July 21, 2025
Genesis 27:42 - 46, 28:1-2

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.”

New International Version (NIV)
The difficult task of the hitter in a baseball game is to detect the spin of the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand. Is it a fast ball or a breaking ball? The great hitters through the years were great because they were able to see the spin, prepare for the pitch and hit it. Very few people can do this well in baseball and in life.

Abraham’s family heritage progressed through many twists and turns. Rebekah’s words to Isaac always seem to have some sort of spin. She is always working an angle in her conversations with her husband and her son Jacob. We see this same characteristic in the life of her brother Laban back in Harran. 

At this point in their story, Esau wants to kill Jacob for stealing from him. Rebekah determines to protect Jacob.  Her solution is to send Jacob to her people back in Harran. When Esau calms down, she will send word so that he can return home. Here comes the spin:  Rebekah tells Isaac she does not like Esau’s Hittite wives. Life would not be worth living if Jacob married a Hittite woman who served other gods as Esau’s wives did. This meant Jacob had to leave. Isaac agreed and played along. Did he know that Rebekah was trying to save Jacob’s life?

Lies lead to lies. Each time we spin a conversation, we will likely need to spin another one to cover it up. I said last week that expressions like “the end justifies the means,” and “easier to get forgiveness than permission,” assume we must deceive others to get what we want. Jacob and his brother came from a long line of liars. So do we. No wonder Jesus called for truthful clarity:  “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).  
Pray with me:
Father, grant us grace to overcome our need to “spin” conversations and work angles with others. Help us to live transparently truthful lives, trusting your ability to protect us from harm. Show us ways we have taken advantage of others. Forgive us as we repent. Please restore the relationships we have broken through our dishonesty. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our Monday through Friday devotionals are in the book of Genesis this year. Join us for these devotionals as we learn together about our God and his Kingdom in the world.  

We also invite you to join us as we read through the Bible. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:
2025 Bible Reading Plan
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