Jacob was known as a deceiver! He set a trap for his twin brother, Esau, and got him to barter away his first-born rights. Then, later, as their father was about to die, Jacob deceived their father, Isaac, and stole his brother’s blessing.
In fear of Esau’s wrath, Jacob fled the land and returned to his mother’s family in hopes of finding a wife and getting a new start. It was on this journey that God intervened and made Himself known to Jacob.
Jacob ends up in his mother’s homeland and begins to work for his uncle Laban. Laban, however, is as much a trickster as Jacob was! He gets Jacob to work for him for seven years to earn the right to marry his daughter Rachel. But, after the seven years, Laban deceives Jacob into marrying his older daughter, Leah. Angry, but still wanting to marry Rachel, Jacob agrees to work for Laban for seven MORE years!
During all the years of Jacob’s stay with Laban, he ends up having twelve sons to his two wives and their personal servants.
Finally, God intervenes and tells Jacob to return to his own homeland and family. Therefore, he gathers up all his property and flocks and leaves Laban. Laban pursues him with the intention to force him to return, but God warns Laban not to stop Jacob!
As Jacob draws near to his homeland, apparently word of his return has reached his twin-brother, Esau. Esau and four-hundred men are on their way toward Jacob and his entourage of wives, children, servants, flocks and herds.
Jacob is terrified that Esau intends to destroy him in anger! He separates his camp so that if Esau attacks, at least some might be able to escape his wrath. Then, Jacob sends waves of servants ahead of his family bearing very generous gifts for Esau: goats, sheep, camels, cows and bulls, and donkeys!
With these preparations made, Jacob crosses a river with his two wives and their children where he wrestles all night long with an unknown man – seemingly a representative of God. As dawn began to arise, Jacob refused to let the man go! He consequently dislocated Jacob’s hip and informed him that he would no longer be called Jacob but Israel!
For the sake of finishing the narrative, Esau receives Jacob’s gifts reluctantly and embraces Jacob/Israel with affection. Everybody loves a happy ending, right?
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God began by calling Abram to start a new nation that would be as numberless as the stars of the sky or the sands of the sea!
Abraham lived with that promise until finally – at the age of 100 – his only son, Isaac was born!
Isaac also received the same promise from God that he would be followed by many generations. But he only had two sons, and they became bitter rivals.
Jacob – the younger son – deceived his way into God’s favor, but lived a desperate life – mostly in a foreign land. However, Jacob [now Israel] was the father of twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel!
God was clearly not in a hurry! God is rarely in a hurry! God values the individuals in the narrative and patiently works with them to accomplish His purposes!
Today, Israel still exists as a nation.
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This same God is just as concerned about you as He was about Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and his wives!
He will patiently work with you and in you [if you’ll allow Him]. He has work for you to do. He will guide you, protect you, provide for you, and use you to accomplish His purposes!
Reach out to God today! Allow Him to infuse your life with meaning and purpose!
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