3590. 'And he said to his father, Let my father arise, and eat from his son's venison' means so that it might make truth acquired from natural good its own. This is clear from the representation of Isaac, to whom 'father' refers here, as the good of the rational, often dealt with already, from the meaning of 'eating' as making one's own, dealt with in 2187, 2343, 3168, 3513 (end), and from the meaning of 'venison' as truth acquired from natural good, dealt with just above in 3588.

7761. A clear distinction should be drawn between spiritual good and natural good. Spiritual good, as has been stated, derives its particular quality from the truths of faith, the quantity of them, and their connection with one another. But natural good is inborn, and also is engendered by things that happen by chance, such as misfortunes, illnesses, and the like. Natural good saves no one, whereas spiritual good saves all. The reason for this is that the good which is given form by the truths of faith provides heaven - that is, the Lord through heaven - with a level to flow into, in order to lead the person, withhold him from evil, and subsequently raise him to heaven. But natural good is not like that. People therefore whose good is merely natural can be carried away by falsity as easily as by truth, provided that in outward appearance the falsity looks like truth. They can also be led as easily by evil as by good, provided that the evil is presented as good. They are like feathers in the wind.