What do you trust—your eyes, your feelings, or God’s Word? Many make grave mistakes because they trust the wrong source.

Isaac was an old man. His eyesight had dimmed, and death was on his mind. His intention was to pass the blessing of his father, Abraham, unto his oldest son, Esau.  So he asked Esau to hunt, prepare, and cook venison in the way only he could. Perhaps Esau had a special rub that he used for the meat! Perhaps Isaac was looking for one more meal from his boy as a special occasion to give him the blessing.

Unbeknownst to Isaac, his wife heard of his plan and decided she would get that blessing for her youngest son, Jacob.  Jacob was clearly his mama’s favorite, and she would have that blessing for her son, even by deceit!

With a plan that would make a politician blush, Rebekah set out to convince Isaac that Jacob was Esau! She had Jacob bring a kid from the flock, which she would season like Esau’s venison. She also had Jacob wear some of Esau’s clothing, and she even used goat hair to make Jacob’s hands feel hairy like his brother’s!

With the plan set in motion, Jacob entered the room where his father sat. As he brought the meat to the old man, Isaac began to think, “Wait, is this Esau? He has not been gone that long! How did he get the meat so quickly?” However, Isaac’s good sense was quickly brushed aside as Jacob came near him.

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. (Genesis 27:22)

Let’s take a moment and review:

  • Isaac could not see (Genesis 27:1)
  • It tasted like Esau’s venison (Genesis 27:25)
  • Jacob’s hands felt hairy to the touch (Genesis 27:22)
  • The smell of Jacob’s clothing was like Esau (Genesis 27:27)
  • But the voice was Jacob’s voice! (Genesis 27:22)

Everything deceived Isaac—his sight, his taste, his touch, his smell.

But one thing told the truth: the voice.

And it was the one thing that Isaac did not trust!

Can we trust what we see or what we feel? The Bible teaches us that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Faith doesn’t come by seeing or feeling. It comes by hearing God’s Word!

No, this is not a call to the physical ear. This is a reminder that God has provided us His Word. His Word is truth (John 17:17). His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).

“Trust your heart,” they say—but the heart deceives!

“Trust me,” they say—but man can fail!

“Seeing is believing,” they say—but sight can be fooled!

The only sure foundation is the Word of God.

Let the voice you trust be the voice of Jesus.