"JACOB JOURNEYS, ETC."
By Bill O'Neal
"THE HEEL CATCHER"
When we think of Jacob we usually think of how he was born, how he received Esau's blessing, and how he wrestled with the angel. His name has been called supplanter! It has been literally translated as 'heel catcher.' May I take this opportunity to speak of him in light of scriptural context. Let us see what God the LORD has to say about Jacob! First I want to make mention of his grandfather Abram and his father, Isaac. Let us begin in Genesis. That sounds almost redundant as Genesis is translated the beginning.
In chapter 12:1-3 God promises to bless Abram and make him a great nation. It is a conditional blessing whereas if you bless Abram then the Almighty will bless you and likewise if you curse him then you will be cursed. This is a covenant promise from God to him. Let us take a closer look at the word bless: It has its roots in French from the use of blood in consecration or sacrifice according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary.
It means to make the sign of a cross; to invoke divine care; praise, glory, extol {to regard with great favor and regard highly}; to make happy, give good fortune, prosper; guard, protect, keep; to have favor, to endow; to account happy as {the nations shall be blessed in him}. Wow it is also projected as curse, damn, or condemn as well as to offer thanksgiving or ask+
for blessings with the spirit. My question is then what is your attitude toward the chosen people of God? You don't have to answer me but you do him!!!
Genesis 17:19-21 sets forth the covenant plan and tells him that his wife Sara will bear him a son, one Isaac, which tranlates laughter. Remember Sara laughed because of her age but she was setting finite limits on an infinite God. God changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sara's to Sarah.
Right after this Sarah gets ahead of God and offers Hagar to Abraham and Ishmael is born but he was not the promised seed! Isaac was that seed and he was born after the fact. God also promised to bless Ishmael to be fruitful and greatly multiply him. But, God had chosen and promised an everlasting covenant to Abraham and all his seed. He told Abraham that he would covenant with him. The Lord's instructions for Abraham was that he and his posterity should keep the covenant with him.
In Genesis 28:1 we find that Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Jacob gets a name change in Genesis 32:28 and the Lord calls him "Israel" because he struggled with God and men and overcame. We are told in the New Testament that is is better to enter heaven maimed than to lose our soul!
Have you ever wondered why the scripture says that God loved Jacob and hated Esau? May I say to you that God's choosing is his domain not mine! Does not the book of Romans tells us that he will have mercy on whom he will? May I now address Jacob, the Supplanter and Deceiver!
"SUPPLANTER AND DECEIVER"
Jacob, the man, was later to be called Israel which had a spiritual implication. Now, what is someone who supplants? It is someone who takes the place of another either by force or through scheming, etc. They remove something in order to replace it with something else. This is why in the next article I hope to portray why the difference between Esau and Jacob! The Bible says it is written the elder shall serve the younger. We read that Rebekkah instituted the plan to deceive Isaac in his old age. Now, may I ask you what did that make her?
Everything that transpired in this ordeal had to have purpose. When God decrees a thing, it has to come to pass. That is what makes all the difference in the world! He is infinite in wisdom and understanding! We are but finite as mortals, carnal or fleshly minded as men and women. I believe that His ways are far above our ways and His thoughts far above our thoughts. Shall the thing created say to the Creator, "Why hast thou made me thus?" Jacob was willing to go along with the fiasco and he wanted the blessing!
Does not the scripture say that God knoweth the hearts of men? In observing with natural understanding something just doesn't add up in with Jacob. Perhaps we are taught here that when you desire something you must persevere to receive it. I pray God give you the mentality of pitbull faith. Go for it and don't let go until you are blessed. It may leave you with a limp but the blessing of God will be on you! I can relate somewhat as I had open heart surgery on May 8, 2009.
My major veins are missing in both legs and my life is changed until I put on immortality. I do know God still has purpose for me. I am a miracle! I was near death at 5am the next morning when my bp dropped to 50/20. I do not think that my nurse was nearby as happenstance but rather by ordination. God sets all the particulars in order just as He did when Rebekkah bore a son named Jacob. For it was in Isaac that the seed of God would be blessed. We see a transition from the man Jacob to a spiritual people called after his new name Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the blessings on Israel!
"WHY HATE ESAU?"
It is written in the new testament that Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated? Did you ever question that? I have found in my studies that this is not a conclusive statement as we would think. It is not like that the LORD looked down on Esau and said man you are so ugly. I don't think I like you. As a matter of fact, I can't stand you and I hate you! No, it was not like that at all.
The real issues here are of morality and disgust! We are talking about the Almighty who knows the end from the beginning. I find in the word of God that he despises sin and is greatly disgusted with it. As the creation of God we are here on earth to honor him with all our substance. We are not here to work and get paychecks. We are here to follow in the vocation He has called us to. We are to be givers. God knows the makeup of man and He decides the outcome of each of us.
We are allowed to make free choices. Sometimes we make the wrong ones. God knew what was in the heart of both Jacob and Esau. He also knows mine and yours. You may think you do but the fleshly heart is desperately wicked and will deceive you! Sometimes we want to blame God or blame the devil for every little incident. We may need to step back and take a look at ourselves and the choices we have made. Be sure what you want is what you get in the end! Don't be as Esau and sell out for some petty small portion.
God wants people who will serve and honor Him. He knows if you will live a life of highest morality. He also knows if you will sell Him short. You see, it was not that He thought Jacob was smarter or more handsome. God knew what was in Jacob. He knew that he would be strong and courageous. What about his servitude when he labored for Rachel so long. God knows the end from the beginning; however, He does not force His will upon you. You make the choice! We are to praise and adore Him. Man looks on the outward appearance but God always looks at the choices of heart. Set your morals and values to the high standard of God's word and you will be blessed.
