Genesis 27:13 - Opinion Question

[God_Loving]

Hi all.

This is technically my first post. Hopefully it is in the right section and worded clearly.

Although I recently finished the bible, as well as being water baptized, and I own two study bibles, I am new to the faith.

I am studying all the books from beginning to end and stumbled upon something that I would love anyone's opinion and/or feedback on.

In Genesis 27:13 where Jacob and his mother, Rebekah deceive Jacob's father, Isaac, I noticed something.

In the NLT Illustrated Study Bible, the notes on Genesis 29:1 - 31:55 say that because Jacob chose to deceive/lie to his father, Isaac, pretending to be Esau, the notes suggest that, "...God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years."

This is in relation to Jacob wanting to marry Rachael, then after waiting seven years, Jacob was deceived and married Rachael's older sister, Leah.

Here is the part I wouldn't mind getting feedback on.

Do you feel if Jacob chose to be honest with his father instead of pretending to be Esau, things would have perhaps ran smoother for Jacob?

This got me thinking. Even if Jacob did think it was wrong to lie to his father, in Exodus 20:12:

"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Again, I am new to the faith, but if your father or mother is asking you, either as a son or daughter, to do something you know is wrong, are we supposed to agree to it just because they are your parents? That doesn't make sense to me.

I mean, I could be totally wrong, but it certainly seems like Jacob didn't think it was wrong to lie to his father, his concern was getting caught, staring that Esau was a hairy man and was concerned his father, Isaac would notice the difference.

Do you think Jacob did the right thing by honouring his mother's request, even though the act of lying was wrong? I know Jacob's mother only wanted the best for Jacob, but I still feel they were both wrong, Jacob and Rebekah.

Perhaps God allowed it as a way to teach us in the bible from this experience to be honest as well as the consequences from a lying mouth and a lying heart. The theme of lying seems to be present in Genesis when Abraham lied, pretending his wife was his sister.

Since Exodus occurred after Genesis, so....was honouring your mother and father not important until it was mentioned in Exodus later on???

Thoughts?

 

[Beetow]

One of the best illustrations I've seen of a die-hard legalist was a cartoon showing a
man behind the wheel of a car stopped at a red light while huge landslide boulders
are within seconds of crushing him and his family to death. While his wife and
children shriek in mortal panic, the legalist calmly points out that he can't move the
car until the light turns green.

Legalists typically refuse to accept the possibility of extenuating circumstances,
which Webster's defines as: to lessen, or to try to lessen, the seriousness or extent
of by making partial excuses; viz: mitigate.

Although it's illegal to run red lights, those boulders rumbling down the hill to crush
the man's family to death unless he moves his car, are a legally acceptable excuse
to go before the light turns green. In those kinds of cases, the welfare of human life
takes priority over strict conformity to the law.

Compare Ex 1:15-21 where Jewish midwives lied through their teeth in order to
save the lives of little Jewish boys. Did God punish the midwives for their
dishonesty? No, on the contrary; He rewarded them with families of their own!

Now the thing is: God had already assigned Jacob a position of superiority over his
brother Esau before either boy was even born (Gen 25:23). So in reality, Jacob
didn't steal the birthright; no, not when he had a God-given right to it in the first
place. And when you think about it: Isaac was intent upon giving his son Esau
something the patriarch had no right to give him. So although Jacob and his mom
were sneaky about it; the end result saved the day.
_

 

[God_Loving]

I appreciate your reply and your thoughts.

I understand what you are saying, however I still feel what Jacob and Rebekah did was dishonest.

Your comment, "God had already assigned Jacob a position of superiority over his brother Esau before either boy was even born" is an interesting point. However, If that was the case, I could be wrong or not wording this right, but Jacob and Rebekah should have been more honest and trusted God more instead of lying.

Maybe I'm taking it way too personally; I do not like those that lie. Am I a perfect person? No. However, I wish more people in this world were more honest.
I know God is the final judge, however, I often find in order to succeed in this world is to lie, especially related to getting and keeping a job.

I get that sometimes lying, such as your point, Ex 1:15-21 where lying can sometimes save a life. I'm sure some people in this world lie when they say the police have been called and/or are arriving soon in order to scare certain people off, I just feel what Jacob did, especially not caring that he was lying to his father, was wrong, and was more worried about getting caught.

Again, even if Jacob was supposed to be in a position of superiority over his brother Esau, I am not a fan of the message. In the end, God disciplined Jacob, as I previously mentioned, I'm just so sick of people who constantly lie for ulterior motives instead of lying for the good in saving someone's life or helping one escape from harm.

I'll end with this for those to consider for those that care. I don't know if this is a latest trend catchphrase in North America, but I hear quite often since Covid started the saying, "To be honest..." which suggests that a person is not normally honest.

I should probably stop there, I could go on with this topic.

I will say one final thing. Since reading the bible for a 2nd time, on a 2nd read, at least for me, you start to notice things you missed upon first reading the bible, which I feel is great!

Have a blessed day!

If anyone else wishes to continue this discussion please feel free!

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

Do you think Jacob did the right thing by honouring his mother's request, even though the act of lying was wrong? I know Jacob's mother only wanted the best for Jacob, but I still feel they were both wrong, Jacob and Rebekah.

There was a prophecy concerning both of them when they were yet in the womb, their fates were already sealed. Jacob, the "supplanter", will take his brother's blessing:

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.” (Gen. 25:23)

Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of stew, and in this episode of the Genesis, Jacob just collected what legally belonged to him with the help of his mother. According to one rabbi who commented on this, Esau had this short-term scarcity mindset, and Rebekah knew it very well; also, in the end of the previous chapter, it says:

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. (Gen. 26:34-35)

As Esau's marriage with Hittite forms an issue in his parents' mind, on top of his lack of vision, he's unworthy of the blessing, Jacob deserves it more than he does. Therefore, Rebekah arranged everything behind the scenes and reassured Jacob by taking full responsibility on herself. In the way she saw it, cheating might be wrong, but ultimately she did the right thing, it was for the greater good. Jacob had his misgivings, but he followed her instructions and got the blessing.