“AND JACOB vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.” vv. 20-22.
When all the promises of the LORD were expressed to Jacob so richly, it was certain that He was going to bless him and his seed in a most wonderful way in spite of his crookedness. Yet in his vow Jacob did not rise above the supply of his present wants and God’s care over him so that he should return to his father’s house in peace.
It is interesting to note that the Lord gave seven assurances to Jacob and that Jacob made seven expressions reflecting his lack of faith:
The Lord said: I am the LORD God of Abraham, thy father,
and the God of Isaac;
The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it;
I am with thee;
I will keep thee in all places whither thou goest;
I will bring thee again into this land;
I will not leave thee;
(I will) have done that which I have spoken.
Jacob replied:
If God be with me;
(If He) will keep me;
(If He) will give me bread and raiment;
(If) I come again to my father’s house in peace;
Then shall the LORD be my God;
Then shall this stone... be God’s house;
Then I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.
God’s thoughts toward Jacob were all on the highest level — Jacob’s were the lowest.
How amazing that such expressions of doubt and a challenging attitude of a bargaining heart and mind could come from one who had just heard the heavenly voice and seen so glorious a vision. Though a child of God, Jacob displayed much of the natural man in spite of what he had just seen and heard. How many there are who are privileged to hear the Word of God and to learn of His promised blessings to those who walk in faith, and yet who do not apply the Word to their own hearts.
Jacob still went on in his own strength. By his lack of faith he continued to hinder the display of God’s power that was pledged on his behalf. And is it not true that when the believer takes matters into his own hands, rather than turning to God about them, he will hinder the outflowing of blessing that would otherwise be his experience?
ML-09/11/1966