The Danger of the False Narrative - Genesis 24-27

Genesis 27:42-43 (ESV)
But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran

We create false narratives to comfort our souls and do not realize they bring terror and hurt instead.    The above passage bears out that exact thought.   These verses are taken from the story of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac into giving him a blessing, rather than the first born Esau.   Esau is so angry at his brother Jacob, that he wants to kill him.  Jacob’s mother, Rebekah (who was the master-mind of this deception) warns Jacob to flea, least Esau kill him.   Esau is holding a grudge so deep that he wants to kill his brother.  He has anger in his heart.    

There is a quote that has been attributed to many people as the source, but never-the-less it captures where Esau is at in his heart.  The quote is about having bitterness in your heart for others.  It states:

“Me being angry at you, is like me drinking poison and hoping you will die!”

This is were Esau is at in his heart.  He is holding a grudge in his heart, it is causing him to die from the inside out.   The words Rebekah uses are that Esau is “comforting” himself with thoughts of homicide.   Imagine that thought.   Esau is creating a false narrative in his head to destroy his brother through blood shed, thinking this will bring him comfort.   They anger he has in his heart is not going to bring him comfort, it is going to destroy his life.   All the characters in this story simply forgot that God had said at the birth of Jacob and Esau that the oldest would serve the youngest.   Although the method Jacob and Rebekah used to get the blessing from Issac was corrupt, it was God’s intended purpose.   But, Esau was so angry and bitter he was not thinking of things that were true, based upon God’s word. Rather, he created a false narrative in his head that would ravage peace in his life.   Note what Paul said about false narratives.  Instead of creating them to give us comfort (and that is the point of a false narrative), Paul states if we want real peace in our minds, we should rather: 

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.