Deceiving Isaac

Deceiving Isaac

Q: What did Jacob cover his skin with to make his father think he was Esau?

• a. goatskin
• b. red paint
• c. cloth

Rebekah liked to get things done. Jacob made the most of opportunities. Rebekah’s get-things-done personality and Jacob’s habit of making the most of opportunities were good character traits when they were used to help others, but they weren’t good when they were used to scheme against others. This was the case when it came time for Isaac, then old and blind, to give his final blessing to Esau.

Isaac sent Esau to hunt wild game and cook it for him. Then Isaac would give Esau a blessing as the firstborn. Rebekah overheard this, and she planned to deceive Isaac and gain the blessing for Jacob. She prepared two young goats to taste the same as the dish Esau was going to make with the wild game. Rebekah covered Jacob’s smooth skin with a goatskin and had him dress in Esau’s clothing, which smelled of the outdoors.

Things went as Rebekah planned. Jacob took the food to Isaac, claiming to be Esau, and Isaac said a special blessing over him. (You can read the blessing in Genesis 27:28-29.) All was well until Esau took his meat to Isaac. Then Esau found out Jacob had tricked their father into giving Jacob the blessing intended for him.

God had already told Rebekah before her twins were born that her older son would serve his younger brother, but she didn’t wait to let God work. She made her own plans, and it caused angry feelings and divided the family.

Running ahead of God isn’t a good idea. If you pray about your plans, God will give you a peace about going ahead with them if it’s what he wants. Otherwise it’s better to wait and see how God works.

For You

If you need to make a decision, pray and ask God to guide you. If you aren’t sure what he wants you to do, talk to a parent, Sunday school teacher, or pastor for guidance.

Answer: a

[Rebekah] covered [Jacob’s] arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats.   Genesis 27:16

(The Whole Story: Genesis 27)