Pretending To Be

Genesis 27:1-33

In this passage we see where Jacob pretended to be his brother Esau to fool his father into giving him the blessing. Another good word for this is hypocrisy and in the definition we see an example of this passage.

Hypocrisy – Simulation; feigning to be what one is not; dissimulation, a concealment of one’s real character or motives.  

Many religious people are hypocrites in that the pretend to be spiritual when they are not. But then again many saved people are hypocrites because while they are children of God they do not look, act, or talk like saved people. Either way whether a person is saved and acting like a lost person, or lost and acting like a saved person it is still hypocrisy.

What can we learn about pretending or hypocrisy in this passage:

One of the first things that we see is that hypocrisy is usually driven by personal gain of some sort. Jacob and his mother wanted Jacob to have the blessing and they devised a scheme to get it.

Many times we as saved people want things that are not good for us or that God has told us we should not have. This may include friends or friendships with the world. The problem is to get along with these people we have to act like they act and there is the hypocrisy. Proverbs warns us against this (Proverbs 24:1-2)

The second thing we see from the passage is that we have to “put on” for the hypocrisy to work. Note that Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was a smooth man. Therefore Jacob had to put animal hair on his hands and neck, and he also put on Esau clothes so that he would smell like the field (Genesis 27:15-16)

In the case of a saved person wanted to be accepted by the world, they will try to dress like the world. The problem with this is many times the world is immodest or the slogans and styles of the world dishonor God. As saved people we do live in this world but we do not have to abuse it. This is shown to us in 1 Corinthians 7:31.

The last thing we see is that the truth of the matter is what is on the inside. This is clearly seen in verse 22.

Genesis 27:22 “And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

The truth is on the inside if we are saved and pretend or act like the world for favor or fortune, the Holy Spirit will show through in some small way. If someone is lost and pretending to be Godly the real man on the inside will come out eventually. This is why Jesus warned so much in regards to hypocrisy, especially the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

Pretending To Be : Handout

Genesis 27:1-33

1)  What is a good definition for the word hypocrisy?

2)  What is the hypocrisy found in this passage?

3)  What was the reason for Jacob pretending to be Esau?

4)  How can we apply this to ourselves?

5)  Give a warning from Proverbs about wanting to be like the world.

6)  What is needed to be a good pretender or to have hypocrisy? How can we apply this to ourselves?

7)  What is the key verse that shows the truth about hypocrisy in this passage?

8)  How can we apply this to ourselves?