The Ultimate Fraud: Self-Deception

The Greek philosopher Plato observed, "The worst of all deceptions is self-deception."  What makes it so bad is the lack of integrity that promotes dishonesty and lies. Self-deception sabotages openness and sincerity by substituting false pride and arrogance with “I’m above playing by the rules,” and "If I'm caught, I’ll wiggle loose."

  

Self-deception begins by pushing for what’s beyond your grasp. You might want a new car or house or a big screen TV, but these would jeopardize your finances. Still you persist in telling yourself everything is cool. You’ll get a second job. The money will come in. What comes next is convincing others to agree with you.

  

Sarah desperately wanted to give Abraham a child, so she convinced her maidservant Hagar to conceive a child in her place. To implement her plan, she persuaded Abraham to commit adultery with Hagar. She erroneously believed God would bless her decision. God encourages us to wait, to reconsider, for His way is always best. 

Deceit and Tangled Webs

Deception in some form is experienced by everyone. That is not to say a person blatantly deceives but may stretch the truth to get what is wanted or to cover one's tracks in stressful situations. Deception is not unique to our society but is cited in every ancient culture. However, it is not blessed or condoned by God.

  

When desperate times came to the region where Abraham lived, he took his family to Egypt where food was abundant. Upon crossing the border, he encountered the immigration officials of his day. His wife Sarah was a beautiful woman, so the two agreed she would pass as his sister because they feared these officials would kill him and take her.

God cannot be deceived, and deception under any guise is not acceptable to him. Deception blatantly exposes a lack of trust in God's provision to see a desperate situation through to an honorable end. Thank God he intervenes in our foolish decisions to save us from disaster like the situation Abraham and Sarah created for themselves.  

Deception + Fraud = Failure

Rebekah and Jacob are not the kind of people you would choose as role models. Have you ever questioned why God allows such characters to be included in Holy Scripture? This mother and son combination is the epitome of deception and fraud driven by greed to get the best of what belongs to someone else.

The blessing Isaac was to give Esau was a prize that’s hard for us to comprehend. What would be the most exceptional gift you could receive? The blessing was an honorable, prestigious gift that set you apart from others in your family. No one else could rise above you. Rebekah and Jacob stole that prize from Esau.

God gave us this story for a purpose. God wants us build bridges of integrity as strongholds to prevent lusting after what belongs to others and using deception to get what we want. God enlightens our conscience with the Holy Spirit to guide us in setting boundaries to keep us within God’s approval. Be thankful for God’s faithfulness.  

Confronting Unhealthy Pressure

Proverbs 22 challenges parents to “teach their children to choose the right path because when they are older they will remain upon it.” What did Rebekah teach Jacob as a child and adolescent that allowed him to defraud his brother Esau of their father’s blessing? Fear of discovery was overwhelmed by Rebekah’s convincing words of deception.

What prevented Jacob from standing up to the pressure his mother was putting on him to commit this heinous sin? His mother’s values prevented her from teaching him appropriate boundaries and God’s rules for living. Little did he know this act of deception and fraud would permanently separate him from his mother.

Rebekah apparently felt it’s okay to be deceitful provided you don’t get caught. Jacob must have been driven by greed and lust for power and prestige. He would have to learn time and again that God neither sleeps nor slumbers. God knows our deeds and our heart, yet consistently desires to create in us a clean heart through our repentance if we will but seek it.