TRUSTWORTHY
Isaac grew old, his health had deteriorated, his eyesight was failing, and he knew he did not have much time left to live on earth. As a customary tradition back then, a father had the right to give the birthright and special blessings to the children. Realizing his health condition, Isaac called his oldest son, Esau, and said, “I am old, I know not when the time of my death comes. Therefore, before I die, I want to give the birthright and the blessing to you as my firstborn child. But before I do so, go out to hunt and prepare a tasty dish of food for me.”
Rebekah overheard her husband speaking to Esau. She wanted the birthright to be given to Jacob—not to Esau—because she thought that Jacob was the one who deserved it and should receive the birthright blessing. Immediately Rebekah designed a conspiracy theory. She asked Jacob to get two young goats, and she cooked a good-tasting meal. Then Rebekah took Esau’s clothes and put them on Jacob; she also took the goats’ skins and made a hairy covering for his hands and neck. Last, she told Jacob to take the food to his father and pretend to be Esau. When Jacob stood at his bedside, Isaac was confused; he was not sure if the one who brought the meal to him was Esau, yet he ate his favorite food anyway, and he blessed Jacob with the birthright.
Rebekah was not a person of integrity; she was dishonest rather than TRUSTWORTHY. She represented people who were pictured in Sergey Nechayev’s phrase, “The end justifies the means.” This means that if a goal is morally important enough, any method of getting it is acceptable (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_end_justifies_the_means). Rebekah justified the deception she made to achieve the goal. By making such a blunder, she compromised Jacob’s character-building and the ability to instill in him biblical values and principles.
Very few people—if any—are totally sincere and TRUSTWORTHY. Dishonest people hurt other people and also hurt God. King Solomon wrote, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Prov. 12:22, KJV). This Bible text reveals that dishonesty is an abomination to God. He hates lies, deceit, untruth, and deception. Why? Because one of His characteristics is truth. This came through clearly when He commanded, “You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor” (Exod. 20:16, NIV). Tell no lie about others or self. Luke emphasized this principle when he wrote, “And if you have not been TRUSTWORTHY with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:12, NIV, emphasis added).
“Lying” comes naturally to the sinful human and fallen world, but “as Christians, we cannot honor a custom which is not approved of Heaven,” Ellen White wrote.—Review and Herald, Dec. 15, 1895. We need to be honest and TRUSTWORTHY. Lying and being dishonest or deceitful are wrong acts in which many people engage. Further, she wrote, “Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 53.
Now let’s ask ourselves, “Can I be trusted? Can we as God’s people be trusted?” God’s people need to be TRUSTWORTHY in all things, including in returning tithes and giving offerings. This is the right thing to do, but It requires courage to stand for the right. As Ellen White wrote, “It takes moral courage, firmness, decision, perseverance, and very much prayer to step out on the unpopular side.”—Evangelism, p. 240.
With God’s help, strive for the courage to be TRUSTWORTHY, my friend! Be firm in putting God’s principles first in your daily life and consider this phrase: “Honesty is the best policy.”
Hiskia Missah
Editor
