(120 second quick read)
Why do we lie?
B. Because I think that my lie is better than God’s promises
Rebekah had a wish: that her favourite son would be blessed. The interesting thing here is that God had already promised her that it would happen. In Genesis 25:23, God gave her a promise regarding this. And she had no reason to take matters into her own hands the way she did.
In the Bible, we see two kinds of promises: conditional promises, and unconditional promises. In so many instances, we see God make a promise that is not based on who the person is, or what their actions are — it’s simply a promise God will keep. And Rebekah had a promise just like that, and it was given to her about her younger son.
And yet, Rebekah acted out of her own power, and with her own strength. And in doing so, she followed Sarah’s example, sadly. How many times do we do this ourselves? How often do we try to take matters into our own hands, instead of trusting that God keeps His promises?
None of the four characters in this story is an innocent bystander. There’s rebellion, jealousy, cheating and tragedy writ large in the story, and one has to wonder if this story could have gone any other way. Maybe it could have — if the parents had not played favourites with the children, and if they had dealt with the reality of God’s promise to Jacob as a family — and maybe their obedience would have given God far greater glory than this.
Trusting God that his promises are true is the first and most important step. Believing that our lies are better than that is the best way to end up with the kind of story this family has.
Why do we lie?
C. Because I would rather pretend than believe the truth
Do we prefer to put on the hairy clothes instead of being who we are? Do we lie to pretend to be someone we are not? Hear this: God cannot bless the person we are pretending to be.
Do we come to church wearing the scent of Esau? Do we go to God wearing clothes that make us look and feel different from who we truly are inside? We live a life of appearances, and we wonder why God won’t bless us. But God’s already told us this: the truth will set you free.
Leading a double life is tough. Pretending to be someone else is tough. Maybe you’re doing either of these because you’re looking for acceptance from the wrong places. Christ accepts you the way you are, and invites you to have a personal relationship with him just the way you are. No more, no less.
Here’s some reminders we need: seeking the truth will set us free. And truth is a person. And we’re forgiven by grace. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. And we can walk towards the truth without fear.
THIS IS PART OF THE DEVOTIONAL SERIES TITLED “THE NECESSARY SIN”.
