What Were They Thinking?

    We have been studying in BSF about Jacob and Esau. Their story reads like a reality show about dysfunctional families. They could call it Big Little Lies or The Lying Game or Secrets and Lies or Body of Lies. Shoot, those have all been taken. When it comes down to it though, the goat skin costume, props and lies were only the outward manifestations of their inner beliefs. I have been thinking a lot about what they were thinking.

•  Did Jacob really think a future birthright only their father could impart could be swapped from Esau for a bowl of stew? That Isaac would accept that? That food endowed inheritance rights?
• Did Isaac really think that blessings only God could impart could come through his "Will trade birthright blessing for food, Part 2" arrangement? That he could thwart God's prophecy that the older would serve the younger? That Rebekah would not find out?
  
• Did Rebekah really think God would bless Jacob through sin and deception? That she was helping Jacob? That God could not fulfill His own prophecy without her help? That Isaac would not find out about it? That Esau would not avenge himself?
  
• Did Jacob really think he could lie and deceive his way into God's favor? That his brother, the hunter, would not target him afterward? That he could go on living at home?

     It would be even more fun to look back at how twisted their thought processes were if we did not do the same things today. The recent election is a great illustration. What do our responses reveal about what we really think? 

• Do we really think conspirators tricked God to manipulate President Biden into office? That voter fraud thwarted God? 
• That we do not have to respect or submit to rulers if we didn't vote for them?  
  
• And for those who think our current leaders represent God's judgment on our country's sins, that Christians should be exempt from it? Blame the liberals? Complain that God has abandoned us?

      And closer to home, my home, is when my Rebekah heart crosses the line from motivation to manipulation. From trusting God's gracious promises to getting my goat.