Beware the Hands of Esau

by William V. Beasley
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 3, September 1993

Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac and, thereby, to obtain the blessing intended for Esau (Genesis 27:1-29). God has never tried to whitewash the character of those who serve Him; He presents the bad along with the good. Both Rebekah and Jacob are seen as liars and deceivers (mockers), with no genuine respect for Isaac. (1)

Isaac was deceived and acted upon that deception. Isaac’s conversation with Esau was overheard and acted upon by Rebekah and Jacob. Isaac’s physical senses gave him contradictory information. The sense of smell (garments of Esau) and touch (goatskin) said "Esau." The voice was the voice of Jacob, but claimed to be Esau. Isaac’s perplexity is evident in his statement: "The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau" (Genesis 27:22).

When one leaves the bedrock of Bible authority, there is no lack of "the hands of Esau" (things which are intended to deceive). We want, in this article, to consider eleven arguments ("the hands of Esau") used in modern America. These eleven arguments have been divided into three groups (Human Authority, Feelings, and Assumptions).

Human Authority

We are well acquainted with the "Authorities Argument" from modern advertisers. An actor who plays a doctor on television recommends a cough medicine (playing a doctor makes him an "authority" on medicine). Baseball players are used to sell razor blades, shaving cream, deodorants, etc. Athletes and just about everyone else are used to sell beer.

There are also Religious Human "Authorities."

• "The scholars teach . . . " (John 7:48; I Corinthians 1:18-25). It can be good to study, to know what the scholars say, but remember that some scholars have gone crazy (come to reject the inspired word of God) by degrees (AA, BA, PhD, ThD, etc.). Our faith must stand in God and His word (Romans 10:17) and not in man’s scholarship.
• "The vast majority say ..." God has warned us about this one (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13-14).
• "We’ve always (or never) done it this (or that) way..." or "All of my family has been (fill in the blank) for at least four generations." I am susceptible to this one; I do not believe in making change for the sake of change. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Should a Muslim refuse to hear and obey the gospel of Christ because his family has followed Mohammedanism for six, eight, or ten generations? Paul had to leave his father’s religion (Galatians 1:13-17).
• "Old brother/preacher/elder taught that ..." Once again, we are susceptible. I have a great regard for McGarvey, Whiteside, and Tant, but I must remember that these were men, with all the frailties and failings thereof. We are to follow righteous examples (I Corinthians 4:14; Philippines 3:17; 4:9), but even this is limited (I Corinthians 11:1; I Thessalonians 1:6).

Feelings

We are accustomed to making decisions, some good and some bad, based on feelings:

• "I felt (or thought) it would be alright to leave the car unlocked for a few minutes."
• "He (or she) seemed so honest."
• "It didn’t feel like it was going to rain."

There are also "the hands of Esau" feelings," "I wouldn’t trade what I feel in my heart for all the Bibles in America," or "It is just better felt than told." I wonder if these would trade what they feel for a locked car door or an umbrella? Feelings are deceptive: Jacob felt that his son, Joseph, was dead (Genesis 37:34-35). The deceiver (Jacob) has now become the deceived. When Jacob learned the truth (that Joseph was alive and how he came to be in Egypt), I wonder if he remembered how he had deceived Isaac, his father? There is a perfect illustration of the unreliability of feelings in our text (Genesis 27:21-27). It felt right and even smelled right. Remember, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).

"Just let your conscience be your guide." The conscience is the product of teaching. A few women in India kidnap and offer, as a bloody sacrifice, the child of a neighbor (to ensure her own fertility), in good conscience. Your conscience is no better than your knowledge of God’s word. What is said of faith (Romans 10:17) might just as validly be said of developing a truly righteous conscience. The New Testament speaks of a weak conscience (I Corinthians 8:7); Paul lived in all good conscience (Acts 23:1; 24:16) even while persecuting the saints of God (I Timothy 1:11).

"If that were true, it would mean. . . " Since I don’t feel the consequences are right, fair, just, or what I want, I choose to disbelieve the premise. If salvation is not by faith alone (without baptism—Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) that would mean that my_________was lost. If there is only one body (church—Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4), my friends and family are unsaved.

"I’m satisfied with my religion." When the Israelites were satisfied, it was a period of great wickedness: "... every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The real question is: Is God satisfied (I Thessalonians 4:1; II Timothy 2:4)?

Assumptions

Some people ask for a sign and assume that God accepts all the terms of the deal: "If________be true, scriptural, or acceptable let_______________come to pass."

One girl defended her unscriptural marriage: "I know our marriage is scriptural; I prayed that if it were, we would be able to adopt the baby, and if it were not, that we would not get the baby." God has given special signs to some individuals, like Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) and Hezekiah (II Kings 20:8-11). God offered a sign to Ahaz (Isaiah 7:10), but Ahaz refused. Ahaz refused what God offered; others assume God owes them a sign or demand one.

Conclusion

Beware "the hands of Esau." Human Authorities, Feelings, and Assumptions are not faith (II Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17).

Footnote:

1. It should be noted that God had said that the blessing was to go to Jacob, so it could be said that Rebekah and Jacob were trying to keep Isaac from going against God. However, God doesn't need men's help, and the way they went about it was wrong.