The God of Jacob

This article is part three in my series.  When studying the account of Jacob in the Old Testament, I believe it is important to try to understand what God is doing rather than focus on what Jacob did.  Through this account we see the sovereign hand of God pulling, prodding this man.  I cherish the story of Jacob because it is reminiscent of my struggle with God throughout my life.  Jacob, the first-class cheat and deceiver, has just left Bethel “House of God”  and is still journeying to his Uncle Laban’s house.  When he arrives, he is greeted with open arms.  How excited he must have been to get away from his father’s fearful God.  I am sure that in the back of his mind, he remembers the vow he made to God (or should we say the demands).  He promised God that if He would provide for him, protect him, and bring him back safely to his land, he would then serve God.  I still remember placing demands upon God when I was a young man.  I remember promising God that if he would give me what I wanted, I would obey him.  Of course God did not bargain with Jacob or me.  And so we find Jacob working for his Uncle Laban.  God used the deceptive nature of Laban to start working on Jacob.  First it was the “misunderstanding” that caused Jacob to marry the wrong sister.  Then it was the abuse of Jacob that threatened to bankrupt him.  Finally, Jacob had had enough.  He tricked his Uncle Laban into making him rich.  Now he had all he wanted; a large family, a huge heard, possessions, security, etc.  But Jacob still was not satisfied.  Sometimes God allows the riches of this passing world to convince us of our emptiness and loneliness.  Jacob fled from his uncle’s house rich and full, but yearning for something else inside.  God led Jacob back toward his promised land.  As Jacob came closer, he began to realize that all was not well with his jilted brother.  He sent present after present in front of his massive caravan “Perhaps, he will be appeased with my gifts he thought.”  Once again fear grabbed Jacob.  He found himself alone at Jabbok River.  Suddenly, a man approached his camp.  No doubt Jacob assumed this to be an assailant and began fighting the man.  Before daybreak, Jacob figured out that this was no ordinary man, it was the Angel of the Lord.  I believe that this was an incarnate form of God Himself.  Jacob wrestled with God all night long, and on toward morning God touched Jacob’s thigh and injured his sinew.  Jacob must have finally realized that he could no longer compete with God.  God had injured him and Jacob now found himself wrestling for a different purpose.  He was not trying to fight off his attacker, but to keep the Messenger there.  The Messenger cried out for Jacob to let go, to which Jacob replied, “I will not unless you bless me.”  Ahhh, he understood.  He no longer wished to bless himself, but He desired God’s favor on Him.  Jacob had lived his whole life seeking how he could bless himself, but once he realized that God was his master, he sought only God’s grace and blessing.  At this point, God renamed our deceiver into Israel, Prince of God.  God would not use Jacob until he had broken him.  I still remember wrestling with God that lonely night in northern Wisconsin.  I wanted my way, but God’s Word would not let me go.  Through tears and cries of desperation, I cried out for God’s grace.  I was saved years before that, but I had been fighting God for over 15 years as to who would control my life.  As with Jacob, God won that night in Wisconsin; and with a lump in my throat, I praise the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that through His grace He chose me to serve Him for the rest of my life.  I thank God that He graciously loved me enough to wrestle with this poor wretch-and win.