What if Isaac knew? I admit it would be a curious detail to leave out of the divine account of Jacob and Rebekah's deception of Isaac. But perhaps it is included in the divine account. What if Isaac was not deceived but willfully gave into the deception? Perhaps Isaac, too, is being deceptive. It wouldn't be the first time. Remember how he, like his father, presented his wife to King Abimelech as his sister? Deception, it would seem, is as much a part of the family dna as faith is. Maybe deception haunts the line because deception is how sin entered the world?
This reading begins with this verse:
When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. [Genesis 26:34-35]
Isaac isn't happy with Esau's marriages. After all, Isaac's father had sent to his own people to find a wife for his son. Wouldn't Isaac be angry at himself or feel guilty that he hadn't sent away to his ancestral country for Esau a wife? Perhaps Esau was too willful to be persuaded. Willfulness and rashness seem to be a trait of Esau. Wouldn't Isaac be worried that the promise of a great nation would pass through the line of Esau? Esau and his wives are already "a source of grief." Esau. who was so rash and to have so little regard for his own birthright as to sell it to his brother Jacob. It makes me wonder.
And could sheep skin on the arms and back of the neck really deceive Isaac? He does recognize that the voice is the voice of Jacob. Does he play along only to ensure his deniability? Lord only knows.
Even Esau seems to suspect this was all a set up. He realizes his parents aren't hot about his marrying Hittite women. So what does he do? He tries to correct it by marrying one of Ishmael's descendants. Is this really going to please his father? Or just rub it in?
You have to admit. It is plausible. Makes Isaac out to be less of a bumbler though more of a deceptive old man. Otherwise we're left to think that a deceiving woman and her favoritism ensured that the line of Christ would come through Jacob rather than Esau. Ultimately God is control...and that only makes me wonder even more.
At any rate, Isaac was most likely deceived and not part of the plot. And it may have been subtle justice given the deception he'd performed. I'll warn you I deal often in "what ifs." It's an occupational hazard as someone in the creative field. We can't help but think -- is that all, what more, what if? You've been warned.
I really like Jacob's reaction to his visit from God who affirms that the promise will go through his line.
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven." [Genesis 28:16-17]
That's the enthusiasm and wonder I feel when I go for a mountain hike in the Smokys.
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