We’ve been thinking about holy moments the past few days, but the Bible reminds us frequently that since Genesis 3, people often choose unholy moments instead.

Back to Genesis, we begin the story of Jacob who lies to his father to get Esau’s blessing. These are not nice people! Dr. David Wyrtzen, pastor and seminary professor, writes a 5-day-a-week “Dave’s Daily Devo.” It’s good although, just like this blog, it’s not a substitute for your own daily reading and time with God. Anyway, Dave wrote this the other day about characters like Jacob:

Several years ago I was teaching the Moldovan staff for Campus Crusade, now called CRU. Living in a country dominated for fifty-one years by Russian communism, they had hardly been raised on standard children’s Bible stories. My assignment was to give them a master’s level course—An Introduction to the Old Testament—and reading the text was a top priority. About the second day of the crash course they came to me, “Why are you having us read all these dirty stories about such morally corrupt characters?” – Dave Wyrtzen, February 3, 2023

“Dirty stories about such morally corrupt characters…” Here’s a sample from Genesis 27, the sordid story of Jacob’s deception. He didn’t just bring in the game (goat) dressed as Esau and let Isaac draw his own conclusion. He outright lied

So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. (Genesis 27.18 – 25, ESV)

Jacob, the deceiver, father of the twelve tribes of Israel, didn’t have such a great start. Yet look how God introduces himself to Moses:

And God said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3.6, ESV)

Stay tuned. Jacob, the deceiver, is about to come up against the master cheater! But first, he encounters God.