Therefore, do this…

 

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?” (Genesis 27:41–45)

At least three times Jacob is told by his father, or his mother, to obey them. The first was Isaac’s command. Thinking he was talking to Esau, he told his son to prepare food for him. Jacob thought his father would realize the deception but his mother told him to obey. The third was when his mother learned that Esau planned to kill him. 

Even though it was not right to lie to his father, nor to earlier rob his brother of his birthright, there is a principle here that didn’t stop God’s plan to use these events to shape the future. The NT states the principle:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1–4)

The Ten Commandments also say to honor parents. Perhaps Jacob was trying to do this in his earlier concern about doing what his mother said, but the Bible is plain: a child owes obedience to a parent in all areas except those that contradict the revealed law of God. It was not right to lie to Isaac, even though his mother told him to do it. But it was right to flee!

This event does not condemn Jacob’s father. He was oblivious and deceived. The mother approved the deception and took advantage of the likelihood that Jacob had been raised to obey his parents. However, Jacob also knew this deception was wrong before God, but he seemed more concerned about what would happen to him if he was caught:

Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice. . . .” (Genesis 27:12–13)

Yet in all of this deceptive behavior, God protected Jacob. This son would be father to Judah and in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The big picture of redemption used these selfish decisions made in the OT story, showing how God can use anything for His purposes. 

Yet this is never an excuse that it is okay to do such things. The NT does say, “obey your parents IN THE LORD” while at the same time honoring them, not with lies and deceptions but living in the instruction and the godly enablement of the Holy Spirit. Jacob fled as he was told.

PRAY: My parents are no longer alive, but Jesus, I am thankful that You made them easy to honor. My prayers today are for those who live with difficult challenges because the children are being “provoked” by ungodly moms and dads. Also, may no one think it is okay to disobey You in order to please or appease their parents or anyone else. Amen.