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Self-control vs Lying

Bible story: Jacob steals Esau’s blessing, Genesis 27:1-36

Theme Verse: Proverbs 26:28

Our fight this week is Self-Control against Lying. Unfortunately, we have all battled with lying at some time in our lives. God wants us to be honest and truthful with Him, ourselves, and others. Many times we lie to our parents or school teachers because we want to avoid punishment for our actions. Maybe we were caught cheating or playing on the way home from school. We do not want to be punished, so we make up a story that isn’t true, so that we do not get into trouble.

In today’s Bible story, Jacob lied to his dad in order to steal the blessing from his brother. Their dad was getting old, and wanted to pass down the traditional blessing before he died. At that time, Isaac could no longer see well. He called his oldest son Esau to him, and told him to go hunting and prepare him a great meal, because it was time for him to pass down the inheritance blessing.

Rebekah was listening to her husband. She liked their son Jacob more than Esau. So she planned with Jacob to lie to Isaac, in order to steal the blessing from Esau. Jacob quickly grabbed two goats, killed them, and handed them to his mother to prepare the fabulous meal. Since Esau was a harry man, and Jacob had smooth skin, they covered Jacob's arms and neck with goat skin, in order to appear like Esau. Remember that their father, Isaac could not see well anymore. So he only touched the arms of Jacob, and when he felt the harry arm, he assumed it must be Esau! Jacob also wore Esau’s clothes so that he would also smell like his brother. The lie worked, and Isaac believed he was talking to his eldest son, Esau. However, after everything was over, Esau was so angry with Jacob, that he began making plans to kill him!

Jacob had to flee his home and go live far away with his uncle. He was unable to return home for years!

The truth is that there will always be trouble ahead for us if we start lying. Many of us will be tempted to lie to parents, teachers, other authorities, or even God. But God can see all things. He knows when we are lying and when we are telling the truth.

Will you use self-control in your life, and tell the truth?

Questions:

1. Do we really have to be honest all the time?

2. Is being right what matters?

3. What trouble have you seen from lying? Have you been in trouble from a lie you told?

Life Application:

Everyone lies, even if only a little. Remember back to a lie that you have told this year. Go to that person, tell them the truth, and tell them you are sorry for lying.