The mystery of providence (God's will -Genesis 27:1-29)

The twins Jacob and Esau had fought in the womb, and among other things the Lord had prophesied that Esau the firstborn, would serve the younger brother Jacob (25:22, 23).  Esau had despised his birthright, and had sworn to give the  blessing to Jacob in exchange for stew (25:31-34). Now Isaac was old and his eyes we dim and he  could not see. Sensing the time had come for him to give the blessings,  and wanting to reverse the prophecy and to give it to his favourite son Esau, he and sent him out to hunt game and to prepare a meal before he did it.

Rebekah conspired with Jacob, to deceive Isaac, and she prepared a   meal from two goat kids.  Furthermore the kid skins were  placed on Jacob's hands and neck,  because Esau was a hairy man.  Jacob went into Isaac with the meal wearing Esau's cloths, and pretending to be Esau.  Isaac was  fooled, for thought it was Jacob's voice,  the hairy skins and the smell of the cloths persuaded him.  He gave Jacob the blessing including “let your mother’s sons bow down to you.”
 
There were faults on all sides here.  Esau had gone back on his oath.    It' inconceivable that Isaac would not have known. But Esau was his favourite, and he liked the game. Rebekah knew how to fool him with the food, the cloths and the hairy skins, and of course Jacob went along with the deception.  

What are we to make of this? It seems that nobody is doing the Lord's will here, or are they? Are things really that black and white? In a different context we read of Rahab the prostitute lying to protect the spies, and who by this, is counted as a hero of faith (Joshua 2:1ff; Hebrews 11:31)? So was Rachael and Jacob's deception the right thing to do,  because it was working the will of God? In fact was the prophecy God gave because in His foreknowledge of Rebekah and Jacob's deception?  Closer to home would you have lied to protect Jews hiding from the Nazis in WWII?  Let me say,  that I don't know how to answer some of these questions.

In fact, the Bible admonishes us to be certain of the things pertaining to salvation (1 Timothy 3:7; Hebrews 11:1 NSAB), but also to acknowledge that we know nothing yet as we aught to know (1 Corinthians 8:2). What I know, is  that we need to realize that when we come across as if we know it all, we are not real, and we do not represent the truth.  It also puts a stumbling block in front of those who otherwise might come to faith. Thinking and acting as if we know everything only comes from one place, pride, for  nobody knows everything!

Father please forgive us for doubting things of which we should be certain. Forgive us too,  when we have been too sure of what we really don't know,  reducing Christianity to principles, logic and theology. When we do this Lord we make relationship with You unnecessary. The Truth is a person not a theology (John 14:6), and relationship is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). Help us to be childlike again Lord with their sense of wonder. Teach us to to embrace the glory of mystery. Thank You that we will spend all eternity learning about and worshipping You,  our beautiful, fascinating God.  And we  give You praise again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen