Don't worry; I'm not aspiring to be a preacher (neither would I). I would, however, like to teach a bible study at some point so I want to know how to rightly divide the word of God. The course has been absolutely excellent. I've been so inspired and motivated to get into the Bible more and really study the Word given to us by God so that we might know Him!
We just have a couple weeks left before the first term is over and I head off to the States for a wonderful reuniting with the my family!!!
This week I did my first teaching in front of the class. I was doing jumping jacks all day around the house to let off nervous energy. Studying and praying over Jacob's life has been so deeply rich and meaningful for me. I was discouraged before the presentation because I felt I couldn't do GOD'S GREATNESS justice. Looking over my notes I knew there were some really powerful truths but to speak about them in my unpersuasive, boring voice wouldn't be enough. God came through for me and their were a few wet eyes in the room after I finished (including my own). I actually enjoyed teaching on what I love! I didn't even get slaughtered when it came time for the class of six to critique the content of my presentation. Other than a few heretical errors (joking) it was encouraging.
I'm sharing the teaching here hoping you too might be encouraged.
Who
are you?
I'm entitling my teaching “Who are
you?” Think for just a moment about who you are. What defines you?
How do people know you? What would your family tell me about you? We
live in a culture searching for meaning and significance. People
seeking to find out and express who they are. Sometimes we ponder and
ask ourselves who am I really? God asked Jacob a question like this
one. God changed Jacob's identity from that of a deceiver to the
child of the Living God.
Lets start by reading a significant
encounter in Jacob's life: Genesis 32:22-30
I've been looking in the second half of
Genesis (Ch25-50) at who Jacob was and who God made him to be.
Jacob's name means deceiver or heel grasper. He's known by his family
as a deceiver. He wriggled his way into getting his brothers
birthright over a bowl of soup (Ch25v29-34). He deceives his father
Isaac in order to get the blessing (Ch27). To escape his brother, he
runs off to his Uncle Laban(Ch28). Laban's son's don't trust him with
their father's livestock (Ch31v1). Laban doubts and questions Jacob's
dealings (Ch31v2). Jacob gets what he wants through whatever means he
can. He looks after himself. Jacob even tries cutting deals with God.
God promises blessing for Jacob before he's even born but Jacob goes
after it by his own means. Jacob trusts no one. In Bethel, (when
Jacob is running from his brother) God speaks to Jacob in a dream and
gives him a beautiful and outstanding promise. Essentially Jacob
answers back “If you will do this this and this for me then you can
be my God and I'll give you some of my stuff and build a house for
you. Jacob is bargaining with God. Jacob's name describes him well, he
grasps for what he wants and gets it through whatever means. This
method seems to be working out alright for him. He's got the
blessing. He's accumulated lots of animals and a family.
However, on his return to his home
country Jacob is met with a crisis. Esau is coming after him with
four hundred men! Jacob is in the middle of a desert with all that he
owns. His wives and children are there with him and they're about to
be attacked in the wilderness. Jacob divides his family into two
camps in a desperate hope that some might escape and live. He sends
ahead gifts hoping to calm the wrath of his brother. He's in trouble
and he's outnumbered. Jacob's afraid (Ch32v7). What is he to do??
Where can he turn?? He's burnt all his bridges. He's alone and he's
vulnerable. Jacob's run out of idea's and he's out of resources. He's terrified. So he cries out to God. (Ch32v9-12).
In the middle of a sleepless night
Jacob gets up and sends his family and all his possessions on ahead
of him. He helps them cross the stream. Then all alone in the dark he
meets with God. Yes God is there. He always has been but Jacob isn't
used to receiving anything without a struggle so he spends much of
the night wrestling with God. Jacob's spent his life stealing,
bargaining, striving and working for what he has. To give up grasping
is to go against who he is. If he's not Jacob the deceiver who is he?
As the first gleams of daylight appear Jacob is still going strong
but God seeks to end the fight. Jacob pleads “I will not let you go
unless you bless me.” God asks him: “What is your name?”(Ch32v27)
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you
have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” And God
blesses him there (Ch32v28). In Jacob's last fight he looses his
identity and is blessed. Jacob wins because he's finally lost
himself. God is calling Jacob his own. He's claiming him. Jacob is no
longer identified by his sin, he's no longer son of Satan, the father
of lies. (John 8:44) He's now Israel “My first born.”
(Ex3v18,4v21ff)
This story is shocking to me?!! Can you
believe The God of the Universe is identifying Himself with this
scumbag Jacob?!!
Let's take a glance at God's hand
in history up to this point. We see clearly that God hates wickedness
and loves righteousness. Sin is punished while righteousness is
rewarded. It's pretty black and white. When Adam and Eve sin they are
punished (Gen3). Cain is cursed for murder (Gen4v11). Noah was
'righteous' and 'blameless' and found favor with God (Gen6v9). God
preserves him and his family while punishing wickedness with a flood
(Gen6v5-8). Abraham is righteous and blessed. God makes a covenant
with him. Isaac is the son of promise and walks in God's ways.
