Do you remember the story of Jacob’s dream of the ladder reaching up to heaven? That was a long time ago in Jacob’s life. Today’s story is later in his life after he was married and had eleven sons and one daughter. He also had learned a lot about breeding cattle and working on hot days and cold nights to keep those cattle safe. He had also learned more than he wanted to about having a dishonest boss who wanted him to work hard for very small pay.
Now he was ready to sneak away from that boss. His plan was to take his own family and his own cows and sheep and goats and sneak away without his boss knowing a thing about it. He seemed to forget that he himself had been a cheater earlier in his life, but he was a good planner and was quite sure that this plan would work.
Then came the news. Your brother Esau is coming to meet you! This was not good news for Jacob, because he had cheated Esau out of the blessing when they were both young men. Oh, no! Esau wanted to kill me long ago, and maybe he’s still angry because of what I did to him. Jacob was feeling guilty and decided on a plan. I’ll send a present ahead of me, and maybe that will please him.
Is that the right way to settle the wrong things you have done in the sight of God? Are you feeling guilty before God because of all your sins? God doesn’t want a big present from you. He owns the whole world anyway. He must have a blood sacrifice in payment for your sins. But whose blood? Should you kill a lamb and offer it to Him? No. Because He is a God of love, He has already provided the only sacrifice He will accept in payment for your sins: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Will you believe and accept Jesus Christ as your wonderful Saviour right now? His death and shed blood is enough to take away all your sins forever! He is the only sacrifice that God will accept in payment for your sins.
Jacob sent all his family ahead of him, and he spent the night alone in Peniel. And that’s where the Angel of the Lord met him and wrestled with him. Jacob struggled hard, wrestling for hours, because he wanted his own way. But the Angel of the Lord put the socket of Jacob’s hip out of joint. Jacob knew the fight was over. The Angel then asked, What is your name? He answered, Jacob. The Angel gave him a new name, Israel.
The family must have been surprised to see him limping in the morning. But the truth is that something had happened, and Jacob’s limp stayed with him the rest of his life. Jacob had won the victory by his own weakness, and he had received a new name, which belongs to him even now.
Do you have a new name? Are you a true Christian, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you are saved forever. If you read the Bible story, you will find that the old Jacob was still there, even though he had a new name. He still had a lot more to learn.
His brother Esau was not angry with him. In fact, he wanted Jacob to come with him. But Jacob answered, No; I will follow you more slowly. This was a lie, for he had decided not to follow him. The sneaky old Jacob was still there, but he was in God’s hands, and he learned very slowly.
If you truly belong to the Lord, He will teach you too. He loves you more than anyone in the whole world loves you. Trust Him not only to save you, but to train you too.
You may read this story of Jacob for yourself in Genesis chapters 31-32.
ML-12/15/2013