Jacob was God's chosen to be the next Patriarch of Israel after his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. Rebekah was concerned about prenatal pain and activity she was experiencing. God intervened in her concern to inform her the struggle was between two male twins in her womb, two nations who would always be at odds with each other. He told Rebekah and Isaac the older would serve the younger going against customary practice and social norms. Though it would cause problems in the life of this family God is not held by any traditional or societal practices. It is more important for all of us to remember that God is Sovereignly orchestrating events outside of public opinion and expectations. The church is trapped by people who are concerned with "the way we've always done it."
As Jacob aged he began to realized he needed to make end of life decisions. He wanted to make sure he had a living will. He wanted to make sure after his death all of his property would go to the appropriate place. He had forgotten God's Word in establishing the birthright as going to the youngest. Isaac perhaps felt a little odd going against public opinion and customary practices. So he chooses to go against God and gives his blessing to his eldest son Esau.
God spoke directly to Rebekah concerning His arrangement. She had God on her side. But neither Isaac or Rebekah would seek God's will in establishing their final will and testament. Rebekah, whose favorite child was Jacob, plots a deceitful plan against God, Isaac and her son Esau. Jacob in accordance with his nature complies and joins Rebekah in her plan. They deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing of the birthright teaching us that man's wisdom never prevails for all of Isaac's senses failed him. Just as soon as Jacob leaves the room with the birthright Esau comes in from the field - stunned that he has lost the birthright to Jacob.
The Old Testament falls short in giving us what we need. Here was Isaac the father handing out the birthright. Once Isaac gave the birthright to Jacob there was nothing left for Esau; a father whose resources could be depleted! A birthright with limitations!! And a brother who is deceitful and selfish!!! We need an infinite and eternal Father whose resources are never depleted. We need an infinite and eternal resource that is never limited. We need a first born Son who unselfishly shares all of the Father's blessing. We have that in the Godhead. The infinite Father that is never depleted of His Heavenly blessings, An infinite birthright that is unlimited in quantity and quality, and an unselfish Son who would be an heir to the Father who would share His birthright with all of His brother and sisters. This is who we have in Jesus Christ. We are joint heir with Jesus. We have the right to pray "Our Father who art in Heaven!"
This event angered Esau so much he wanted to kill Jacob. Rebekah, once again scheming, sends Jacob to her brother's house for safety. She did not want to lose two sons in one day. She told Jacob, go to Uncle Laban's house and get your wife from his household and wait there until I send word that Esau is no longer angry. Well Rebekah's plan didn't work. She would die and wouldn't ever see Jacob again. The deceitful Jacob would be deceived by his Uncle Laban.
Jacob wanted Rachel but he would have to work seven years to get her. The seven years past by quickly because of the love Jacob felt for Rachel but Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah. She was given to Jacob and Jacob slept with her only to wake up the next morning to find Leah in his bed. Once again we see how our senses and sensibilities will deceive us. They cannot be trusted, not our senses and not our hearts. We can only trust God and his wisdom. Jacob should have been content and left with Leah, after all Leah was the Spiritual one. She is the one trusting in God but Jacob wasn't thinking with his brain so he agrees to work another seven years to acquire the woman of his dreams.
Jacob works another seven years and is finally given Rachel and the drama of family relationship continue. Jacob decides its time to head home when Laban manipulates him again into staying and working six more years. After these six years Jacob hears from God and is told to go back home and to reconcile with Esau. Therefore he leaves with the intent of meeting Esau first before going back to Isaac's place. He gets word that Esau is coming to meet him and Jacob knows nothing about him except he was angry and wanted to kill him 20 years ago. He takes precautionary measures and sends him gifts and a message of reconciliation. The messengers return with no word from Esau just that he is coming and he's bringing 400 men with him. Jacob's conclusion was he's going to be killed. He divides up his family and property into three groups. Three times Esau would meet Jacob's entourage with gifts and a message of restoration. Jacob runs to the river Jabbok and sends his wife and children to the other side of the stream and now he is all alone.
Alone, in the woods, left only to his own thoughts - thoughts of his deception, thoughts of his trickery, thoughts of his dishonesty not really sure he could count on God. At the end of himself God enters the scene and Jacob begins to wrestle with God. Jacob tried to convince Esau but he's still coming, still pursuing. Jacob feels scared and vulnerable and begins wrestling and pleading with God. He wants a blessing. He wants assurance. He wants help to find victory over the mess he made out of his life. He has a battle he must win and God..... dislocates his hip!!
Jacob thought he needed an army. He thought he needed strength. He thought God would summons the angels to come to his aid and God... dislocated his hip!!! Why does bad things happen to good people? Because God doesn't want to make you a proud, boastful, self sufficient person in this world. He wants to make you a humble, dependent, holy child of His. I am convinced death exists because of sin but it is also the one thing that will humble a sinner. Jacob would limp into what he thought would be a war. He was totally wrong for God prepared Esau for this meeting as well. Esau would be just as ready for reconciliation as Jacob was. God can be trusted. He wants you to humble yourself before him. The thing that we think we need to win in life may not be what we need to win in Heaven. Heaven is won by humility. Wars are won by strength. So the next time you are in a conflict that requires faith remember the blessing may come in the form of a dislocated hip. It may bring about a permanent limp. But God has to make you humble so He can make you holy.
If you are bitter with God because of some health issue or misfortune, relook at those things. See if you can see the Sovereign hand of God making you humble so He can make you holy. Look at your misfortune with an attitude of - God make me holy rather than making me strong and see if that doesn't change the way you look at your life. I've personally found many more "Spiritual Markers" where God intervened to make me humble by "separating my hip" to make me holy. I have to admit it wasn't the blessing I was looking for. I missed it because I missed God's purpose in this life. I don't want to be humble. I want to be successful, popular, famous or rich - none of these things prepare me for Heaven and God's presence the way humility does!! Thank God for the dislocated hips in my life!!
