The holy faith of reformed samaritanism

Why did Jacob lie to his father Isaac? 
In the first place, Jacob lied because he was prompted to do so by his troubled mother. In the second place, he
lied because, at such stage of his life, Jacob wasn’t yet a full blown Hebrew believer [thus, he would hesitate 
to hold fast to the Hebrew morality portrayed by his father Isaac]. 
In other words, instead of being closer to pious Isaac --who was willing to submit himself to be sacrificed, 
rather than to oppose the will of his father Avraham--, Jacob was closer to wicked Ahav --who thought that, 
by using the ruse of exchanging attires with his fellow king Jehoshaphat, he would be able to avert the 
unfavorable decree uttered against him by his heavenly father--. 
And whence do we get Jacob wasn’t yet fully committed to the Hebrew faith [nor to the Hebrew God]? We 
get it from the verse: «And Isaac said unto his son: “How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?” 
And he said: “Because the Lord THY GOD [NOT MINE, BUT THY GOD] sent me good speed”» (Genesis 
27:20, Jewish Publication society 1917 Edition). 
And further down the road: «And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: “IF GOD WILL BE WITH ME, AND WILL 
KEEP ME IN THIS WAY THAT I GO, AND WILL GIVE ME BREAD TO EAT, AND RAIMENT TO PUT 
ON, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, THEN [AND NOT BEFORE] SHALL THE LORD 
BE MY GOD”» (Genesis 28:2021, JPS 1917 edition). 
Later in life, Jacob would learned that, the cornerstone of Torah based morality is the idea that God’s 
righteous judgment comes in the form of “sowing and reaping” (also known as “measure for measure”); 
wherein man is forced to “reap” the same goodness [or wickedness] he has sowed. 
Therefore, since Jacob deceived his [biological] father, it was just fair that he too be deceived by his father 
[in-law]; Jacob used deception by falsely impersonating his brother Edom, so it was only fair that he suffered
deception by Leah's false impersonation of his sister Rachel. 
After spending 20 years with his father in law, Jacob finds himself running away from Laban, finally 
realizing that no human being could grant him any abiding blessing-- that only Adonay would be able to 
grant him abiding security, and that the Almighty does so to the man who recognizes his deceptive ways, 
thereby winning the struggle against “the dark man” [the evil impulse] living in his tent. 
In the end, Jacobs finally gets it, and after renouncing to evil and deception, proceeds to rightfully ask to be 
blessed by the right person [the Almighty!]: «And he [Jacob] said: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless 
me”- Genesis 32:27, JPS 1917 Edition 
«Learn as much Torah as you possibly can, but never loose sight of the fact that God's Law aims at turning
you into a pious [God fearing] person; not into a heartless intellectual. As is written: “The fear of הוהי is the
beginning of wisdom”- Psalm 111:10»
56

---