We are coming to the end of our Patriarch road. We have looked at the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and finishing today with Jacob. But I like to add one more simply because it continues the beautiful picture of how this promise or covenant of God continued. In my final posts, I will introduce you to Joseph. Even though Joseph would not be defined as a Patriarch per se, (he did not play the role of a “ruling father”) he became the critical part of this story allowing the Israelites into Egypt setting them up for one of the greatest stories in the Old Testament…the parting of the Sea.
In the last blog, we saw how Jacob used deception and lies to get what he wanted from his father then the deception and lies turned on him by his father-in-law.
As this story continues, Jacob remained in the region of Harran for many years obeying his father-in-law, marrying sisters, having children, and raising livestock. But he got tired of living under someone else’s roof and finally parted ways from Harran. Back to Canaan he went, but not without battle.
He left…his father-in-law chased. You can read this story for yourself in Genesis chapter 31. But today, I am going to tell you Jacob’s story of redemption.
Let’s go back to Genesis 28 where Jacob’s life began to soften towards God. Do you remember Jacob’s dream? In his sleep, God spoke, …
“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac…I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.” Genesis 28:13-15 NIV
Jacob had run from the lies he incurred on his father, Isaac and from the death threat of his brother Esau. As he ran, he ran right into God.
This is so true for our lives. As believers we can run. We can run all we want. But as we run, God in His sovereignty, changes the trajectory of the path making sure we run straight into Him!
As Jacob ran from his situation, he fell asleep. When he awoke, he pursued the list of “IFs”. If you do this God or do that God, then I will believe. In other words, Jacob was not going to trust God until God showed up.
Do we shame Jacob for this? Yes, possibly. But if we shame him, we then need to shame ourselves. Our faith in God is so often anchored in what God does and not who He is. But that’s okay. God knows that and God handle any disbelief that we have in Him. He just wants us to have a relationship with Him therefore orchestrating life situations for us to run right into Him. Keep running…your journey is not over yet!
After Jacob posed his list of “IFs” for God, God said “game on.” So, throughout the years Jacob spent away from his home in Canaan, God continued to work in his life softening his heart.
Look at Genesis Chapter 32. This is Jacob’s redemption story, and it is totally wrapped up in him reconciling his relationship with Esau.
When Jacob crossed the boundary line into Canaan, he knew there was something he needed to do before he could go all the way home. He needed to meet his brother. This was more than a physical meeting of embrace, but a meeting of the hearts.
On his journey, he sent his servants ahead of him to meet with Esau. Jacob knew that Esau’s last words to him were “I am going to kill you.” So, for fear of his own life and the lives of his wives and children, Jacob sent his servants to test the waters a bit. Smart man!
This is the message he sent…
“Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.”
There is no way Jacob deserved this favor and he knew it. But he pleaded for the favor of Esau because the favor of his brother meant redemption. I am going to guess that for Jacob if Esau received him, then God would too. This was important!
The servants of Jacob returned with the news that Esau was coming but not alone. He was coming with four hundred of his best soldiers. Yikes! This is so not turning out how Jacob had hoped.
As the four hundred men approached, Jacob scrambled to save as many of his family as he could, so he divided them into two groups. If Esau’s men went one way toward one of the families, then the other family would escape in the other direction. At least he could save half of the people he loved.
Jacob cried out to God…
“Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.” Genesis 32:9-12
I am unworthy!
Save me!
Hold onto those phrases for now.
In a great military decision, Jacob sent all the things and people he loved ahead of him to safety. Esau’s men were closing in and Jacob scrambled to save his people. Once they were safe on the other side of the Jordan River, Jacob crossed back over the river to wait for Esau and his men. He was all alone…just him and God.
When we face fears in our lives, one of the most strategic choices we can make is to get alone…to quiet our souls before God. Take away our weapons, all of those around us who might protect us and make ourselves completely vulnerable to God. It is in the quiet when God speaks.
So, Jacob wrestled. When he was alone and vulnerable, he wrestled. Within the wrestling, his name changed. It changed from Jacob to Israel. In that moment he went from an individual into a nation. The nation that God promised to Abraham…to Isaac… Jacob held within a simple name change. But this was so much more than a name change…this was a life change. When Jacob came out of the tangled mess of wrestling this is what he said…
“I SAW GOD FACE TO FACE…!!!”
Jacob saw that he was unworthy and that he needed to be saved. And in his plea, HE SAW GOD…face to face!
This is EXACTLY where God wants all of us to be before Him…
Unworthy…
In need of His salvation…
Rejoicing to see His face!
It is when we fall into submission to God and when we see His face, our life changes! We become a part of Gods promise…His nation!
The final story of Jacob and Esau…
“But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and KISSED him. AND THEY WEPT.” Genesis 33: 4 NIV
When we see God face to face, relationships that we have categorized as impossible become relationships of redemption and reconciliation! But we must meet Jesus first!
I have this redemption story…do you?
THE WALK 
Our faith is anchored in what God can give us and not on who he is
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