If you've been in awe of the great men in the bible, about how well they had started their life journey, how close they were to God, you may tend to feel that we could never come up to that level of a relationship with God. But today, let me talk about a man, we could all easily relate to - one who was crafty, one who'd never shy to make underhand deals, one who'd get his right to live the 'good-life' by hook or by crook - the man JACOB.
He is introduced to us in the Bible in Gen. 25:23 "And the Lord said to her (Rebekah): 'Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger'" - This was the man, holding on to the heel of Esau his elder brother even while coming out of the mother's womb and hence named "Jacob" - a supplanter, one who usurps not necessarily by fair means. A shrewd man, and impatient. Yet God, who is merciful, met him, and his life had a turnaround for the better; God testifying about him in Rom 9:13 "Jacob I have loved; and Esau I hated"
What we learn from Jacob's life is the truth of this word, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" - Gal. 5:7. The sooner we learn this truth, the better!
Whatever be your spiritual position, if you sow an apple seed you are going to reap an apple tree - notwithstanding the amount of prayer and fasting you do for anything otherwise. Jacob learnt this lesson the hard way. He must have grown up hearing his mother (who loved him more than the elder Esau) say, 'The Lord told me that you will be greater than your brother". But then, when his brother was hungry for food, he was quick enough to make a deal for the birthright. Later, when his father called to bless his sons, Jacob pretended to be Esau, fooled his father, Isaac, in order to obtain his blessings. An impatient man - he knew how to get what he wanted in more ways than one!
We see in the new testament written about this man Jacob, that God had chosen him, before he was born; before he had done anything good or evil, according to God's own election and plan (Rom. 9: 10, 11). But Jacob was impatient - not waiting for God's will to be fulfilled in its time, using his craftiness to achieve what was anyway promised.
And in Jacob's life, we see that his own sons cheated him - when they came and informed that Joseph, Jacob's well-loved son, was dead! And we know the story of how God made the circumstances so unfavorable for Jacob in Canaan, that he had to flee to another place, under another man - Laban, his mother's brother - a man more shrewd than him! A man who'd regularly cheat Jacob of his wages. (I remember, when I had joined my first job, they had promised a salary; but at the end of the month, they informed me, they would pay me only 50% of what was promised! I was so disappointed, but I stuck on; and the next month they gave me 75%. And praise God, from the 3rd month they gave me full salary!). But now imagine being cheated 'TEN times' (Gen 31: 7); the man Laban who'd trick him again in Jacob's choice of bride right on the wedding day; Jacob finding Leah instead of Rachel-whom Jacob loved...A man who made him toil day and night for years and years (Gen. 31: 38-41), without letting him go. "Whatever a man sows, that he also will reap".
Afterwards, we see, God intervening in Jacob's life! Jacob was desperate for a change and entirely frustrated in Laban's house, when God told him in a dream to return to Canaan. Jacob again used his craftiness to flee from Laban - when Laban left for shearing his sheep during 3 days! Laban pursued Jacob, only to be warned by God -"Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad". Then when Jacob, while he was still on the way, sought to make peace with Esau, his estranged brother - when he heard that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men (Gen. 32: 6). Jacob's heart sank.
This was the point of no-return for Jacob - in the wilderness, nowhere to turn, nobody to help! It was then he made a wise decision to seek the Lord God! He sent all his family members ahead of him across the Jordan river, while he himself was left alone...when he 'wrestled with God' (Gen. 32: 24). And God met this man - and how! In our deepest crises of life, we can make a decision too - to be alone with God. Jesus has asked us to 'go into the inner room, shut the door, and there pray to the Father in heaven'. Jacob at wit's end, clinging to God and crying, "I will not not let You go, unless You bless me". And God touched him and blessed him and changed his name. "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel...". From that day onwards, Jacob's life was changed - he no longer depended on his mind to plan crafty things! He had to limp and depend on a staff to even walk!! It symbolises his dependence on God who met him there. Jacob was chosen even before birth, but took years learning to trust God...learning to lean on Him. It says in Heb. 11: 21 that "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff".
Jesus told his disciples, "You did not choose me, but I chose you". God has chosen us - each one of us here! If God can change Jacob's life and bless him, the same God can do the same, for you and for me. What he's done for Jacob, he'll surely do for you! Psalm 46: 1 says "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble"
The man Jacob, who fled from place to place and from one person to the other, (as if from the frying pan to the fire, in his early days), after he had met with God, could stand before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt and bless him. It records in the bible that Jacob blessed Pharaoh! And in return, Pharaoh made sure that Jacob and his sons had the best piece of land in all of Egypt!
In closing, let me read from Psalm 46: 10, 11 "Be still and know that I am God...The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge". Yes, He is the God of Jacob who is our refuge.
"The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge". Amen
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