He went to his father and said, “My father.” “Yes my son,” he answered. “Who is it?” Jacob said to his Father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you have told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.” Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He did not recognize him for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. – Genesis 27:18-23
Abram gave birth to Isaac and Isaac in turn bore Jacob and Esau. Just like his father Abram, Isaac also had a propensity to lie. He coincidentally at some point claimed that his wife Rebekah was his sister because he was afraid of being killed over his wife’s beauty – just like his father Abram had lied that Sarai, Isaac’s mother was not his wife for the very same reason. Jacob and Esau were twins. Esau came out first with Jacob holding on to his heel. Esau was a picture of a real man – he was a skillful hunter while Jacob was a quiet mama’s boy. Even though Jacob was a timid man, he was very conniving and treacherous. Esau being the firstborn had first rights to their father’s blessings. But Jacob tried to steal his brother’s birthright by cooking stew and offering it to his hungry brother in exchange for his birthright. In the end he did succeed in getting his father’s blessings that was meant for his brother Esau with the assistance of his mother Rebekah.
The horrible spirit of deceit seemed to be rampant in this family. It was a spirit that was passed down from grandfather to father and then to son. It appeared to be a learnt behavior. AS parents, we sometimes think that we can do what we like but tell our children to choose differently. But here is a newsflash, children learn mostly from what we do and not what we say. They are constantly watching our actions. They are empty slates and with every wrongdoing we get ourselves wrapped up in, we are writing on the slate of who they are. For example, you drink and you smoke, consequently you keep liquor and cigarettes around the house in ample supply. You preach to your teenage children not to smoke and drink while they are out with their friends. But who are you kidding? You have made samples available to them right in your home! Or the bank calls because you have stopped paying your bills and you tell you children to lie that you are not home. Maybe you call in sick to work when your children can clearly see that there is nothing wrong with you?
It is important that we live what we preach. Preaching one way and living in another manner is pure unadulterated hypocrisy. Our children are watching us all the time. Learnt behavior can be very destructive. To children it is very confusing when we behave one way in public and act differently at home. If you are a parent, examine yourself. What are the negative things that you are unconsciously teaching your children? Like the famous words of Augustine – “Preach the gospel and whenever necessary use words”. By your actions, you are preaching to and teaching your children – whether you like it or not.
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