Jacob

Today I finished reading Genesis for my Through-the-Bible reading plan, and I was looking back over what I read.  Of all the characters and stories in Genesis, I think my new favorite has become the life of Jacob.  From Genesis 25 to 49, we see Jacob transformed from a selfish, conniving person into a humble, worshipful, wise man by his many encounters with God and grief.

Jacob starts out selfish and conniving, taking his brother Esau's birthright in chapter 25, and then tricking his father and stealing Esau's blessing in chapter 27.  But chapter 28 begins a dramatic change in Jacob's life-- a series of encounters with God that leave him changed forever.  In 28:12, he sees the vision of "the angels of God ascending and descending" into heaven, and marvels, "How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God!"  Then in 32:24, he wrestles with God Himself, and insists, "I will not go unless you bless me."  God is pleased, and blesses Jacob, naming him Israel.  And then in 35:7, God reveals Himself to Jacob at Bethel, reaffirming all His promises to him.

The last case is the most interesting and encouraging, because it comes right before Jacob is about to enter the hardest period of his life.  Immediately following his encounter with God at Bethel, Jacob is struck by three close deaths in quick succession-- his mother's nurse, his beloved wife Rachel, and his father Isaac.  It is soon after this that Joseph is sold into slavery, completing Jacob's anguish.  How kind of God to appear to Jacob before he knew he needed it, right when he was about to enter a season of suffering and grief.  God appeared and strengthened Jacob for the trials that lay ahead.

Genesis 32:10 shows the transformation from the young, rebellious Jacob to a much humbler, gracious man.  Returning to meet his brother, Jacob prays a wonderful Gospel statement: "I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that You have shown to Your servant."  What a transformation from the sneaky, selfish Jacob just a few chapters before!

Towards the end of his life, in chapter 47, you can see how much Jacob has progressed in walking with God.  He meets Pharaoh himself, and Jacob's first reaction is to bless this man who has done so much for his family.  Pharaoh is impressed by Jacob's age and wisdom and humility.

Throughout Jacob's life, one way we can see his growing intimacy with God is the names that He uses to address and describe God.  Jacob has perhaps the most unique names for God in all of Scripture.  And throughout his life, these names become more and more intimate:

"The God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac" ~31:42

"The Fear of Isaac" ~31:53

"The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day" ~48:15

"The angel who has redeemed me from all evil" ~48:16

"the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel" ~49:24

And finally, the New Testament has this to say about this wonderful man of God and his amazing transformation: "By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff."  ~Hebrews 11:21

I think Jacob is my new favorite human character in the Bible.  I want to be like this man, who is such a testament of grace and the power of God to change a life.  He walked with God, believed through grief, intimately knew his Creator and Savior, and at the end of his life, it could be said of him, "He bowed in worship."  What a man!  What a transformation!  I want to be like Jacob.