Jacob

by R. Lindsay, Kingston-upon-Thames | Category: Character Studies | Feb 1969

To Rebekah, as her unborn children struggled in her womb, the LORD made a wonderful prediction. She was about to bear not one, but two children - children who would be in almost every sense different from one another. They were to grow into two nations, and, said the LORD, "the elder shall serve the younger". There can be no doubt that the LORD'S words found a place in Rebekah's heart. Paul tells us that "the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth, it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger" (Romans 9.11-13). Thus, even before birth, Jacob found his place in the mainstream of divine purpose, marked out as the recipient of blessing and favour.

In a very special way, Jacob was loved by his mother, chiefly, perhaps, because of what the LORD had revealed concerning him. One cannot but, think that, in early days, Rebekah instilled into her younger son what the LORD had taught her. Certainly, when the opportunity of obtaining the birthright came within his grasp, Jacob showed a lively awareness of its value. Was this the result of patient teaching at a mother's knee? How many a son owes his love of spiritual things to the early training of a godly mother! Was not this how young Timothy was taught? And is not this how young hearts can be trained today?

While Esau, in his profanity, despised the birthright, Jacob put a high value on the blessings and privileges it implied. What a tragedy it was, then, that he did not yet have the faith to leave God to work out His own divine purposes! In one of the darker scenes of his life he fell in with his mother's schemings, and went in to his near-blind father, inviting him to "eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me". Despite his doubts, Isaac gave him the blessing of the firstborn. It would have been well for Jacob if he had rested on God's promise, rather than attempt to hasten its fulfilment by his own means, for then the blessing would have been unalloyed. "What He had promised, He was able also to perform" (Romans 4.21). Oh for the faith to take God at His word! As it was, Jacob had to learn the lesson Paul taught the Galatians many years later, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6.7). He who deceived his father was later deceived by Laban (Genesis 29) and by his own sons (Genesis 37). And, in fleeing from home, he never, so far as we know, saw his mother again, and lost many years communion with his father.

Yet, even while fleeing from Esau, Jacob knew clearly the gracious guiding of God. For in his journey, "he lighted upon a certain place", and in his sleep he dreamed of the ladder reaching to heaven. "And, behold, the LORD stood above it and said, I am the LORD, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; ..." (Genesis 28.13). What wondrous grace to the worm Jacob! What glorious promises were his! It has often been said that in Genesis every truth of Scripture is found in embryo. And to Jacob was given here the first intimation of a truth which looms large in the word of God. For as he awoke, Jacob said, "Surely the LORD is in this place ... this is none other but the house of God". This truth of God's house on earth should be dear to His people today, for here we can serve Him according to His will.

The twenty years Jacob spent with Laban were years of mixed experience. We have seen how the deceiver of his aged father was himself deceived by his father-in-law. These were years, too, which seem to be marked by neglect of the worship of God. But, "if we are faithless, He abideth faithful" (2 Timothy 2.13). God blessed Jacob abundantly, so that he "increased exceedingly", and then in grace the "God of Bethel" appeared to him, reminded him of his vow, and called on him to return. These years of difficulty had all been part of the divine plan for Jacob's life, preparing him for his return to the land. "We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8.28).

There can be little doubt that a great crisis in Jacob's life occurred as the long journey home was nearing its end. Every step brought him nearer his brother Esau, who twenty years earlier had threatened to take his life, and Jacob's faith seemed sorely in need of strengthening. It was at night by the ford of Jabbok, when, seemingly unable to sleep, "Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day" (Genesis 32.24). God was this night about to teach Jacob a mighty lesson. What an experience this must have been! All night long the wrestling continued, until the Man "saw that He prevailed not against him". Then he touched Jacob's thigh, and the wrestling supplanter was suddenly converted into a helpless clinger. Now, unable to wrestle any longer, Jacob simply held on, and in his clinging he found the blessing. "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me ... And He blessed him there" (Genesis 32.26-29). This was a new experience for Jacob, one that was not without tears. Hosea comments, "He had power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto Him" (Hosea 12.4). That night his name was changed also. Jacob, the scheming supplanter became Israel, "a prince with God". Is there not in this experience of Jacob's an obvious lesson for us? Do we not need to know more, much more, of the midnight hours alone with Him in earnest supplication? Do we not need to learn the experience of simply clinging to God in faith? If we learn this, then surely we, too, like Jacob will know the secret of power with God and with men. "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40.31). May we be constant waiters upon Him.

