Back in 2021, my screen writing friend Spencer and I committed to reading one famous screenplay per week. The goal and objective was to see how great writers craft award winning films. Depending upon the actors and actresses chosen for major roles, famous ones have the ability to alter and or change their dialog. If you read the screen play for I-Robot, you can tell Will Smith and the director made several changes which improved this Science Fiction movie.
Rebekah said to Jacob her younger son, See here, I heard your father say to Esau your brother, 7 Bring me game and make me appetizing meat, so that I may eat and declare my blessing upon you before the Lord before my death. 8 So now, my son, do exactly as I command you. 9 Go now to the flock, and from it bring me two good and suitable kids; and I will make them into appetizing meat for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat and declare his blessing upon you before his death. 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. 12 Suppose my father feels me; I will seem to him to be a cheat and an imposter, and I will bring [his] curse on me and not [his] blessing. 13 But his mother said to him, On me be your curse, my son; only obey my word and go, fetch them to me, Genesis 27:6-13.
In today’s featured passage, Rebekah acts like a Hollywood director, going through her plan with her son Jacob. As this rehearsal plays out, the main actor begins to have second thoughts, doubting that he’ll be able follow the script. Rebekah takes charge as if to say, “if this doesn’t work, I’ll take full responsibility. ” While Moses doesn’t mention any nervousness, stuttering or sweating, Jacob follows Rebekah’s script perfectly, deceiving his father just as his mom had planned.
So [Jacob] went, got [the kids], and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared appetizing meat with a delightful odor, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she gave the savory meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 So he went to his father and said, My father. And he said, Here am I; who are you, my son? 19 And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau your firstborn; I have done what you told me to do. Now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may proceed to bless me. 20 And Isaac said to his son, How is it that you have found the game so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord your God caused it to come to me. 21 But Isaac said to Jacob, Come close to me, I beg of you, that I may feel you, my son, and know whether you really are my son Esau or not. 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac, and his father felt him and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 He could not identify him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. 24 But he said, Are you really my son Esau? He answered, I am. 25 Then [Isaac] said, Bring it to me and I will eat of my son’s game, that I may bless you. He brought it to him and he ate; and he brought him wine and he drank, aGenesis 27:14-15.
There are some people who make their living on social media today, using scripted videos with the ability to go off script if necessary. Rather than working a typical 9-5 job, these creative entrepreneurs are spending their time doing what they enjoy and or love. However, like Jacob and Rebekah, sometimes you have to take chances in life. Perhaps, risking failure is an integral part of success, seeing what you’re capable of achieving and what’s beyond your abilities. Scripts serve as a boundary line with the Holy Spirit as the ultimate guide, Galatians 5:25, to lead you away from evil and toward what the Lord desires.
by Jay Mankus
