Shincheonji Perspective
It is well known that Rebekah devised a plan together with Jacob to trick Isaac to believe that Jacob is Esau (Gen. 27:11 – 18). Jacob pretended to be Esau and tricked his father to give him the blessing of the eldest son instead of Esau. He even lied and cheated his father and stole the blessing from his brother, Esau (Gen. 27:19 – 27).
SCJ will teach that even though this seems wrong in man’s eyes, God was pleased with Jacob and granted him the blessings. Even though Jacob did these things, God’s will was fulfilled just as He had instructed Rebekah many years ago (Gen. 27:28 – 29). A similar situation to Abraham is created: Jacob had to fulfill God’s promise, he had to lie about it to achieve that, and God did not care and was pleased with Jacob.
The consequences of Jacob and Rebekah’s Lie, and God’s faithfulness
One thing to keep in mind when approaching stories like Jacob is the following: Just because we make a mistake, it does not mean that God will abandon us. Likewise, just because biblical characters make mistakes, it does not mean that we should replicate their behavior.
SCJ also claims that Jacob’s life was wonderful after he lied and that he is blessed by God (Gen. 32:9-10, Gen. 35:9-12). Sure but they forget that his life was also difficult, and despite receiving God’s blessing, due to his use of deception against his father, he still had to face the consequences. His Grandfather Abraham and father Isaac lived to “ripe old ages”, while Jacob described the years of his life as “few and evil” (Gen. 47:9).
Another thing to keep in mind was how Rachel died of childbirth shortly after, compared to Abraham and Isaac.
Genesis 35:16-19 – Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son!” And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
While it is true that God did not abandon Jacob, he also allowed Jacob to get a taste of his own medicine.
Genesis 29:23-25 – Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her. Laban also gave his female slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a slave. So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”
We can see how Jacob was deceived by Laban with marrying Leah, and Laban responds:
Genesis 29:26-27 – But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me, for another seven years.”
The above story is an example of “reaping what you have sowed”.
During this time period, we can still see how God was still with Jacob, not abandoning Jacob because of his lie, as God blessed Jacob by causing his flocks to increase greatly, even though Laban tried to cheat him. Jacob’s flocks grew larger and stronger than Laban’s (Genesis 30:25-43), and even protected him from harm (Genesis 31:24)
They also forget about how Jacob had to live in fear of his brother Esau, and when it came time to meet Esau in Genesis 32, Jacob was mortified.
Jacob becoming Israel, and no-longer using deception
Genesis 32 is an excellent example of Jacob’s struggle with God, and the process of sanctification of Jacob’s character to become more “Christ-like”.
In Genesis 32, Jacob went to meet his brother Esau under the command of God. Jacob was scared of Esau, knowing that he deceived Esau for his birthright (Genesis 32:7), and even planned for his own escape (Genesis 32:8).
It was during this night, that Jacob wrestled with God, and was named Israel. God was not blessing him because of his sly use of deception, God used Jacob in spite of his deception to do his will.
It was after this moment when Jacob realized that instead of relying on his own deceitful wit, but instead relying on God, that his life became significantly better, starting with his reconciliation with his brother Esau.
It was after being renamed “Israel”, or to overcome, we can see that Jacob stops the use of deception and instead fully relies on God for his deliverance and protection.
For an SCJ member to look at the life of Jacob, and use that as an example to justify the use of deception, is not only missing the point of Jacob, but is another example of twisting scripture for their own means, and to ease their own conscience.
They also miss the point of the overcomer, since they still use deception to recruit through front groups and Christian sounding names. When an SCJ person uses such tactics, it is a testimony to their lack of faith in God’s deliverance.