Lying, Deceit, Dishonesty, Trickery, Hypocrisy--Part I

Throughout history, dishonesty has been a WAY OF LIFE by all human beings. Subconsciously, we accept this behavior as normal. Each of us feels compelled to be dishonest, to be fraud, to lie, to trick other people, to be hypocritical. Dishonesty is a daily part of speech. This is a VERY SERIOUS HEART PROBLEM. There are many motivations to be dishonest:
Fear Peer pressure Imitation of parents and associates
Strong desire to succeed Inferiority Achievement of a "higher goal"
The motivations go on and on. In the next few blogs, we will deal very briefly with some biblical insights about dishonesty. After doing this, there is still much more to consider and pray.

First, let us consider dishonesty in dealing with close friends and the general community.

Proverbs 6:16-19 enumerates SEVEN abominations to Yahweh. TWO of these SEVEN abominations are dishonesty.

"There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are abomination to him;
haughty eyes, A LYING TONGUE,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that hurry to run to evil,
A LYING WITNESS WHO TESTIFIES FALSELY,
and one who sows discord in a family."

Genesis 25:24-26 report the account of the births of the twins, Esau and Jacob.
"When her [Rebekah's] time to give birth was a hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out RED, all his body like a HAIRY mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, WITH HIS HAND GRIPPING ESAU'S HEEL; so he was name Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them."
These are powerful, meaningful word plays or puns in Hebrew. Esau is a Hebrew word which sounds orally similar to the Hebrew word for "hairy." So, the first little boy of Isaac and Rebekah was "LITTLE HAIRY." Jacob is a Hebrew word which means "supplant," that is, take what rightfully belongs to someone else. So, the second little boy of Isaac and Rebekah was "LITTLE SUPPLANTER, LITTLE TRICKSTER, LITTLE DECEIVER, LITTLE DISHONEST ONE."

Through human history, the term JACOB is inseparable from the chosen people of God. What a travesty!!! What a tragedy!!! The people of God are destined to be cheaters, deceivers, tricksters, dishonesty people. And they certainly were and are. Unfortunately, the same is true of all of us.

The story of Jacob is all about deceit, dishonesty. Jacob stole Esau's birthright by subtlety. Genesis 25:29-34. Jacob stole Esau's blessing from his old blind father Isaac by subtlety. Genesis 27:1-40.

Hosea denounced God's people in North Israel for their deceit and dishonesty. He compared them with Jacob in Genesis 25 and 27. He declares:
"A trader, in whose hands are FALSE balances,
he loves to oppress." (Hosea 12:3-4, 7).

Jeremiah reproves the people of Judah with these words:
"O that I had in the desert
a traveler's lodging place,
that I might leave my people
and go away from them!
For they are all adulterers,
a band of traitors.
They bend their TONGUES with bows;
they have grown strong in the land for FALSEHOOD, and not for truth;
for they proceed from evil to evil,
and they do not know me, says the Lord.
Beware of your neighbors,
and put no trust in any of your kin;
for all your kin are SUPPLANTERS [LITTLE JACOBS],
and everyone goes around like a slanderer.
They all DECEIVE their neighbors,
and no one SPEAKS the truth;
they have taught their TONGUES to speak LIES;
they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.
Oppression upon oppression,
DECEIT UPON DECEIT!
They refuse to know me, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:2-6).

Lying to, being deceitful to, being dishonesty to a friend is one of the most devastating, hurtful experiences in life. Let us all change our hearts and be genuine.

Share YOUR thoughts and dreams with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis