What deep spiritual lessons we can learn from these men who paved the way for us, too, to participate in God’s great salvation! Although they had none of the resources or the distractions we have to grow strong in their walk with God, they can teach us many lessons about faith, perseverance and integrity because they lived out their encounters with God.

Abraham became a man of great faith. Through many tests and failures, he learned to place his unshakeable trust in the God who called him into an unknown future. So well had he learned his lessons, tenderly supervised and guided by the loving hand of God, that Paul could write of him in his latter years,

‭Romans‬ ‭4:18‭-‬22‬ ‭NLT‬
[18] “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” [19] And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. [20] Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. [21] He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. [22] And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.”

What a worthy example to follow!

What have we learned from Jacob? In all his foolish dishonesty and manipulation, one quality in Jacob shines out. He never gave up on what he wanted.

We would have condemned him had he wanted wealth, fame, or success. However, like the Apostle Paul who focused all his energies in everything he did on ONE THING, Jacob, likewise, set his heart on his “one thing”.

‭Genesis‬ ‭32:24‭-‬26‬ ‭NLT‬
[24] “This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. [25] When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. [26] Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The outcome was name-changing, life-changing, and enduring. From then on, Jacob’s descendants bore the name of that encounter, “children of Israel.” “Children of God’s Prince!” Sadly, though, his descendants did not live up to that name. They betrayed the nature of that change to “Prince with God” by selling their souls to false gods.

Oh that we, God’s children would be worthy spiritual descendants of those who clung to their hope.

Joseph, God’s man for the hour, had a shaky beginning but adversity wrenched him out of his privileged position and set him on a path to a life of integrity and powerful God-awareness that shaped his destiny and the destiny of those who came after him.

Joseph chose to view his suffering from God’s perspective rather than from a narrow, “poor-me” attitude. Sorely tempted by a beautiful, scheming woman, he responded,

‭Genesis‬ ‭39:6‭-‬9‬ ‭NLT‬
[6]”Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, [7] and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. [8] But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. [9] No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

Joseph’s integrity and God-awareness protected him from the claws of a wicked temptress. How easily he could have lost his way through a moment of stolen pleasure!

But Joseph’s God-awareness was much more than a protection against a moment of weakness. It was a guiding star in his attitude towards life.

How easily Joseph could have used his position to punish his brothers for their cruelty to him. Instead, he recognised that his dreams were being fulfilled by the faithful God he had come to revere.

‭Genesis‬ ‭42:8‭-‬9‬ ‭NLT‬
[8] “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. [9] And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”

Instead of punishing his brothers for their wickedness, he chose to put them through rigorous testing to see whether their hearts were changed or not. How could he do that? What lay behind the tests?

‭Genesis‬ ‭50:15‬ ‭NLT‬
[15] “But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said….
[18] Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. [19] But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? [20] You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. [21] No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”

What shaped Joseph’s attitude towards his brothers? Once again, his God-awareness coupled with his integrity. He was determined to do the right thing.

What a way to view life’s adversities! Joseph discovered, long before Paul wrote the words, “God works in all things for the good of those who love Him, those who are called according to His purpose.”

Put together the hallmarks of these three great Old Testament saints and we have a recipe for a life pleasing to God. Like Abraham’s unshakeable faith in a faithful God, faith puts us in line for great miracles that form part of His great redemption plan.

With stickability like Jacob’s determined purpose to be part of God’s plan, we, too, will lay hold of God and never give up until He bless us. Jacob clung to God’s promises like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline and God blessed him!

Perseverance will get us the promises God has given us.

‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NIV‬
[12] “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

However, faith and perseverance must be backed by integrity of life and a God-awareness that is willing to look past the present to a future crafted by God for us.

‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16‭-‬18‬ ‭NIV‬
[16]”Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Only then will the life lessons taught by these men have great value for us beyond reading the stories.