The story of Jacob’s life was filled with numerous wrong choices. In fact, the name Jacob is synonymous with deceitfulness, lying and cheating. Those are some of the things that Jacob is remembered for.
In fact as a young girl reading the verse, “the God of Jacob is our refuge.” always puzzled me. Why would Jacob be acclaimed for his scheming, lying life? But my perspective was wrong. It wasn’t that Jacob was the subject of the verse. God was the subject. The God that was able to write a different ending to Jacob’s story as he surrendered his will to the Almighty.
Throughout Jacob’s life, we find a “not so pretty” picture of his heart. Jacob obtained Esau’s birthright by taking advantage of his hunger. Through deceit, Jacob obtained the blessing of the firstborn, which customarily would have gone to Esau. Because of this deceit, Esau’s hatred was directed at Jacob. Fearing for his life, Rebekah sent Jacob away from home.
Fear Meets Faith
We find Jacob alone with the mess he had created by the wrong choices he had made. Alone except for the gut wrenching fear keeping him company, that nothing would ever be right again. But that was not the end of Jacob’s story. God still had a plan. A plan to redeem the messes that Jacob had made and work them for good in his life.
While traveling to Padan-aram, one night Jacob sleeps with a stone for a pillow. God meets him there. Jacob is awed by the vision of God that he saw. It was there at Bethel, Jacob speaks to God with these words. “If God will be with me…will keep me…will give me bread…. and raiment…then shall the Lord be my God.”
Jacob wanted a promise that life would be good to him, despite how he had treated others. He wanted God on his terms. God didn’t necessarily say, “Okay, I’ll make sure you have all you desire, so that you will serve me.” Though, God did accept Jacob’s surrender for what it was… a step in the right direction. God loved Jacob, and with long-suffering patience God began to work in Jacob’s life–not just giving him the good life as he desired–but giving him a look at life without God at the center.
When Hurtful choices Meet the Faithfulness of God
First, God showed Jacob his own deceitful heart,when Laban deceived Jacob with Leah. Hurt deep and sharp filled his life, as he opened his eyes to life with Leah. A remorse for his own choices of deceit must have filled his life as he realized what it was like to have the tables turned.
Laban’s longing for all the gain and profit in the sheep business, must have left a bitter taste in Jacob’s mouth, as he remembered that it wasn’t too long ago, that he was the one that wanted it all.
Through these situations God was working. He was helping Jacob to realize that without God, life would bring heartache. Long years passed. Years that brought strife to Jacob’s household. Strife between Rachel, Leah and their respective offspring. How much Jacob’s heart must have ached as he saw the fruit of his deceitful choices among his own family. God was faithful, though, and worked all Jacob’s situations for his benefit. In doing so, Jacob realized more fully that his own life belonged to God and that full surrender was needed.
When God is Greater than our Biggest Fears
When God spoke to Jacob again, calling him to go back home, Jacob was ready to obey. God had pruned and reshaped Jacob’s heart and life in the intervening years. God was now calling Jacob to face his greatest fear. The fear which came in the form of his brother, Esau.
After a last encounter with Laban, God sent a host of angels to meet Jacob. Another encouragement, to remind Jacob, that yes, with God’s help, his greatest fear could be conquered.
As the caravan traveled, Jacob sent messengers ahead to Esau, hoping to find a relief from his burden of fear. The message that reached him in return only served to heighten the fear. Jacob found out that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.
Once again, Jacob tries to manage his life with choices he felt would be best. He divides his family in to two groups. Then began sending gifts in the form of flocks of sheep and cattle toward Esau. Jacob calls upon his God. He reminds God that he had come at His bidding. Jacob confesses to God his unworthiness for the help and truths that God has already given to govern his life. All the while, He was seeking God’s protection from the wrath of Esau that was sure to come.
When the Dark Night of the Soul Encounters God
That night, unable to sleep, Jacob moves his wives and children across the brook. More distance between the problems seemed the only answer. He, himself, stayed on the other side of the brook, with fear and anxiety tormenting his heart. He is determined to protect his family.
When a man shows up, Jacob throws himself into a fight, fearing the worst. All night Jacob wrestles. Yet in the dark of the night a sense that this was not an ordinary man began to tease at Jacob’s senses. When dawn approaches, there is within Jacob, a certainty that it is God who has met him.
With a renewed grasp, Jacob pleads with God for a blessing saying, “….I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” Genesis 32:26 And God responds, “what is thy name?” [Who are you in your innermost heart?] Within the grasp of the God of heaven, the eyes of Jacob’s heart fully opens and with a heart-rending cry, Jacob replies, “I am Jacob, the deceiver.”
God took that confession as a full surrender and gave him a new name. A name that meant ‘a Prince that has power with God.’ The name of Israel. As the sun peeped above the hills, coloring the sky with glorious color, Jacob’s heart was filled with the Presence of God. Jacob had met with God face to face and life took on new meaning.
When God Re-Writes the Story
It was right after this life-changing encounter that Esau comes on the scene. The Jacob who had, deceived his brother and greedily grasped the birthright and blessing was gone. Jacob, in true humbleness bows himself before his brother Esau. “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” (33:4) I, daresay, a lot of sorrow and anguish were wiped away in the soft rain of those forgiving tears.
Later, as Jacob urged Esau to accept the large herd as a gift, we see in verse ten of Chapter 33 that God was able to take Jacob’s greatest fear and change it into a likeness of the face of God. “..for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.”
We, too, are apt to bargain with God, as Jacob did. “I will serve you God, but I need this and this and this.” God sees our humanity and begins working to bring that type of attitude into a full surrender. Years may pass, but to God, who sees the end, they are not long. It is with great patience and love, He weaves into our lives the truths that will help us see who we are and then be able to see the face of God.
Just as Jacob did, we must confess our shortcomings and sin to God. He will change us into the sons of God–sons and daughters that have power with God through the name of Jesus. Situations will arise that will bring fear and anxiety, but it is through that full surrender that God can take those same situations and let us see Himself in them.
When Surrendered choices Bring Continued Growth
After this great event in Jacob’s life, it is easy to think that God was done teaching Jacob. He had learned all there was to learn when he consecrated his all. That is not the case. As I read through the chapters that encompass the life of Jacob, I see God’s infinite love and patience, as he continues to teach His life-changing truths to Jacob, now Israel, the prince of God.
Crisis experience in our life does not mean an end of new truth and the end to a time of growth. It is in that complete surrender that God is able to bring us to a fuller expression of Himself. Let’s keep our hearts lifted heavenward to hear what God has to say about our present situations. More growth, stretching and grace is out there for us to experience.
In Psalm 46:7 we read, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” What a comfort to know and be known by the God of Jacob. In the midst of our wrong choices and the messes we make we can call out to our Heavenly Father. We will always find Him faithful. The same God who sent that host of angels to encourage Jacob, the same God that became a place of refuge for Jacob in his surrender, is the same God that we serve today. We serve a God who redeems the wrong choices of our lives and delights in re-writing the ending of our story for His glory.
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