Jacob
Apologies for the inconsistent audio Introduction
Put yourself in Jacob’s shoes
It has been 20 years since he ran away from home
He got his brother Esau to sell his birthright for food
He only valued contemporary things
God had prophesied that the older would serve the younger
The inheritance would be though Jacob’s line
Jacob valued this, Esau didn’t
Isaac had forgotten this prophecy and played favourites
He preferred Esau to Jacob
However, Jacob valued spiritual things
Yet his name spoke about his character
A scheme to trick Isaac into giving the birth rite to Jacob
Jacob ran anyway
He came across the Lord and saw angels ascending and descending
He spent 20 years with Laban
Laban schemed against Jacob
He had two wives and 11 sons
Laban fiddle his wages 10 times – yet he became a wealthy man through God’s blessings
We come to chapter 32
Jacob is not a nice person
He is not reliable
He is looking at what he can get out of the relationship
Yet God is with him
There are two groups of angels for Jacob – despite His character
Jacob calls the place two camps/armies
Jacob sends messengers ahead to Esau
He is testing the waters
Esau is coming with 400 men (an army)
Jacob is terrified – but should he be?
He has just seen the two armies of angels given for his protection
He forgets biblical truth when things get tough
Jacob is just like us
v7 – great fear and distress
Jacob’s desperate prayer of faith – v9
God has ordered his return – 9
He acknowledges his little worth – v10
He has become two camps
He asks for salvation – v11
God has promised his blessing – v12
Jacob’s tries to sort things himself
He tries to buy his brothers’ friendship (the equivalent of £500,000 of livestock)
But there is no security or comfort in the works of men
He hides behind his wife and children
He was left alone – v24
A man wrestled with him till daybreak
He initially thought is was Esau
There was fierce competition – yet the stronger man did not prevail over him
He realises it is the Lord – who he has been wrestling all his life (but never prevailing over)
The Lord dislocates Jacob’s hip with a single touch
All his ability to wrestle is taken away – with one touch
Jacob clings on to the Lord and will not let go until He blesses him
He realises his need of Jesus
Example
Jesus is the only thing that matters
He is the only thing that lasts for eternity
Quote from author
God asks Jacob his name
Example of names
He recognises his awful character
He recognises his sin
God changes his name to Israel
Prince with God – the man who wrestles with the power of God
Anyone in Christ is a new creation
Though there will be wrestling on earth
Jacob asks God’s name
He is the Lord Jesus who blessed him
It is Jesus who blesses us – we know we are His
Jacob sees the Lord Jesus
He does not see God the Father or the Holy Spirit
We see the Lord Jesus
Jesus is the face of the invisible God
If we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father
Jacob walks with his dislocated hip and his pain
It is not taken away by Jesus
Jesus’ grace/strength is perfected in our weakness
It is so Jacob continues to trust in Jesus and not himself
Jesus is enough for us all
The Israelites are reminded of this to this day – v32
We have weakness in our lives – so we will hold onto Jesus
Example of Richard Baxter
When life is going bad – we think more of Jesus
When life is going well – we think less of Jesus
We should cling onto Jesus
Closing Prayer