“Who Are You?”
Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near
and kiss me, my son. So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell
of his garments, and blessed him, and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like
the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. May God give you of the dew of
heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples
serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may
your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and
blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob,
when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, his
brother Esau came in from his hunting. He also prepared savory food, and brought
it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father sit up and eat of
his son’s game, so that you may bless me.” His father Isaac said to him, “Who
are you?” He answered, “I am your firstborn son, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled
violently, and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me,
and I ate it all, before you came, and I have blessed him?
– yes, and blessed he shall be!”
Genesis 27:26-33
Jacob pretended to be Esau. With his mother Rebekah’s help, he fooled his dying father into believing
he was his brother Esau so he could gain the blessing meant for the oldest son.
Jacob did get caught after his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to
receive the blessing.
Pretending also goes on in our churches today.
People put on false fronts. They use the right “Christian” words, attend church
almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend so it appears
they have it all together in order to gain the approval of others. But inside
they are struggling with brokenness, guilt, doubt, addiction, or other
persistent sin. God placed us in a body of believers to support one another.
Admit you are not perfect. Then seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister
in Christ.
Be what God intends you
to be – don’t pretend to be what you are not.
Our Daily
Bread
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