Voice and Hands

“The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” (Genesis 27:22)

Our Bible reading today records the story of Isaac wanting to bless Esau with the covenant blessing. However, Jacob, Esau’s twin brother, wanted the covenant blessing; and with the help of Rebekah, his mother, he schemed to get it by disguising himself as Esau. Part of the disguise was to put hair on his hands and arms so that when Isaac, who was nearly blind, felt Jacob, he would seem like Esau; for Esau was a hairy man (Genesis 27:11). The disguise worked, for when Isaac felt Jacob’s hands and arms, they felt like Esau’s hands and arms; and Isaac gave Jacob the blessing. But the disguise was not complete, for when Jacob spoke, his voice was not disguised. As a result, Isaac, in perplexity said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

The inconsistency of Jacob’s hands and voice illustrates the problem of hypocrisy. It illustrates the problems of one’s talk (voice) not corresponding with one’s deeds (hands).

Many politicians in our country are this way. Their words (voice) are one thing, but their deeds (hands) are another. They promise the voter many things at election time; but when the politician is elected to office, he breaks all those nice-sounding promises he made during the election time.

The hypocrites in the church are also like the voice and hands of Jacob in that with their voice they make a good confession of faith; but their hands of conduct are Esau’s; for they do not live a godly life.

Much music in the church reflects the problem of the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau, too. The words (voice) of the music may be Christian, but the beat (hands) of the music definitely is not Christian! It is nothing but the beat of the ungodly world.

The lesson here is the need of consistency in our Christian life. Let our talk be seen in our walk. Let our lips and life agree. May what we say and what we do both be holy. May the world not see a double standard in our lives. Make sure your profession of faith is real, not simply a disguise.

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