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Israel
(Jacob)
This quip is a good
comparison to Jacob's life: Two men were discussing the character of a third.
"Let me describe him this way," said the first. "He's the kind
of guy who follows you into a revolving door and comes out ahead of you." ── Bits & Pieces,
October, 1990.
JACOB. Genesis 25:27
In thinking of Jacob as a
supplanter, we have not given him credit for many good things about him.
Ⅰ. The plain man. “ Jacob was a plain man.” The margin of the Revised
Version gives it that he was “ quiet, or harmless, Heb. perfect.” The Hebrew
word is generally rendered elsewhere “ perfect.” It is thus given in speaking
of the “ perfect man” in Psalm 37:37; 64:4. It is not always the most skilful
or cunning that have the most character about them. Very often the quiet,
studious boy who plods sway at his lessons, and is called a “ muff,” has the
most character in him. A big drum makes plenty of noise when it is beaten, but
it is empty for all that. So with many who make a loud noise as to acquirements.
The fishermen that Christ chose to be His disciples were obscure and unlearned
men, but filled with the Spirit of God, they were the men that God used to “
turn the world upside down.”
Ⅱ. The separate pilgrim. “ Dwelling in tents.” The dwelling in tents
was always the sign of a separated life (Heb.11:9). The patriarchs confessed
that had no city here, but that they looked for one. We show we are pilgrims
and strangers on the earth, as we live a life separate from evil and walk in
fellowship with God (1. Peter 2:12).
Ⅲ.
The wily Jacob. We certainly cannot justify the means by which Jacob
obtained the birthright. To say the least, it was unkind and mean for Jacob to
take advantage of his brother’s hunger, even though he knew the Lord had said,
“ The elder shall serve the younger.” Jacob’s scheming is the blot upon his
life, the spot in the sun of his character, and he had to reap what he sowed.
He deceived Isaac, and Laban deceived him. It never pays to seek to hurry the
hand of God. Men say, “ the end justifies the means.” That is a principle God
never recognises. The end was the same when Moses disobeyed God in smiting the
rock, but God did not justify the means, for he shut Moses out of the land for
his disobedience.
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》
JACOB’S BLESSING. Genesis 32:25-30.
Ⅰ. Jacob received no blessing as long as he was struggling (verse 25).
Jacob was resisting the man who came to him, instead of submitting. Trusting in
the Lord is the condition to be in to receive blessing, not striving against
Him.
Ⅱ. Jacob’s humiliation is the beginning of blessing (5:25). The angel
touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh. His strength was gone, as his thigh is out
of joint. The thigh out of joint humbled Jacob, and led him to see his
weakness, and that brought him in joint with God.
Ⅲ. Jacob’s clinging is the secret of his blessing (verse 26). Jacob
will not let the angel go till he blesses him; but mark, it is while he clings
he is blessed, and not while he is striving. The resistance of unbelief and
self-will will never receive blessing, but the tenacity of faith always does.
Ⅳ. Jacob’s changed name an evidence of blessing (verse 28). From
Jacob, a supplanter, he is called “ Israel,” i. e., a prince with God. In like
manner they who believe in Christ have their name changed from children of
wrath (Eph.2:3) to children of God (John 1:12); from sinners to saints.
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》
JACOB’S ISOLATION.
Jacob on his way to Padan-aram, and
his being met and encouraged by God, is one of the brightest features in his
life.
Ⅰ.The
Obedient Son. “ Jacob went out from Beersheba,” ＆c. (verse 10). Jacob was not merely fleeing from Esau’s
ire in leaving home, but he was obeying his father (verse 7), in going to seek
for a wife among his uncle’s people. “ Beersheba” means “ the well of the oath”
(Gen.21:31); and “ Haran” signifies “ parched, dry.” It will often be found
that the path of obedience will lead us from some well of prosperity to a
parched place of adversity and trial. But better be there with the Lord than in
some pleasant way without Him.
“Out of my
stony griefs
Bethel I’ll
raise.”
Ⅱ. The Weary Man (verse 11). Tired with his journey, he seeks a
resting-place amid his not very inviting surroundings, for, as Stanley says in
speaking of the place, “ The track of the pilgrims winds through an uneven
valley, covered, as with grave-stones, by large sheets of bare rock, some few
here and there standing up like the cromlechs of Druidical monuments.” Lonely,
tired, home-sick, with the sky for his ceiling, and a stone for a pillow, he
falls asleep, and finds that God gives to His beloved in sheep
(Ps.127:2,R.V.,M).
Ⅲ. The Privileged Dreamer (verse 12). Jacob sees in vision the way
cast up from earth to heaven, thus connecting heaven and earth, and opening up
communication between Jacob and God.
Ⅳ. The Enriched Descendant (verse 13). God reveals Himself as the “
God of Abraham and Isaac,” and repeats the promise to Jacob He gave to them,
that he and his seed shall possess the land. Thus Jacob finds the blessedness
of a godly ancestry. Grace does not run in the blood, but notwithstanding there
are advantages in having godly parents.
