1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son."
"Here I am," he answered.
2 Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the LORD before I die.' 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies." (Genesis 27:1-10)
There is an old proverb that says, "There are none so blind as they who will not see." In this passage we see two kinds of blindness. Isaac's blindness is the most obvious. Overcome by the natural affects of old age, his eyes are going dim. Perhaps he has cataracts or some other type of disease is deteriorating his sight. Dementia may also be playing a role in this too, as the blind are usually very perceptive about their surroundings. However, Isaac seems to be easily fooled as we shall see later. The other blindness is the blindness of his wife, Rebekah's heart. Her love for her children, especially Jacob, has surpassed the love which she once had for her husband, so much so that she was willing to deceive her husband to give Jacob what she most wanted for him and that was the inheritance and blessing bestowed upon him from his father. To do this, Rebekah heard her husband's desire for the oldest son, Esau, to hunt some wild game and to fix it for him. She knew that after this Isaac would pronounce the formal blessing upon Esau.
This was no common ordinary blessing, like the blessing we have over our meals. This was a solemn event where the father basically issued his last will and testament before his death, issuing the inheritance- usually to the oldest son. Esau was the eldest of the twin brothers, but they were as different as can be. Esau is also exhibiting some blindness here too. He has no idea what is about to befall him. He should have realized the trickery about to be conspired against him, knowing that Jacob has tricked him out of his birthright before.
Rebekah may have thought she was clever in doing this, but she was blind to the consequences of her behavior. Even if she were to succeed in her clever plan to disguise her beloved son Jacob and deceive him into thinking he was Esau, she did not realize that she was also pronouncing a death sentence on Jacob; for Esau would surely try to kill him when he found out about this plot. This act would separate the family forever.
Two hundred years ago, Sir Walter Scott wrote: "What a tangled web we weave when first when first we practice to deceive." Indeed a tangled web of blindness was woven that day by Rebekah. However, God was not blind to this deception, and would use it to bring about His purposes, as we shall see tomorrow.
This is the reason that prayer is so important in the lives of God's people. We may struggle with the things we most want in life, but have we submitted them in prayer seeking God's will? There are consequences for every action. Have we sought today to do our best and to make the best decision for the glory of God, or do we simply want what we want, and continue to walk in blindness. God knows the future, and the knows the outcome of every possible situation- we do not. Let us not delay in taking our concerns and decisions to God who can best help us to see with His eyes what lies before us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I do not know the outcome of this day. It could be that I may meet success or failure, life or death. Either way, may I submit myself to Your plans so I may see as much as I can. In Jesus Name I pray.
Have a blessed day!
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