The Problem With Deception — Genesis 29:25

So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

We have all been deceived at some point in our lives. Maybe a trusted loved one was hiding a dark secret or an employer was being dishonest about your future prospects with the company. Likely we have participated in deceptions too — maybe you personally “over promised” the performance of a product you were selling or perhaps you chose to water down the truth of an unfavorable event in order to cast yourself in a favorable light.

Jacob was lied to by his Uncle Laban as he expected that the prettier sister, Rachel, would be given to him as his wife. Jacob had left his land in search of a wife and was directed by his father to go to Haran to visit his mother’s brother in order to find someone to marry. Even though Laban’s family weren’t God-fearing folks (Laban had his family idols) it wasn’t permissible for Jacob to marry a daughter of the Canaanites. Jacob desired the younger Rachel, but Laban insisted that Leah be given to him first.

There is so much more to this story than what I am sharing, namely a pattern of family deception that starts much earlier and continues long thereafter. In Genesis 27, Jacob’s mother was behind the deception when Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau. In Chapter 30, we read about the business dealings of Jacob and Laban, learning that both men attempted to get the upper hand in their deals.

In Chapter 31, Rachel stole and hid her father’s household idols and lied about it. In Chapter 34, sons Simeon and Levi tricked Shechem’s family in order to avenge the dishonoring of their sister, Dinah. Most certainly when you read Genesis you quickly grasp that the Laban/Rebekah family from Haran frequently turned to deception to get their way.

God deals with people just as they are. Humankind is fraught with people who do so much harm and bring about results that perpetuate problems, not overcome them. Laban could have told Jacob from the beginning that he would have to marry Leah before marrying Rachel, but he didn’t. Perhaps he feared that the hard working Jacob would leave instead, taking with him the only chance that Laban had of accumulating wealth. Laban trusted dumb idols, not the living God.

My question to you is this: are you deceiving someone today? Are you deceived yourself? God sees it all and sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins. Take that sin of deception to God, seek His forgiveness, and live a life that is pleasing to Him.

When your heart is pure before God, you’ll feel better about yourself and have the peace that passes all understanding, something no deceiver can possibly have.

Popularity: 18% [?]