Strange, but when I looked at this beautiful tree this morning, I thought of how our government "spins" the truth in order to achieve its own ends. To me, the truth is like the tree in all its glory, illuminated by the light and those who would deceive us make it look like something other than it really is. The image they project is but a dark reflection of what really is and can come to no good end. And so I thought of this tale from the book of Genesis...
Genesis, Chapter 27
1 When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?”
He said to him, “Here I am.”
2 He said, “See now, I am old. I don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison. 4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.”
5 Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 ‘Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. 9 Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good young goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves. 10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”
13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.”
14 He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved. 15 Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck. 17 She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 He came to his father, and said, “My father?”
He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”
20 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”
He said, “Because Yahweh your God gave me success.”
21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”
He said, “I am.”
25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.”
“Behold, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed.
28 God give you of the dew of the sky,
of the fatness of the earth,
and plenty of grain and new wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers.
Let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you.
Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
Issac and Rebekah each favored one of their sons. Rebekah favored Jacob and knew Issac's favorite, Esau, was about to receive the blessing. So, she concocted a scheme of deceit to "help" her son. She played on Issac's weaknesses of old age - sight, hearing, smell and reasoning. Her "spin" on the truth of Jacob's identity won him the blessing. Success, you might say, but no- Jacob had to leave home for many years and was separated from his brother. Ultimately God blessed him, but at what cost? Lies and deceit are never a good thing. The truth is beautiful beyond description and worth pursing at any cost. The farther our nation strays from it, the greater the penalty we will ultimately pay. I just hope and pray more and more of us will long for the day when we can trust what people say and believe what we hear. I don't know about you, but I hate "spin"- give me the truth, every single time!!!