The Patriarchs - Jacob

The biography of Jacob, the third and final Patriarch, both enthrals and troubles us. He acted in ways that honoured neither himself nor his descendants. He bargained for his brother’s birthright and later stole Esau’s blessing from their father (Genesis 27:1-45). Jacob blatantly lied to his father and tricked him into thinking he was Esau. The character of this Patriarch is most questionable, yet God used him anyway.

After he stole the blessing, Jacob is forced to leave his father’s house and he goes to work as a servant for twenty years for his father-in-law (see esp. Gen 31:5-6, 38-42). In an interesting twist, we see Jacob’s father-in-law deceive Jacob and give him Leah as his wife instead of Rachel whom he had agreed to work for.

Later in Jacob's life story, we read that his own sons tricked and deceived him by selling one of his sons (Joseph) into slavery and telling Jacob he had been killed by a wild animal (37:3-32). Despite all the deceit in this family, God continued to uphold his promise to bless all the nations of the world through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whom the covenantal blessing was passed on to, and Jacob became the father of 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel.

This story is the wonderful history of the Jewish people and Christians alike, since salvation came through the Jews. But what fascinates me most is the way Jacob grew in relationship with the Lord over the course of his life. Towards the start of his story he is deceitful and didn’t know the Lord personally, but through several revelations of the Lord he came to know God and experience him personally. God was no longer just the God of his fathers, but God of Jacob himself.

Over time, as Jacob got to know God he was humbled and learned to cling to God and give a tenth of his income to God. This week as we look closer at his story, I hope we will experience more of God too. It is not enough just to know about God, we need to know him personally and let him change our character to be more honouring and Christ-like. May we all put away any deceit that is in us and seek the Lord’s face and experience Him in a life changing way this week.

Here's one of my Favorite songs to listen and pray as you reflect on Jacob’s story. (HERE)

READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY:
Genesis 28:10-22 and Genesis 32:22-32