How does manipulation affect my relationships? - Manipulation - TouchPoints

Genesis 27:12, 21-23, 30, 35What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.” . . . Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob . . . As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”. . . But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has carried away your blessing.”

Genesis 29:25But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What sort of trick is this?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel. What do you mean by this trickery?”

Genesis 31:7but he has tricked me, breaking his wage agreement with me again and again. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.

The selfishness and dishonesty of manipulation is directly opposed to the self-giving love and trust necessary for long-lasting, healthy relationships.