It seems remarkable that Jacob did not go straight to Bethel, where first he had his vision of God. Instead, he came to Succoth, and built a house. Later, he removed to the city of Shechem, where he bought a parcel of ground. For a time, as he prepared to settle among the people of Shechem, he seemed to lose his pilgrim character. Alas, this brought sorrow. His daughter, Dinah, "went out to see the daughters of the land", and was defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite. Who can say that part of the blame for Dinah's downfall did not lie at Jacob's door? In the divine purpose he was a dweller in tents, as Abraham and Isaac had been, but here his separation had been compromised. Sadly, Jacob's sons reacted to their sister's defilement in an unworthy and violent way, and their sorry exploit, recorded in Genesis 34, brought disgrace to their father, and spoiled his testimony among the people of Shechem. One cannot read the Scriptures without being made aware of the importance God places on the separation of His people. "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6.17) is the word for us today. If, like Jacob, we compromise our separation, we shall surely, like him, weaken our testimony.

In grace, God once again spoke to Jacob, this time calling him to Bethel. But Jacob realized that the condition of his family was not in keeping with the standards of holiness Bethel required. Laxity had crept in; the idols Rachel had brought from her father's house had never been put away. N6w they had to go. God's house demands standards of holiness and purity that cannot be ignored. "Holiness becometh Thine house, 0 LORD, for evermore" (Psalm 93.5). Paul reminded Timothy "how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God" (1 Timothy 3.15). Whether His house be material or spiritual, the Lord expects godly behaviour from those who are therein.

It is strange to see Jacob depart once more from Bethel, especially in view of the clarity of God's word, "Go up to Bethel, and dwell there". In going away, Jacob entered once more upon a period of distress. It was as "they journeyed from Bethel" his well-loved Rachel died. Having buried her, again "Israel journeyed". And once more the journey brought sorrow to Jacob. This time it was Reuben's sin with Bilhah - a sin which later cost him his dying father's blessing. Can it be that these sorrowful experiences are linked with Jacob's departure from the house of God? Certainly, the Lord longs for His people to dwell in His house. "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee" (Psalm 84.4). David could declare, "I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever" (Psalm 23.6). Shall we resolve to follow his example?

Years had passed. Jacob had come down to Joseph in Egypt, and here he spent the final seventeen years of his life. Whatever life had taught him, there can be no doubt that Jacob had emerged as one of the giants of faith. "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff" (Hebrews 11.21). This deathbed act of Jacob is the one thing singled out by the Holy Spirit for New Testament comment. Surely there is a deeply instructive lesson for us here. Some seventy years before, Jacob had acted in deceit to obtain the blessing of Isaac. Now, despite the natural protests of Joseph, he wittingly guides his hand to the head of the younger son, whom the divine will decreed would be greater than his brother. But, there was faith, too, in his words regarding Manasseh, "He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great" (Genesis 48.19). What faith is here! - "Therein the elders had witness borne to them" (Hebrews 11.2). How does our faith measure up to this? "Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him" (Hebrews 11.6).

It is pleasing, too, to see Jacob's recognition of the LORD'S care for him, as he speaks to Joseph of "the God which hath fed me all my life long unto this day" (Genesis 48.15). How close are these words to the testimony of David in Psalm 23. No trace here of self-sufficient Jacob - rather is there the humble acknowledgement that "my help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121.2). Today, Peter reminds us that it is by the power of God we are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1.5). May we ever acknowledge His keeping power in our lives. "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Psalm 146.5).

R. Lindsay, Kingston-upon-Thames | Feb 1969
Character Studies