
Today in Genesis 27, we read about Jacob’s deception of Esau. At the heart of all deception is sin, and as we are all sinners, therefore we are all the subject or the object of some form of deception. Deception has a sinister partner – lying. Back in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into the world by deception and lies when Satan first deceived (i.e., “tricked”) Eve. Having bought into the lie, both Adam and Eve became a part of it and passed it down to all of us – making us all a part of it. Earlier in Genesis 25, we saw that Jacob duped Esau to “sell him his birthright” (verse 31). Here in chapter 27, Jacob – in partnership with his mother, Rebekah, who actually instigated this duplicity – deceives both Isaac and Esau. Jacob knows and admits that he would be “tricking” Isaac (verse 12). The problem with deception (and all sin) is that we are so hopelessly bound up by it that we are powerless to recognize it or to escape from it. We observe that Esau clearly “despised his birthright” (cf., Genesis 25:34). Additionally, he was careless and negligent about receiving Isaac’s blessing. Such carelessness indicates something to us about deception. Often, people are open to deception because they are careless in some important area. God is opposed to all deception, so we need to ask God and trust Him to keep us from becoming easy prey. In Genesis 28, we see Jacob on the run from Esau. This chapter tells us about Jacob’s dream – the stairway to heaven (verse 12). This dream reveals two important truths: [1] There actually is a way to heaven, and … [2] Jesus is that Stairway. He stands between heaven and earth (cf., John 1:51 and 14:6). Jacob finds himself in the same predicament as post-modern man – “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (verse 16). People today have lost their sense of awareness about God’s presence because they don’t care about His existence. It is a dangerous place to be.
Psalm 9 beautifully extols the LORD. In verses 1-6, David voices his praise, thanksgiving, and joy before God. David declares that God has “upheld his right and his cause” (verse 4), and He tells us of God’s wondrous defenses against his enemies. “Endless ruin has overtaken them,” and “even their memory has perished” (verse 5). Looking ahead, we see that David says that “the LORD reigns forever … He is a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble” (verses 7-9). He calls us to “praise the LORD and to proclaim what He done” (verse 11). This is a glorious Psalm that we should read and focus on often.
In Matthew 10:32–11:15, Jesus continues His teachings about acknowledging Him before men, about the divisions that our faith causes, and about the cost of loving and serving Him. In verse 42, Jesus indicates that “anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to His little ones ... will certainly not lose his reward.” Whereas the Pharisees watched people outwardly for their great deeds, God looks upon our hearts – where true service to Him is rendered. Matthew 11 addresses the Lord’s praise for John the Baptist – “among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater,” and yet, “he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater” (verse 11). This seems to be a paradox, but today, we have the great privilege of serving our Lord Jesus Christ in ways that, back in John’s day, were completely unknown. Although at times, it may not appear so, the gospel is going out like never before, and the kingdom of heaven continues to advance. People are laying hold of it. Sharing the gospel is our purpose and our mission. Interestingly, Jesus used the expression, "He who has ears, let him hear" (verse 15). Everyone has ears, and practically everyone can hear. We need to share the Word of God with them and help them to find that Stairway to heaven.
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