Then you come to Jacob. He's not
righteous. He's not even the first born. He's defined by deception.
And yet God insists on pursuing and blessing him. This is different.
It doesn't seem right. God seems to be confusing things. Shouldn't
He have blotted out Jacob and forfeited the blessing the minute he
lied to his father? Instead, God goes out of His way to save and
bless this guy who continually screws up.
After encountering God Jacob declares
“I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
(Gen32v30)
Why was Jacob's life preserved? Why
wasn't Jacob the deceiver punished and cursed for his sin? Because
Jesus, God's firstborn paid, wrestled, struggled, died and was
cursed. Jacob couldn't receive the blessing under his own name but
under Israel (Prince of God, God's son) he received the firstborn
blessing in Christ's place! God was willing to come down as man,
wrestle and be defeated/die in order that Jacob might live.
This concept was not foreign to Jacob. Earlier in his life, Jacob was blessed by Isaac in the guise of Esau
the firstborn. His father poured the whole blessing on Jacob while he
wore the clothes of Esau.
Now, God pours the full blessing upon
Jacob - knowing full well who he is but choosing to be blind to his
sin and instead see Jacob clothed in the righteousness of His first
born, Jesus Christ.
Jacob's older brother Esau is out to
kill him because he's stolen the blessing. Jesus, on the other hand,
willingly took the Father's curse in order that the one deserving the
curse might be blessed (Col1v15,2Cor5v21,Rom8v29).
There's a lot to
be said about Jacob's name change and his blessing from God but in
the story Jacob is still in the desert with an angry older brother
and his army after him. The suns now risen, the wrestling match is
over. Jacob looks up and sees Esau and his 400 men coming. Jacob's
had no sleep and sports a dislocated hip but he's a new man. Jacob divides
his family and goes hobbling on ahead of them - bowing seven times to
the ground. Esau runs to meet him with tears, hugs and all.
When Esau inquires
about all the gifts of livestock Jacob has sent ahead and says he's
got enough already. Listen to Jacob's response in verse 10-11 of
Chapter 33:
And Jacob said,
“No, please, if I have found favor in the sight of my lord, then
receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face AS
THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE FACE OF GOD AND YOU WERE PLEASED WITH ME.
Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt
graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him and
he took it.
At the onset of
this journey Jacob was trying to earn favor and appease the older
brother whereas now he knows he is accepted by the very brother he's
stolen the blessing from and he is giving him a gift from the
bountiful blessings of a gracious God. He doesn't need to give it, he
already has favor but he wants to give from a heart that is
overflowing with grace and gratitude.
Before leaving this story I just have
one more question to ask of Jacob: Why does God name him Israel?
Israel is the nation God builds up for
himself. Israel is 'His own special people'. The people of God. God
calls Israel “My son, my firstborn.” Lets read from Deut7v6-8 and
Ex2v22. God names a sinful people Israel and He gives them the title
of firstborn. Firstborn doesn't have a whole lot of significance in
our culture but in Jacob's culture firstborn was huge! It means you
get your fathers title. It means a double portion. This is who Jacob
becomes. He leaves behind a deceiving scoundrel and walks off in the
glory of God. Jacob stands not on his own name but on the Father's
name- his Father's title. His Father's words about him. Jacob had to
give up trying to pay for, steal, earn, repay and wrestle for God's
favor. He had to fall empty and broken on God's merciful grace. God
didn't have to save Jacob. I believe God saved Jacob to show his
people who He is and give them a foretaste of His glorious
redemption.
Through the story of Jacob we see God's
grace and mercy. We see what we (the people of Israel) are in Christ.
Through Jacob its clear that it's not by our striving or our
righteousness but God's own doing. Jacob couldn't even give up his
striving without God touching him. Jacob won by losing. Jacob
screwed up miserably but God meets him with blessing and favor,
delight and grace.
What does this mean for us? I don't
know about you but for me this is good news!! When I was growing up I
did all I could to avoid my parents disapproval. I was good and sweet and
therefore avoided punishment. I can't fake it with God. I try and try
to be good and sweet but I come up empty. I find myself alone in the
desert without resources. God goes after this hard-hearted deceitful
man and pours his mercy and redemption and blessing upon him over and
over and over. This is my story too! I screw it all up and God says
“That one's mine.” “She's called by my name.”
He was not ashamed to identify with us.
Who are you? What's your name? Are you known by your striving?
Something you've done in the past? Are you defined by your success?
Or by shame? Or.... are you known as the CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD. Is
your identity found in Christ? Or is it in yourself? It's not until
the self dies and we take on Christ's life that we truly live.