- Narrative of Genesis 26-33
As Jacob aged he began to realized he needed to make end of life decisions. He wanted to make sure he had a living will. He wanted to make sure after his death all of his property would go to the appropriate place. He had forgotten God's Word in establishing the birthright as going to the youngest. Isaac perhaps felt a little odd going against public opinion and customary practices. So he chooses to go against God and gives his blessing to his eldest son Esau.
God spoke directly to Rebekah concerning His arrangement. She had God on her side. But neither Isaac or Rebekah would seek God's will in establishing their final will and testament. Rebekah, whose favorite child was Jacob, plots a deceitful plan against God, Isaac and her son Esau. Jacob in accordance with his nature complies and joins Rebekah in her plan. They deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing of the birthright teaching us that man's wisdom never prevails for all of Isaac's senses failed him. Just as soon as Jacob leaves the room with the birthright Esau comes in from the field - stunned that he has lost the birthright to Jacob.
The Old Testament falls short in giving us what we need. Here was Isaac the father handing out the birthright. Once Isaac gave the birthright to Jacob there was nothing left for Esau; a father whose resources could be depleted! A birthright with limitations!! And a brother who is deceitful and selfish!!! We need an infinite and eternal Father whose resources are never depleted. We need an infinite and eternal resource that is never limited. We need a first born Son who unselfishly shares all of the Father's blessing. We have that in the Godhead. The infinite Father that is never depleted of His Heavenly blessings, An infinite birthright that is unlimited in quantity and quality, and an unselfish Son who would be an heir to the Father who would share His birthright with all of His brother and sisters. This is who we have in Jesus Christ. We are joint heir with Jesus. We have the right to pray "Our Father who art in Heaven!"
This event angered Esau so much he wanted to kill Jacob. Rebekah, once again scheming, sends Jacob to her brother's house for safety. She did not want to lose two sons in one day. She told Jacob, go to Uncle Laban's house and get your wife from his household and wait there until I send word that Esau is no longer angry. Well Rebekah's plan didn't work. She would die and wouldn't ever see Jacob again. The deceitful Jacob would be deceived by his Uncle Laban.
Jacob wanted Rachel but he would have to work seven years to get her. The seven years past by quickly because of the love Jacob felt for Rachel but Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah. She was given to Jacob and Jacob slept with her only to wake up the next morning to find Leah in his bed. Once again we see how our senses and sensibilities will deceive us. They cannot be trusted, not our senses and not our hearts. We can only trust God and his wisdom. Jacob should have been content and left with Leah, after all Leah was the Spiritual one. She is the one trusting in God but Jacob wasn't thinking with his brain so he agrees to work another seven years to acquire the woman of his dreams.
Jacob works another seven years and is finally given Rachel and the drama of family relationship continue. Jacob decides its time to head home when Laban manipulates him again into staying and working six more years. After these six years Jacob hears from God and is told to go back home and to reconcile with Esau. Therefore he leaves with the intent of meeting Esau first before going back to Isaac's place. He gets word that Esau is coming to meet him and Jacob knows nothing about him except he was angry and wanted to kill him 20 years ago. He takes precautionary measures and sends him gifts and a message of reconciliation. The messengers return with no word from Esau just that he is coming and he's bringing 400 men with him. Jacob's conclusion was he's going to be killed. He divides up his family and property into three groups. Three times Esau would meet Jacob's entourage with gifts and a message of restoration. Jacob runs to the river Jabbok and sends his wife and children to the other side of the stream and now he is all alone.
Alone, in the woods, left only to his own thoughts - thoughts of his deception, thoughts of his trickery, thoughts of his dishonesty not really sure he could count on God. At the end of himself God enters the scene and Jacob begins to wrestle with God. Jacob tried to convince Esau but he's still coming, still pursuing. Jacob feels scared and vulnerable and begins wrestling and pleading with God. He wants a blessing. He wants assurance. He wants help to find victory over the mess he made out of his life. He has a battle he must win and God..... dislocates his hip!!
Jacob thought he needed an army. He thought he needed strength. He thought God would summons the angels to come to his aid and God... dislocated his hip!!! Why does bad things happen to good people? Because God doesn't want to make you a proud, boastful, self sufficient person in this world. He wants to make you a humble, dependent, holy child of His. I am convinced death exists because of sin but it is also the one thing that will humble a sinner. Jacob would limp into what he thought would be a war. He was totally wrong for God prepared Esau for this meeting as well. Esau would be just as ready for reconciliation as Jacob was. God can be trusted. He wants you to humble yourself before him. The thing that we think we need to win in life may not be what we need to win in Heaven. Heaven is won by humility. Wars are won by strength. So the next time you are in a conflict that requires faith remember the blessing may come in the form of a dislocated hip. It may bring about a permanent limp. But God has to make you humble so He can make you holy.
If you are bitter with God because of some health issue or misfortune, relook at those things. See if you can see the Sovereign hand of God making you humble so He can make you holy. Look at your misfortune with an attitude of - God make me holy rather than making me strong and see if that doesn't change the way you look at your life. I've personally found many more "Spiritual Markers" where God intervened to make me humble by "separating my hip" to make me holy. I have to admit it wasn't the blessing I was looking for. I missed it because I missed God's purpose in this life. I don't want to be humble. I want to be successful, popular, famous or rich - none of these things prepare me for Heaven and God's presence the way humility does!! Thank God for the dislocated hips in my life!!
- Narrative of Genesis 26-33
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