Genesis 27:1-46

Preached Sunday Morning January 22, 2012

Introduction:

Have you ever felt that it would just be easier to lie than to tell the truth? Have you ever felt that the only way you can get the thing that you deserve it is cheat a bit in order to level the playing field that is stacked against you? The seduction to cut the corners on honesty can seem strong at times. If you don’t have a strong sense of the presence of God in your life, it seems sometimes that the only fear is getting caught. So the thought is if it appears that you can pull it off, you probably should, after all, no one else plays fair.

We have all heard the proverb about the tangled web we weave when we start to deceive. This morning we are going to see just how many people get caught up in the web. If find yourself leaving a trail of lies and half truths in order to cover a relationship, hide an addiction or sin pattern, or create an illusion of righteousness, listen carefully. The law of sowing and reaping is an unalterable truth of the universe. It is never worth it to allow yourself and those connected to you to get tangled in the web of deceit.

I. Isaac was tangled in the web

A. He was weak and vulnerable
Genesis 27:1-2
1. 137 years old
? Ishmael, his half brother, was 137 when he died.
2. Blind
3. Expecting death

B. Selfish and sensuous
Genesis 27:3-4
1. Intended to give Esau blessing against God’s prophecy
2. Wanted another taste of venison before death
3. Used blessing as a motivator to get Esau to feed Isaac

C. This tactic left Isaac vulnerable to deception. He reaped what he sowed.
Genesis 27:5
D. Trusted his senses and was deceived
Genesis 27:21-29
E. Endured the sting of deception like Abimelech did.
Genesis 27:33
Genesis 26:9-10
F. Drove a wedge deeper between Jacob and Esau
Genesis 27:34-35

II. Rebekah was tangled in the web.

A. Rebekah was taught to act on pragmatics rather than faith.

1. Regarding Abimelech
Genesis 26:7
2. Rebekah taught her son the same
Genesis 27:6-10

B. Rebekah claimed the curse for herself
Genesis 27:13

C. Rebekah’s curse came when she lost her beloved son.
Genesis 27:42-45

D. Rebekah continued deceiving her husband.
Genesis 27:46

III. Jacob was tangled in the web.

A. Fear of getting caught
Genesis 27:11-12
1. Consequences
2. Not morality

? God sees in secret!

B. Complete deception

Genesis 27:14-20
1. Fake meat
2. Fake hair
3. Fake smell
4. Fake testimony

C. Jacob was given a way of escape a chance to repent before it was too late.

Genesis 27:21-24
I Corinthians 10:13

D. Jacob’s deception caused bitter division

Genesis 27:42-46
1. From his parents
2. From his brother
3. Set up to reap from Laban, the deceiver.

IV. Esau was tangled in the web

A. Esau’s efforts were too late
Genesis 27:30-32

B. Esau changed his mind about blessing too late
Genesis 27:34
C. Bitterness led to a murderous plot
Genesis 27:36-41