Daily Focus - Under the Bed

I'm sure I wasn't the first mother who had to deal with her child's deception while homeschooling. One day I found toys that were supposed to have been picked up and put away correctly pushed under my son's bed. I sat down on the bed and wished I could escape the correction that needed to take place in my child's life. The mess under the bed would be much easier to ignore than dealing with my child. Thankfully, at least this deception could be fixed, even though the time needed to discipline would rob teaching time from our homeschooling day.

Many years ago, Jacob's deception couldn't be fixed when he fooled his father Isaac into blessing him instead of his brother Esau. At his mother's prompting, Jacob went the full length in deceiving his father by feeling, smelling, sounding, and acting like Esau, as he prepared his father's favorite meal. Jacob walked away, stealing the blessing of his father and the firstborn birthright intended for Esau (Genesis 27). Esau anguished in his heart that no blessing was left for him (Hebrews 12:16-17).

However, it was many years before that blessing was enjoyed. In fear of his brother's wrath, Jacob fled to another country and was alienated from his family. After working seven long years for his wife, Jacob experienced Laban's deception when he substituted his daughter Leah for Rachel at the wedding. Although Jacob was allowed to Rachel a week later, he was forced to suffer an additional seven years of working for his father-in-law.

Deception always works that way. What seems to be an immediate reward turns out to be an ongoing burden. Are you trying to make your life easier by hiding things "under the bed"? Do you think no one sees the deceptive patterns you've allowed to take over your life, such as little white lies, taking advantage of the goodness of others, or making others look bad, so you can get ahead? Unlike Isaac, God sees and knows what you are doing — He isn't fooled. Will you confess and repent today and let God discipline you to fix the mess you have made? He's the only One who can.

Lord, search my heart and reveal those things that are dishonoring to You. Forgive me for allowing deception into my life. Help me recognize the temptation when it comes and stand in the power of Your name to fight this form of lying. In Jesus' name, Amen.