"JACOB'S SERVITUDE"
I am sure Esau was upset when Isaac blessed Jacob in Genesis 28. He sent Jacob to Padanaram to get a wife of Laban, a Syrian and Jacob obeyed his father. One thing he did was recognize that God is in this place. That is important to know. Now when he met them, he rolled the stone from the well's mouth, watered the flock and then he kisses Rachel right off. We are told that Jacob wept. Seeing any analogies here? Anyway, he agrees to serve with Laban for seven years for Rachel. She was beautiful and well-favored!
Afterwards Laban because of custom switches is up on him and he awakes in the morning and realizes it is plain looking Leah. But, Jacob knew he loved Rachel and he serves yet another seven years for her and is given her to wife. God recognizes that Leah is hated and he opens her womb but Rachel remains barren. Is it not true that beauty is only skin deep? One lady minister I know said for years, "Pretty is as pretty does!" My dad use to tell us that when you get under the skin we all start to look alike.
Here we go, now the 12 patriarchs are about to come into play. Reuben is born due to her Leah's affliction. Leah is then given Simeon because of God's mercy in her situation. Next is Levi, then Judah for she said I will praise the LORD! She leaves off bearing children but Rachel is dying inside and wants children and Jacob is angry probably feeling a bit undone. She gives Bilhah her maid to him and Dan is born. After great inner wrestlings with her sister Naphtali is birthed by Bilhah. Now Leah's at the maid game so she gives him Zilpah and he gives her Gad, a troop cometh. She is so enthralled when Zilpah then bears a second son, Asher.
Now one day Reuben gathers mandrakes for his mom Leah and selling out again becomes an issue in this family. Rachel offers here Jacob for the night to obtain her some mandrakes. He does and Issachar is birthed. Be sure what you want is what you get as the end result! Leah is thinking again surely her husband will dwell with her for now she has born him Zebulun. Afterward, she gives birth to a daughter, Dinah. God now remembers Rachel and gives her a son and she called his name Joseph. Sound like you've read similar words somewhere before?
Now Jacob wants to take his wifes and children and leave but Laban pressures him to stay. He does and in the end becomes owner of Laban's possessions. Jacob inspite of all his faults was still God's man. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here. I wonder how much endurance Jacob learned during his servitude! So, it may very well be said that "Good things come to those who wait "serve." Have a blessed day but don't sell out to the world. Count the cost before you make a decision! [For more about this episode in Jacob's life, read chapter 31:22-42. It is very interesting to follow and read about Rachel's actions].
"STONES ON JACOB'S PATH"
Do you like to follow stepping stones or would you rather skip them? You don't know what is under each one until you turn it over. There is a lesson to be learned I am sure. I have heard it said, "Don't leave any stone unturned!" God has a way of working things out for us even when the situation seems unpleasant. Now, the first thing that happens when Jacob leaves Laban is that Laban pursues him. He complains he wasn't allowed to bless him more. He says he did not get to kiss his daughters goodbye. In spite of this God does not permit Laban to bring any hurt to Jacob. After listening to the complaints, Jacob desires to covenant with Laban. He sets up stones in heaps and calls the place Galeed. Arising early, Laban kisses his family goodbye and blesses them.
Now Jacob is getting ready to meet Esau so he sends a message before him. He finds out that Esau is on his way and 400 men with him. He prays for deliverance from his brother and his band of men. So Jacob sends presents to Esau before him. Would you have skipped this stone? You might have said I can handle it but what happened to him next. Jacob is left alone and wrestles with an angel. His life is preserved and his name is now called Israel. He lives through this ordeal and is left somewhat crippled.
A new day breaks and on the horizon dawns his meeting with his brother. He bows seven times before Esau arrives. Seven is God's number of perfection, right? Anyway they hugged, kissed and then wept. They are reconciled and Esau goes on his way. Are Jacob's troubles now over? No, Shechem a Hivite lies with Jacob's daughter, Dinah, and defiles her. The Hivites are told to be circumcised and while they are in sore pain, Simeon and Levi slay them. I guess they got tricked but you have to be able to outwit your enemies. God blesses Jacob again in Genesis 35:10 and officially calls his name Israel and no more Jacob. He is blessed but sorrow is just around the corner as Esau and Jacob will have to bury their father Isaac. Many transitions have been made since Jacob crossed the stones on his path but most of all a spiritual one, for he is now Israel!
"ISRAEL, A NEW BEGINNING"
Arise go to Bethel and build the altar of God are the words which resound in Jacob's ears. He now dwells in the land of Canaan where his father was a stranger! Now it comes to pass that Rachel dies and the son of his right hand is born, Benjamin. Soon Isaac grows weak and dies. The focus is now on Israel and Joseph in Genesis 37. Joseph had dreamed a dream of his brothers sheaves bowing to him. His father observes what he says but the brothers envy Joseph. He is instructed to go and check on his brothers who are feeding their flocks. He does so and his devious brothers capture him. They intented to kill him but decided to sell him into slavery. He is headed for Egypt. They stripped him his robe, the coat of many colors. It was dipped in the blood of a goat so Jacob was deceived to think that Joseph was no more.
Now a new saga begins for all of them. There is a famine coming on the land. Jacob sends his sons down to Egypt to buy grain but God has a much greater plan in store! They think they are just going for food but God has a surprise for them. Joseph has been made ruler in Pharoah's land and is about to reveal himself to his brothers. He was sent into Egypt and preserved so that he may bless his family. The scripture says "Out of Egypt have I called my Son," Saint Matthew 2:15. Joseph was a type of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The legacy of Jacob lives on. The story of Joseph is a whole new chapter. May God bless you today and I hope you have enjoyed these articles!
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