At the end of 2014, I began in Genesis 1 reading the Bible with a two-pronged prayer. Lord, I want to know you better and I want you to show me things I need to learn. He has been taking me up on that challenge and I’ve had several “Aha moments” so far.

In Genesis 27 the scene is Isaac is an old man, the text says he is nearly blind, and he wants to impart the patriarchal blessing on his favorite son, and first-born Esau. But Isaac’s wife Rebekah overheard the conversation and told her favorite son Jacob, the second born twin. Esau was to go hunting, bag some game and prepare his father’s favorite meal and then receive the blessing. Jacob, went and killed a goat, his mom prepared the food and Jacob took it in to his dad before Esau could. If you read the story, Esau was a burly, hairy man and Jacob was smooth skinned and more of a Mamma’s boy.

Here is where my lesson came into play. Isaac was nearly blind, but he detected Jacob’s voice. So, he then felt Jacob’s hands, which he had covered with the goat’s skin and fur to make him feel hairy! Isaac’s senses were confused. He said, you sound like Jacob but you feel like Esau. The clincher for Isaac was he smelled Jacob when he leaned in for some affection. Isaac said, Ah, the smell of my son is the smell of the outdoors  and he blessed Jacob. I know, ultimately that was God’s plan but there still is a lesson here for us on decision-making.

To make wise decisions, all the senses need to line up. I need to see clearly, listen discerningly, touch, smell and taste cautiously! Anytime my senses are not in agreement, I need to bring a trusted advisor or group of advisors into the decision for wisdom. Something may look right but feels wrong; something may taste good but is killing me; something may smell right but I have some blind spots, all those times require another person’s senses to help me make a better choice.

Isaac couldn’t have been tricked into a decision he didn’t want to make if he had just called for one other person to help him make his decision. This is some food for thought. Ponder this concept for a while.

Blessings,

Scott