The situation weighed heavy on Jacob’s mind as he continued his journey towards Canaan. It was slow going with such a huge company of people and animals… plenty of time to think about what might lie ahead for them.
As his misgivings grew, so he schemed to protect his family and possessions from Esau’s revenge. Despite his human efforts and the reassurance of God’s presence and protection, Jacob needed something more than his own ingenuity.
He had come to the end of himself. God had given him many years of hardship and turmoil to bring him to the realisation that, without God, he had created the mess he was in. He left an enemy behind in Haran, his uncle and father-in-law, Laban. Ahead lay another enemy, Esau his brother, estranged by his own trickery. He was caught in the middle with many people to protect and no way of escape.
So, in desperation, Jacob turned to God.
Genesis 32:9-12 NIV
[9] “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.’ ”
One lesson Jacob was learning from his grandfather, Abraham, was to lean on God’s promises. He gave God the credit for enriching him with family and flocks but he needed God’s intervention to save them all from Esau’s vengeance.
Hoping to appease his brother, he sent his servants with a large gift of flocks, herds, and servants, but the servants returned with bad news. Esau was on his way to meet him with a large contingent of men.
Genesis 32:4-6 NIV
[4] He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. [5] I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’ ” [6] When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
Jacob was desperate. He had done his best to defuse Esau’s anger but he had no idea what would happen next. Would Esau resort to bloodshed to avenge his lost birthright and blessing?
Once more, God met Jacob at the time of his deepest need.
Genesis 32:22-30 NIV
[22] That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. [23] After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. [24] So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. [25] When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. [26] Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. [28] Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” [29] Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. [30] So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
How often God comes to us when we are most vulnerable, when our guilt weighs us down or when our weakness bares our throat to the enemy. Jacob had painted himself into a corner, like the children of Israel on the shore of the Red Sea, the Egyptians behind them and the sea in front of them. No escape route for human ingenuity to grasp!
God loves a situation like this because it’s the time when His child stops running and listens to Him instead. I think Jacob was sick of himself and his devious ways. Look where it had got him. He was stuck, with no way out.
So, God had him by the throat, pinned him down, and finally got his attention. Instead of eliminating him for his wickedness, God held him fast until he stopped fighting. Then, as it dawned on Jacob that it was God Himself, in human form, who was his opponent, he held on to Him, refusing to release his grip until he was assured, not only of mercy but also of God’s favour. What a moment! What a place to be in!
Why did the exchange between God and Jacob focus on their names? According to Hebrew understanding, a name is a prophetic utterance of character. Jacob was well-named, meaning “supplanter”, implying a deceiver, or “heel” since Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel as he was being born.
At that moment Jacob, on confession of his name, was changed to “Israel” , a new name, a new disposition, a new nature, a new person, a prince with God. In a sense, he had held on to God until he had won the battle.
Jacob, the deceiver, was transformed. At that moment, he became Israel, God’s Prince. From then on, the nation being formed would take on his new name, the children of Israel. Strange, isn’t it, that the nation would be named after Israel, not Ahraham, its founder. Why?
Jacob was a fighter. He never gave up until he got what he wanted. Even if it took devious means, he fought until he won. So, in his wrestling with God he refused to let go until he got God’s blessing. His dogged determination got him the prize.
Like Jacob, the Apostle Paul manifested the same quality of perseverance.
Philippians 3:10-14 NIV
[10] “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
God loves and approves of those who hang on to their goal to the end, no matter what, to gain the ultimate prize of eternal likeness to Jesus.
It was that quality that God wanted to build into the nation of Israel, to gain and retain the promise that He gave them through the patriarchs, Abraham, the initiator, Isaac, the bridge, and Jacob, the fighter for what was his.
Why did God honour this quality in Jacob? Even the devious ways in which Jacob got what he wanted did not disqualify him from God’s purpose. God honours a “finisher”. Jesus endorsed this determined perseverance in His people.
Matthew 24:12-13 NIV
[12] “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, [13] but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Trial and trouble separate true believers from opportunists. Those who stick with Jesus, no matter what, will gain the prize.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
[7]”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
What a testimony!
To be continued…