1/3/13

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God’” (Gen. 28:20-21)

Jacob of the Old Testament, like Peter in the New Testament, is one of my favorite Bible characters. He grew up in a dysfunctional family where his parents Isaac and Rebekah each had their favorite child. He grew up letting sin dominate his life like when he coerced his brother Isaac into selling him his birthright (Genesis 25:33-34) and later worked together with his mother Rebekah to deceive his father Isaac into blessing him with the blessing his father intended to give to his brother Esau (Genesis 27). Jacob’s sin caught up with him and he was forced to leave home to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.

When he left home, Jacob was alone. He was uncertain what lay ahead for his future. He was scared. He is in a perfect position for God to start working on him. God shows him a vision of a ladder stretching up to heaven and Jacob begins to place his faith and trust in God as his statement above shows.

His faith in God at this point is far from perfect. His statement above almost seems like he is trying to bargain with God. Later when he returns back home he is scared to see his brother Esau and tries to pacify Esau with lots of gifts. But it was a starting place and God would take him from this starting place and help Jacob to develop a much deeper faith in God. Later in his life Jacob as he tells his son Joseph that his offspring would face their own challenges in the land of Egypt, Jacob would say,
“"Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.” His confidence and faith in God’s power had grown over the course of his life.

Jacob’s faith in God had become much stronger as He let God work on him. It is a great blessing to live a life of faith in God. Like Jacob let God work on you to help you develop a greater faith in Him!

1/4/13

“And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’" (Genesis 32:28)

These words were spoken to Jacob following a wrestling match he had with the Angel of the Lord (cf. Hosea 12:4). Jacob had been away from home for 20 years. Now he had a family and was returning home. His brother Esau had hated him when he left home. He has found out that Esau was coming to meet him with over 400 men (Genesis 32:6). He is scared. What should he do? That night he wrestles with the Angel of the Lord and his name is changed from Jacob to Israel which means “Prince of God”.

As I think about this event in Jacob’s life, I can certainly relate. Many times over my life I had been uncertain as to what to do when faced with my fears and anxieties about some matter. I have not always done the right thing. I have wrestled with God (e.g. by blaming Him or doubting Him) and with men (e.g. lashing out at them in my anger and frustration or trying to use worldly tactics to overcome my problems). Somehow God has put up with me and seen me through. God is willing to let me wrestle with Him. While it is better if I just submit to God and His Will, I believe God knows at times I have to wrestle with Him so I can get to the point of seeing my own foolishness. Praise be to our Heavenly Father who is so longsuffering in dealing with us. Have a blessed day today. Let us submit to God and His Will for us and not have to wrestle with Him in order to see our own foolishness!

DAILY DEVO