旧约人物：雅各的谎言
创世记二十七章1至10节
1以撒年老，眼睛昏花，不能看见，就叫了他大儿子以扫来，说：我儿。以扫说：我在这里。
2他说：我如今老了，不知道那一天死。
3现在拿你的器械，就是箭囊和弓，往田野去为我打猎，
4照我所爱的做成美味，拿来给我吃，使我在未死之先给你祝福。
5以撒对他儿子以扫说话，利百加也听见了。以扫往田野去打猎，要得野味带来。
6利百加就对他儿子雅各说：我听见你父亲对你哥哥以扫说：
7你去把野兽带来，做成美味给我吃，我好在未死之先，在耶和华面前给你祝福。
8现在，我儿，你要照着我所吩咐你的，听从我的话。
9你到羊群里去，给我拿两只肥山羊羔来，我便照你父亲所爱的给他做成美味。
10你拿到你父亲那里给他吃，使他在未死之先给你祝福。
信息分享
以撒的话令祸端始起。神并未命他为任何人祝福，他却对长子以扫说：「现在是时候让我给你祝福。」他说：「我将要死了。」但据我们所知，他再多活了八十年。
未得到神的吩咐便去做，与拒绝听从神的吩咐是一样的错。我们也常常这样的悖逆。
故事接下来，讲到以扫按着父亲的吩咐出去打猎。而他的母亲利百加也在暗中听见了丈夫的话。她当然不会坐视不理，让她宠爱的儿子雅各吃亏。
于是丑恶的事情发生了──我们读到的不是祷告而是人的计谋和操纵，不是诚实而是谎言，不是顺服而是狡诈。
次子雅各穿上毛皮，捧着羊肉走进父亲的帐棚中。食物是谎言，衣服是谎言，他说的话也是谎言；以撒却相信了他并为他祝福。
没有错，神的心意的确是要雅各得到祝福；但神会如何成就？我们不知道。神却并不需要利百加的「帮忙」，更不需要雅各的谎话。祂已应许了雅各，只是利百加迫不及待。
等候并不容易。但凭着单纯的信心，我们就必看见所应许的成就。没有神的吩咐，我们不需做甚么。
经文反思：
「凡等候祂的，都是有福的！」（赛三十18）
OLD TESTAMENT HEROES: JACOB
Genesis 27:1-10
1 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”
And he answered him, “Here I am.”
2 Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.
3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.
4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it.
6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
7 ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.
9 Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.
10 Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”
Message
Father Isaac caused the crisis when he said, 'Esau, it's time for me to bless you.' But there was no word from God to bless anyone. Isaac said, 'I'm going to die soon.' As far as we can tell, he lived about another 80 years!
It is as wrong to act without a word from God as it is to refuse to act when He does speak. We ourselves can be guilty of that, can't we?
To continue the story: Esau went away to hunt for wild game as his father had asked. But Mother Rebekah had been listening. Her favourite son was not going to miss out, if she could help it.
Then follows the sad story - instead of prayer there were planning and manipulating. There was lying instead of honesty, scheming instead of submission.
Watch the younger twin go into his father's tent with goat meat dressed up as venison. The food was a lie. His clothes were a lie. His words were lies. But Isaac accepted him and blessed him.
Yes, it was God's will that Jacob should receive the blessing. How would God have brought it about? We may never know. But God didn't need Rebekah's help. He didn't need Jacob's lies. He had promised the blessing to Jacob, but Rebekah couldn't wait.
Waiting is not easy. But simple faith in the promises of God will always see their fulfillment. God doesn't need our help except when He asks for it.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: 'Blessed are those who wait for him.' (Isaiah 30:18)