"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
The Bible tells us that Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, and stole Esau's
blessing. What a crook! A great lesson can be learned from
Isaac's horrible mistake. Isaac suspected something was wrong from the
start, based upon the VOICE he heard, i.e., he heard the voice of Jacob.
However, Isaac foolishly went by his "feelings" instead, assuming that the
hairy hand he felt must have been Esau's... "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. And he discerned him not,
because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed
him." (Genesis 27:22,23). Isaac should have gone by the voice
instead of trusting what he felt.
There is a great Biblical truth to be learned
from this incident. Many people today make decisions based upon
feelings instead of trusting the VOICE of God's Word. We ought not do
this. Our decisions and confidence should be rooted in the promises of
God's Word, and not in human emotions.
Assurance of Salvation and Feelings
For example: Some people "feel" that they are not saved anymore because of sin in their life. However, it is normal for a Christian to "feel" unsaved when they sin, because one cannot feel right if they don't live right. Howbeit, one's salvation is safe and secure in the redeeming power of Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:12; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). We are not saved by good works; and it is of a certainty that we cannot be lost by bad works. Salvation is receiving; NOT giving. Romans 4:5 plainly states that salvation is without works, and comes only by faith in Jesus Christ Who justifieth the ungodly.
Our confidence in God should be based solely
upon the promises contained within the Word of God. Our feelings may
fail us, or even betray our faith; but our faith should remain stedfast on
the written promises of God. As believers, let us be strong in the
Lord, trusting upon the written Word of God instead of our personal
feelings, and guard against placing God on trial as the heathen world does.
False Religion and Feelings
We are warned in Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25... "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." We are again warned in Matthew 7:22,23... "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21 explains why... "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." We find the will of God in John 6:40: "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." The will of God is for lost sinners to believe on Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and salvation.
So many people today "feel" that they are going
to Heaven, just as did the fools in Matthew 7:22-23; but Hellfire awaits
them because they only have churchianity without Christianity. They
don't have Jesus Christ! Only God knows how many hundreds-of-millions
of Catholics alive today will one day burn in Hellfire—because they are
trusting the Vatican to save them, because they "feel" some sinful priest
can forgive their sins, because they sincerely "feel" that their loyalty to
the Virgin Mary will earn them a place in Heaven, because they "feel" that
keeping the Seven Sacraments will save them, et cetera. Yet, the Bible
teaches that sincere feelings are often a road to death. The road to
Hell is indeed paved with good intentions. In Mark 7:9 Jesus condemned
any religion that supercedes the Word of God with their own manmade
traditions... "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition." Phooey on feelings, what does the Word
of God teach?
False Doctrine and Feelings
In Matthew 16:23, Jesus sharply rebuked Peter by exclaiming... "Get thee behind me, Satan." What had Peter said to prompt Jesus to call him "Satan"? When Jesus announced that He was going to be crucified, Peter became defensive and rebuked Jesus, saying that it shouldn't take place (Matthew 16:22). Although Peter was sincere, he was horribly wrong in his feelings. Horribly wrong! Peter didn't want Jesus to die on the cross. Can you imagine?
There is much false doctrine in our churches
today because of "feelings." One of the most dangerous heresies is
Lordship Salvation, which teaches that forsaking one's sinful lifestyle
is a part of saving faith. This heresy is the result of self-righteous
people "feeling" that a saved person should live a certain type of life.
Regardless of what proponents of Lordship Salvation may believe; the
Word of God plainly states that salvation is without works... "But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." We are
not saved by our own self-righteousness; but by Jesus' righteousness... "For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him." Matthew 6:33, "But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you." You need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to be
saved!
The Deceitfulness of Sin and Feelings
Homosexuals allege that their same-sex partner lifestyle "feels" right, so it must be right. Nothing could be further from the truth. Homosexuality is a "feeling" (Romans 1:26, "vile affections"), which is not Biblical love. The world's type of love is superficial, temporary, and conditional. This is why there are so many divorces today. Worldly love is based on a condition; such as sex, physical beauty, money, security, comfort, et cetera. When the condition changes, then the "love" is gone. Of course, that is not the love of God. God's love is unconditional, and never faileth.
There's a song by Toni Gonzaga titled, Catch Me I'm Falling (For You), in which she sings...
How can something so wrong?
Feel so right all along
Catch me I'm falling for you
The music group, Alabama, sings the song, Feels So Right. Ashanti sings the song, Feel So Good. Unfortunately, when the feelings are gone, so is the relationship. This is the world's type of so-called love that is based upon "feelings." The world elevates "feelings" above the Scriptures, just as Isaac foolishly placed more weight upon what he felt instead of the VOICE he heard.
The reason why something so wrong can "feel" so right is because sin is DECEITFUL. Hebrews 3:13 instructs believers... "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." We read in Proverb 20:17, "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel." Jeremiah 17:9 proclaims, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Just because something "feels" right doesn't mean it is right.
In fact, most of the things that God requires
of a believer doesn't feel right at all. 2nd Timothy 3:12 states... "Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Being ridiculed, rejected, scorned, and laughed at may not "feel" right; but
it is a common occurrence for the Christian who loves the Lord and lets his
or her light shine.
Conclusion
Never before in history has Christianity been under more attack than It is today. But the enemy isn't marching Communist troops or the torturers of the inquisition; rather, it is the apostasy of modern times that have rendered most churchgoers worldly, complacent, and without salvation. We are living in a generation that rejects anything that doesn't "feel" good to them... "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2nd Timothy 4:3).
It is important that Christians learn to set their "feelings" aside in every matter, and listen to the VOICE of God's Word. This is why Jesus commanded in John 5:39... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!
Had Isaac listened to the "voice" of Jacob instead of trusting his "feelings," he would have prevented a tragic heartbreak and great evil committed against Esau. Isaac was greatly deceived because he trusted his feelings. With all the many scams, cons, and deceptions in the world today, it is advisable to always look beyond one's feelings.
For example: Most people watch The 700 Club and "feel" heart-touched to send them a donation. Pictures of starving children are a powerful tool to raise money. However, I don't go by my "feelings," so I decided to check with the Better Business Bureau instead. To no surprise, The 700 Club refuses to disclose where the contributions go. Sadly, millions of suckers continue to send them money, in hopes of receiving a financial blessing in return. Give to get. It's sickening.
Feelings can be dangerous! So dangerous in fact that many people go to Hellfire for trusting them (Matthew 7:21-23). It doesn't matter what you feel, or what I feel; what matters is what God says! You've no doubt heard the children's song, Jesus Loves Me. "Jesus loves me this I know"... why, because I "feel" it? No... "for the Bible tells me so." Jesus didn't command his disciples to "search their feelings" in John 5:39. No, rather, Jesus commanded... SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! We hear much talk nowadays about "searching one's feelings"; but that's exactly what the Bible does for us... "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
May we learn from Isaac's grave mistake, when he foolishly trusted his "feelings" instead of what he clearly heard.
"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
