Jacob, as the deceiver, is deceived by his Uncle Laban. He had promised that Jacob could marry his daughter, Rachel, after serving him for seven years. Instead, on the wedding night, Laban substituted his older daughter, Leah. For whatever reason, Jacob doesn’t realize the switch until the morning. He could not morally and legally return Leah to her father since the marriage had been consummated.
Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and tricked him into giving him the blessing meant for Esau. Jacob was to be the carrier of God’s covenant for the family, and this character issue was problematic. God continued to pursue Jacob to transform him. It would take time, but Jacob learned to trust God through struggles.
The Deceiver Meets His Match
God needed Jacob to see himself as he was, a deceitful schemer. Jacob met his match in his Uncle Laban. God gave Jacob a taste of his own medicine, which lasted for twenty years. Years later, Paul would describe what happened to Jacob. Galatians 6: 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.[1]
Jacob, unfortunately, learned the hard way that sowing deceit would lead him to reap deceit. He probably realized the pain he had caused his family in his actions after experiencing something similar.
Comparison of the Deceptions
- Jacob had substituted himself, the younger, for Esau, the older, when stealing the blessing from Issac. In the marriage, the older, Leah, is substituted for the younger, Rachel.
- Isaac unknowingly blessed the wrong son, and Jacob unknowingly married the wrong sister.
- Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, instigated the deception of Issac, and Laban, the father, initiated the marriage to Leah.
God is Willing to Restore
Our restoring God desires to renew us just as He transformed Jacob. God often uses the struggles of this sinful world to smooth out the rough places in our lives. We can be forgiven and restored because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
1 John 1: 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
If you have been guilty of deception or any other sin, confess it and turn to God. He will forgive and guide you in His paths. To hear how the deceiver is deceived, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/impact-of-parents
[1] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.