TODAY IN THE WORD
Boomerangs were used in ancient European and aboriginal Australian cultures, and a collection of boomerangs was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Today a World Cup for boomerang is held every two years in which throwers compete in contests like Accuracy, Endurance, Fast Catch, and Maximal Time Aloft (MTA). The current world record for MTA is 104.87 seconds.

Our final study today on irony in Scripture traces the boomerang path of deceit in Jacob’s family. Just as a boomerang will return back to the thrower, deceit invariably ends up deployed against the deceiver.

Jacob, whose name means “deceiver,” was willing to deceive his father in order to procure the birthright from his brother Esau (27:35). He successfully executed the deception but then had to flee for his life. His uncle Laban offered him a home, a job, and a wife—but when the time came to marry his beloved Rachel, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him his daughter Leah instead (28:23-25). Laban himself was tricked by his daughter Rachel when she took his household idols (31:19-35).

The legacy of deceit continued with Jacob’s sons. Jealous of Joseph, his brothers decided to sell him into slavery and tell Jacob that he had been eaten by a wild animal (37:26-35). Judah had come up with this plan, and in the next chapter he became the victim of a deceitful plan.

In violation of his promise to Tamar, Judah had not given her his son as a husband. Much time had passed, and Tamar decided to use some creative initiative to force Judah to acknowledge his responsibility (38:12). Deceiving Judah into thinking that she was a shrine prostitute, Tamar requested his personal seal as a pledge of his payment. When Judah heard that his daughter-in-law was pregnant as a result of prostitution, he demanded that she be executed—until he discovered that he was the father of her child (38:26). The strategy of deceit always rebounds back with consequences beyond what could be imagined.

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our culture subtly endorses deceit. Millions of people cheat in school, cut corners on their taxes, commit adultery, and tell lies in the workplace or neighborhood. Deceit is an issue that begins in the heart (Jer. 17:9), and only when our hearts are transformed by the Word of God and the work of Christ can we be free from its boomerang effects. If you struggle with this insidious sin, read the following verses: Job 27:4; Psalm 32:2; Psalm 101:7; 1 Peter 2:1; 1 Peter 3:10; and Revelation 21:27.

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