THE AGONY OF DECEIT

THE AGONY OF DECEIT

Isaac married Rebekah,

Her pregnancy came late in life.

She would bare fraternal twins,

Between them there would be strife.

Esau was the first to emerge.

He was covered in hair that was red.

Jacob held onto Esau’s heel,

Symbolic of what was ahead.

Jacob was quiet and stayed with the tents.

Wild game was Esau’s quest.

Isaac loved him and the meat he brought,

But Rebekah liked Jacob best.

Jacob fixed a pot of stew,

Then waited 'til Esau came by.

Esau was famished from hunting,

So hungry he thought he could die.

Jacob said he would give him a bowl,

If he’d pledge to him his birthright.

Esau never gave his double portion a thought;

His future was not yet in sight.

Later in time, Isaac’s eyesight was gone,

And he wanted the game he enjoyed.

So he called his firstborn to his bedside;

For the game the son was deployed.

Isaac’s intent was to give his blessing,

To Esau, his oldest son.

But Rachel had overheard them talking,

And plotted to make Jacob the one.

She told him to bring her two choice goats,

Which she prepared to Isaac’s liking.

She instructed Jacob to take it to him,

And he would get his dad's blessing.

Jacob balked at her request,

Isaac's sons he knew by the hair.

Though Esau was covered with it;

Jacob’s arms and neck were bare.

Jacob feared that being found out,

Would only make things worse.

If Isaac became wise to them,

Then Jacob would be dealt a curse.

Rebekah said she would take the curse,

Then put Esau’s best clothes on him,

She put goat’s hair on his arms and neck,

Knowing Isaac’s eyes were dim.

Jacob took the food to his dad,

Who asked how he got it so quick.

Jacob said "Your God blessed me;"

It was a lie that would make his dad sick.

Isaac must have had some doubt,

Because he asked to touch Jacob’s hands.

Then he gave him a blessing fit for a king,

And when a blessing is given, it stands.

Esau returned from hunting game,

For his dad especially.

Isaac realized he’d been deceived,

Then began to shake violently.

Esau yelled and cried bitterly,

And asked Isaac to bless him too.

But the dad had nothing left to offer,

So Esau’s fury grew.

Esau decided that he would wait,

Until his father passed away.

He planned to kill his twin brother,

So at home Jacob could not stay.

Rebekah sent him to another land,

Where she once lived with her brother.

Jacob could stay with him for a while,

And so he left his mother.

By God, Jacob was the chosen one,

But Jacob did things his way.

God honored his promise,

But for his sins Jacob still had to pay.

Becky Wall