Jacob has Laban behind him hating him and Esau before him
and he has no idea what Esau’s intentions are and here in the middle he is
attacked and spends all night wrestling.
Jacob’s life is messy to say the least.
Jacob is, as always, interested in a blessing. The order in which he sends out his family
tells us that some things haven’t changed, Rachel is still more loved. Jacob’s behavior throughout this encounter
with his brother is deferential to the point of obsequiousness. He bows before Esau seven times, refers to
himself as “your servant”, and to Esau as “my lord.” His response to Esau, “For I have seen your
face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please
accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with
me, and because I have enough,” says it all.
He has just named a place Peniel, face of God and here instead of
seeking a blessing he offers one. “I have
enough” is something the old Jacob would ever have said. Jacob still doesn’t trust his brother though
and though he promises to come to Seir determines to go to Succoth. (Succoth is the name for a major feast in
Judaism, the feast of booths of tabernacles.)
Jesus gives an interesting word of encouragement to the
people, “even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may
know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” We have to begin somewhere on the continuum
of belief and here he encourages them that even if they don’t believe based on
his words they can believe the works and that will move them in the direction
of belief. Starting is important but it
must be based on revelation not simply on someone else’s testimony. If we start somewhere other than the works or
the words, we won’t end up in the right place.
Some accept John as a prophet and their prior conviction in that regard
now causes them to look at Jesus and see Him aright. Logically it looks like, I believe John was a
prophet of God, John prophesied about this man, what John prophesied has come
true in this man’s life, therefore I believe what John believed about
Jesus. The conclusion is based on what
they see and how it matches what they heard, both are necessary to have faith,
it must be first-hand faith.
Whenever I read this passage I realize there is so much more
to the Christian life than I experience.
I see myself continuing to struggle with sin in many aspects of my life and
I realize that the single greatest barrier to overcoming sin is my failure to
abide in Him. I can have a wonderful
quiet time or writing this blog and when I go out I feel as though I leave all
this in its own compartment and live without strength or power. I have to make a conscious decision to abide
in truth and love, I need to realize that I am indeed like Jacob was here,
enemies before and behind, danger all around, so that I can remain in Him. Jacob’s limp was his constant reminder that
God is ultimately our all in all. Where
is your limp, or as Paul called it, the thorn in the flesh?
Of old you laid the
foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
The children of your
servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
their offspring shall be established before you.
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