As Genesis 26 opens we feel like “it’s déjà vu all over again.” This time Isaac and his family are in the middle of a drought and go to King Abimelech’s land. Isaac tells Rebekah to say she is his sister in order to keep him from being killed. Apparently, Abraham hadn’t shared his experience with Isaac and that this was not a good plan. Anyway, Abimelech finds out the truth and warns his people to leave Isaac alone.

Isaac prospers while he is on Abimelech’s land and his people get jealous, so Abimelech throws Isaac off his land. Isaac has trouble finding a place to settle because of water rights disputes. They finally settle at Rehoboth (which means “room”) because the Lord makes room for them there.

The Lord visits Isaac and blesses him because of his father Abraham. Abimelech comes to Isaac and agrees to a covenant with him that they will live in peace.

As you recall Jacob bought Esau’s birthright with a bowl of soup. Isaac still favored Esau and in Genesis 27 he is planning on giving Esau a blessing. Rebekah overhears Isaac’s plan and colludes with Jacob to have him receive the blessing instead.

Rebekah fixes a meal the way Esau would have fixed it. They put the skins of goats on Jacob’s neck and hands to imitate Esau’s hairy skin, dressed him in Esau’s clothes and Jacob goes into Isaac’s tent. Isaac is blind and cannot see that it is Jacob. He reaches out to touch Jacob, feels the fur, smells the clothing, and thinks it is Esau. He gives Jacob the blessing of the firstborn son that he would be lord over his brothers and receive blessings.

When Esau returns from the field and goes in to Isaac with the special meal. Isaac realizes what has happened and says that Jacob has received the blessing. Esau begs his father to bless him too, but Isaac says that only one can receive the blessing and Jacob has received it. Jacob lives up to his name which means “he supplants.”

Esau is furious over this turn of events. He plans to kill Jacob after Isaac dies. Rebekah hears this and tells Jacob to run away to Haran, to her brother Laban’s house. She promises to send for him when Esau forgets what he has done.

Again, we see two situations where deceit is used to try to get ahead. While both situations work out it is not without trial and hardship. Also, we are left wondering if the hurt will ever be assuaged and forgiveness can ever be given.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives the 12 disciples authority to heal disease and cast out demons. He sends them out to the towns and villages of Israel. They are not to go to Gentiles or Samaritans. If they are welcomed then they are to give blessings, if they are not welcomed then they are leave, shaking the dust off their feet. He warns his disciples to be wary and prepared in case they fall into the wrong hands. But most importantly they are to trust that the Spirit will help them in their difficulties and will save them. Jesus lets them know that they may even be threatened with death but not to fear because they are the Lord’s.

Very few of us are called to this kind of commitment in our life of faith. But we must always be willing to give witness to Jesus even in the midst of ridicule and danger. Jesus promises us the reward of the righteous if we stand firm and continue to believe. What a different call this is than the life of deceit and trickery that we see in Jacob, and yet God’s protection was even with him. . And woe to the one who treats a believer badly. They will reap what they sow.