Ⅴ. The Blessed Seed (verse 14). Here again is a repeated promise. (See
Gen.12:2,3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4). After the flesh Israel has been a blessing to
al notions (Rom.9:4,5), and they are yet to be a greater blessing (Rom.11:12;
Isaiah 60.)
Ⅵ. The Sustained Pilgrim (verse 15). The presence of the Lord is to be
the sustaining power of Jacob in all his wanderings. Mark what that meant to
him, and what it also means to the believer in Christ.
Ⅶ. The Astonished Sleeper (verse 16). Jacob little expected that the Lord
would meet him where He did, but the unexpected often happens. When we little
expect to find the Lord He finds us. Jacob is astonished as the recalls his
dream, and is reminded that God has been speaking to him. Many who are
spiritually asleep would do well to wake up to the fact that the Lord has
spoken to them, and is still speaking (Eph.5:14; Rom.13:11-14).
Ⅷ. The Fearful Confessor (verse 17). Jacob was not the only one who
has been afraid in the conscious presence of God. Moses (Hebrews 12:21), Job (
Job 42:5,6), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5), Peter (Luke 5:8), and John (Rev.1:17,18),were
the same. A holy awe and a filial fear should ever characterise those who know
the Lord (Phil.2:12).
Ⅸ. The Early Riser ( verse 18). Jacob was no laggard or lie-bed. He
was up betimes. Sleepy heads never make wise heads, and sleepy hearts are never
warm hearts. The early birds get the worms. The manna must be gathered in the
morning, if there is to be the gathered manna.
Ⅹ. The Consecrating Remembrancer (verse 18,19). Jacob changes the name
of the place from Luz to Bethel by anointing the pillar he had used as a
pillow. “ Luz” means “ departure” or “ perverseness;” and “ Bethel’ signifies
the “ house of God.” Many a Luz has been made into a Bethel by the consecrating
oil of God’s grace, through faith in Him who died for sinners. On the 10th
of May, 1869, at a place called Promontory Point, the junction was made
completing the railway communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
in the United States of America. A silver spike was brought by the Governor of
Arizona, another was contributed by the citizens of Nevada. They were driven
home into a sleeper of Californian laurel with a sliver mallet. As the last
blow was struck the hammer was brought into contact with a telegraph wire, and
the news flashed and simultaneously saluted on the shores of two great oceans,
and simultaneously saluted on the shores of two great oceans, and through the
expanse of a vast continent, by the roar of cannon and the chiming of bells.
When the awful abyss between God and man had to be bridged, the junction over
the deepest chasm was made by the outstretched arms of the Son God, and as the
spikes crushed through His opened palms, He cried, “ It is finished,’ and
swifter than electric current or lightning’s flash the tidings were winged to
the farthest bounds of three worlds. The stairway connecting earth with heaven
is completed; the awful chasm is bridged. Luz is transformed into Bethel;
Christ by dying has opened up the way to God.
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》
JACOB’S PRAYER. Genesis 32.
There are six things we note about
Jacob’s prayer.
Ⅰ. Jacob’s fear of his brother’s anger was the prompter of his prayer (verse
11). The cause of Jacob’s fear of his brother was his mean conduct towards him;
hence he is seen cringing before Esau like a guilty culprit supplicating for
mercy; and acting like a coward in that he sends one company in front of the
other, and sends a present to appease his brother’s anger. Note that any
punishment we unrighteously inflict upon others is sure to come back upon our
heads. But for all that the Lord listened to Jacob’s cry. What a God of grace
with whom we have to do!
Ⅱ. Jacob’s relationship to God is his plea in prayer (ver.9). He
pleads his relationship to God in the words. “ O God of my father,” ＆c. If we know God as our Father, the right way in
speaking to Him is to call Him “ Father” (see John 1:12,13; Gal.4:6). But if we
have not answered God’s prayer (11. Cor.5:20), how can we expect Him to answer
ours? A father will often grant the request of his child while he refuses the
plea of a stranger.
Ⅲ. God’s promise is Jacob’s argument in prayer (ver.9,12). Jacob
pleads two “ I wills” of God. When we can pin our prayers to God’s promise, we
are sure He will perform His word. Mr. Spurgeon says, “ Prayer should be
pillared on promises, and pinnacled with praises.”
Ⅳ. Jacob’s prayer is mingled with confession (ver.10). All God’s
servants have ever confessed their unworthiness.
Ⅴ. Jacob’s prayer is perfumed with praise (verse 10). Jacob
acknowledges the mercy he had received from God, and gives praise to God. A
thankful man is full of blessing, while a thankless man is full of complaint.
If we bless God with our praises, He will bless us with His mercies.
Ⅵ. Jacob’s prayer is definite, personal, and answered (5:11). “
Deliver me,” Jacob cries, and the sequel shows how graciously God granted his
prayer. His prayer was short and to the point, and it brought a speedy answer.
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》