s tests (vv. 20-27)
Logic (v. 20)
It did not make logical sense to Isaac that Esau would have found, killed, cleaned, and cooked the wild game so quickly
Isaac cautiously accepted the lie that the Lord had given him success, but he was not fully convinced so he continued with his second test
Touch (vv. 21-22)
Isaac asked Jacob to come close to him, so he could touch him
Isaac knew that Esau was hairy and Jacob was not
Jacob’s fears were realized when his father asked him to come close to him, so he could touch him
Sound (v. 22)
Isaac was confused, because the voice did not match what his fingers touched
As I got older and would answer the phone at my parent’s place I would be mistaken for my father
Just imagine twin boys sounding the same, but Isaac grew to know the fine, minute differences in their voices
His word (v. 24)
Perhaps in an effort to hear his son’s voice one more time, Isaac questioned Jacob again about whether he was really his son Esau
Jacob responded that, “Yes,” he was Esau
Isaac was still not completely satisfied that the person in his tent, offering him wild game, was actually Esau
So, he proceeded with one final test
Scent (v. 27)
Isaac asked Jacob to come near to him and give him a kiss [#4 – Young people, what did Isaac ask Jacob to give him? (a kiss)]
Isaac wanted to use one more sensory test to see if it was Jacob or Esau
When Isaac caught the scent of his clothes, he was finally convinced
Esau and his clothes smelled like the field, like the open country
As a hunter, I like the smell of dead leaves in the woods, but I realize that not everyone enjoys that smell (it just brings back fond memories for me)
Isaac is now ready to offer his patriarchal blessing
Application
Isaac allowed his sense of touch and smell to override his logic and sense of hearing
“Hearing is regarded as a source of truth in the Bible (Deut. 4:12), but Isaac ignores this sense.” [Waltke, 379]
Deuteronomy 4:12, Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.
PRINCIPLE #4 – Depending on our own senses and not God’s Word can cause us to be deceived.
Biblical background
John 17:17, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Psalm 119:160, All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Ephesians 1:13-14, And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Most of us would probably agree that we have, at times, allowed our senses and our emotions/feelings to control our decision making instead of the truths of God’s Word
Some of us may have experienced deception in a relationship, because we relied too much on our senses and emotions
Some of us may have been deceived by an employer
Others may have been duped by a business
It’s easy, today, to be taken advantage of by an internet scam, because they make it look so convincing
When faced with important decisions about a relationship, career, choice of school, buying property, investing for the future, etc., we should rely on the Lord through prayer and seek the advice and insight of other believers and professionals
#5 – My Next Step Today Is To: Seek truth from God’s Word and through prayer about ________ and not rely only on my senses and emotions.
Why did God allow Jacob to get away with this deception?
I wish I knew the mind of God
I do know that He does not condone lying or deception
I know that God’s plans will ultimately succeed and He will use sinful, fallible people and their human, fleshly plans for His purposes
In Exodus 1, we learn about the Hebrew midwives who were commanded to kill any male baby that was born to the Israelites, but they chose not to obey that command and when they were questioned about it they lied, saying the Hebrew women were giving birth before they could get there (the Lord was kind the midwives and allow them to have families of their own, because they feared Him)
In Joshua 2:3-6 we learn about Rahab who lied about where the Israelite spies were hiding (the Lord spared her and all the family members that were with her in her house when Jericho was destroyed, because she feared the Lord)
“God’s plans will be accomplished despite our lies and deception.”
Finally we come to patriarchal blessing
Isaac’s blessing (vv. 27b-29)
What Jacob is (v. 27b)
The smell of Esau’s clothes, that Jacob was wearing, reminded Isaac of a field that the Lord has blessed [#5 – Young people, what did the smell of Esau’s clothes remind Isaac of? (a field the Lord has blessed)]
Isaac was saying of Jacob that he is blessed by the Lord
As we will see throughout the rest of Genesis, Jacob was blessed by the Lord even though there were some bumps along the way
What Jacob will receive (v. 28)
Isaac was asking God to provide rain for Jacob’s crops
He was also asking the Lord to bless the growth of Jacob’s grain and vineyards
How Jacob will relate to others (v. 29)
Isaac was asking the Lord to allow the nations to serve and bow down to Jacob
Jacob would be the lord over his brother and his relatives, which would fulfill what Rebekah heard from the Lord in Genesis 25:23
Isaac was asking the Lord to curse those who curse Jacob and bless those who bless Jacob
Fathers, take time to reflect on each of your children, whether they are grown or not, and share with them how you see the Lord blessing them and using them
YOU
Do you need to rejoice in the fact that God knows the number of your days?
What deception do you need to confess in your life and strive to live a life of integrity and honesty?
What situation do you need to choose character, what is right, and what is moral for?
What work do you need to begin doing God’s way?
What do you need to seek truth from God’s Word and through prayer about and not rely only on your senses and emotions?
WE
What work do we need to begin doing God’s way?
What do we need to seek truth from God’s Word and through prayer about and not rely only on our senses and emotions?
CONCLUSION
“Business researchers call it ‘the missing ingredient’ or ‘the hidden accelerator.’ Most managers could transform their workplaces with this missing ingredient: showing appreciation. That's the focus of a recent book entitled The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Based on a ten-year study that interviewed 200,000 people, Gostick and Elton conclude that appreciation tops the list of things employees say they want from their bosses. Some of the statistics to back up this claim include:
Of the people who report high morale at work, 94.4 percent agree that their managers show appreciation.
79 percent of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as the key reason for leaving.
56 percent of employees who report low morale also give their managers low marks for showing appreciation.
Of course these statistics tap into a fundamental need in all of our relationships: the need to give and receive affirmation and blessing. The authors of The Carrot Principle conclude, ‘The simple … act of a leader [or a spouse, parent, coach, mentor, or friend] expressing appreciation to a person in a meaningful … way is the missing accelerator that can do so much but is used so sparingly.’”
Source: Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, The Carrot Principle (Free Press, 2007), pp. 7-14.
[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2011/may/3050911.html].
