Intentionally Acting in Ignorance

Scripture: So Jacob went up to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Genesis 27:22-23

Observation: Jacob and Rebeka have completed the plot to steal the Abrahamic blessing from Esau. Certainly this was already in motion long ago, when Esau gave away his birthright, and married contentious foreign women, thus placing himself in a position of disqualification to be the line if Israel. However, no matter how angry Isaac may be in the subsequent scene, he is absolutely complicit in the deceit as he discerns the speaker is Jacob yet decides to make his final decision not by the sound of Jacob's voice, but by toughing his skin and smelling his clothes.

Jacob has the evidence that something is amiss. He hears the speaker is Jacob. He knows that not enough time passed for Esau to hunt a wild animal game. He should be able to taste that the dinner is actually just goat. He could call in Rebeka, or Jacob, or any servant, to help him discern the truth. Instead, he gathers barely enough information to justify his false assumption, and proceeds. Of all the methods of identifying a person, the texture of the skin on the back of their hands, and the smell of their coat, are limited methods at best. Isaac decides the future of God's chosen people using those methods.

In summary, Isaac actually knows he is operating with limited knowledge of the truth, and instead of admitting he is ignorant and exploring the situation more deeply, he chooses to proceed with the belief that his method for determining reality is complete.

Application: In almost every topic relevant to society today, people make major decisions using limited knowledge, of gathered through highly questionable methods/sources. One example alone: How many arguments about vaccines occur between people who have gathered their "truth" through Youtube videos published by sources they don't even know?

Isaac is not a bad or stupid person, he is just a man who assumes good intent - and thus sincerity and honesty - from others. He is more willing to act in ignorance and accept a lie, than he is willing to pursue the truth and potentially uncover someone's flaw.

I feel that is true of our society today ... we fail to explore the truth because it is easier we assume everyone has SOME element of accuracy in what they say, and thus we can find the truth by piecing together several elements. This applies to topics such as ... politics, morals, disease, sexuality, equality, poverty, and all kinds of conflicts between people groups. I am sure I form opinions and decision on limited knowledge related to these same issues, because it is hard to ask harder questions.

The most important decision is whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. On this point, I know people make decisions based on what they wish to be true to governing their lives, in the context of lies they have been told about what "religion" is, and not based on full research. I do hope we can help individuals who, when they do decide to seek more of the facts, find the truth.

Prayer: Lord, it seems that one of the flaws we have as people is our willingness to be deceived by lies, and satan takes advantage of that every day, in my life and in the lives of everyone. Please protect me from such lies, and help others to recognize your truth more and more. Amen.