Genesis 32:22-32 * June 28, 2009
* Pentecost 4 *
Pastor Leyrer
Dear Friends in Christ,
If ever there was a Bible figure whose life was marked by high highs and low lows…
If ever there was a man who repeatedly had to learn the hard way that actions have consequences, oftentimes sad ones, and that when they come upon us there is no one to blame but ourselves …
If ever there was a man who at times showed flashes of astounding faith and devotion to God, while at other times displayed an equally astounding lack of trust and confidence that God would do what needed to be done…
If ever there was a man whose personal flaws stood in direct contrast to the transforming grace of God that was richly and undeservedly showered upon him…
And, consequently, if ever there was a person in the Bible to whom we can relate and from whose life we can learn…
That man is Jacob. And he is the one we are going to concentrate on today as we continue our summer sermon series on what the writer to the Hebrews called “A Great Cloud of Witnesses” that surround us and whose examples encourage us as members of the family of God. So for the next several minutes we’ll be spending time with
JACOB, THE DECEIVER,
TRANSFORMED INTO
Let’s begin by telling his story. For the sake of variety we’ll do it in the first person. So from here on in this is no longer Pastor Leyrer speaking to you, but Jacob…
I am one of the twin sons of my parents, Isaac and Rebekah. My brother’s name is Esau. Although we are twins, you’d never know it by our looks or personality. Esau is ruddy and hairy and a natural outdoorsman; in comparison I am fair and smooth and tend to be less adventurous. He was always wandering off while I kind of hung around the tent.
My mother tells me we were pretty active when she carried us. In the course of her pregnancy God made it clear to her that she was really carrying two nations within her, and that the older would serve the younger. My mother often reminded me of that when I felt that my father favored Esau.
She also tells the story that when we were born Esau came out first, but I was holding on to his heel – as if I was trying to hold him back and wanted to be first. That’s actually why they named me Jacob. Literally in my native Hebrew language it means “heal grabber.” Unfortunately it also has the figurative meaning of “one who deceives.”
In retrospect that “wanting to be first” thing caused me a lot of trouble. And that name, I am sad to admit, was one that I lived up to – or maybe I should say, down to…
The first time was when my brother Esau came back from one of his hunting trips. He was tired and hungry (“famished”). Keep in mind that in my day there were no such things as microwaves or fast food restaurants. Food preparation could easily become an all day affair, and on this particular day I had made a stew that was ready to be eaten.
Esau asked if he could have some. And I said, sure, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to charge you. I told him that he had to first turn over to me – by oath no less – the birthright that was rightfully his as the firstborn (the “birthright” has to do with greater inheritance rights). Esau said he was so hungry he was probably going to die anyway, so he gave it to me. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of him like that. But I did.
I rationalized it away by thinking that if he really thought it was so important he wouldn’t have done it. He could have said no. I also remembered how God said the older will serve the younger. I figured I was just helping Him make it happen.
I did the same thing later on in my life when my father was old and going blind. In another custom you no longer have today it was time for him to confer his official “blessing” upon his sons. This “blessing” was part encouragement and part prophecy, and once it was given it was irreversible.
The importance of my father’s blessing cannot be overstated because it was the continuation of the blessing God Himself had given to my Grandfather Abraham. Contained within it was the promise that one day one of his ancestors would be a blessing to all people everywhere.
You know that ancestor to be Jesus Christ. And you know that the blessing He brings to all people everywhere who look to Him as their Savior is eternal life in heaven. And you know how He brought this wonderful blessing about – by living a sinless life before God in our place, then by taking upon himself the punishment that our sins before a just and holy God deserve.
I can’t say I understood that as fully and completely as you do. But I did understand that whoever received my father’s blessing would be the next link in the great ancestral chain that would bring the Savior into the world. And so did my mother. Yes, God said, the older would serve the younger, but it sure looked like my father was going to bestow this honor on Esau…
So mom and I once again took it upon ourselves to help God out. We came up with a pretty elaborate plan to deceive my father – and then pulled it off. I won’t go into all the details, but I took advantage of his blindness, disguised myself as Esau, convinced him that I was his other son… and received the great blessing.
You can imagine how Esau felt. This was twice now. The first time he despised me. This second time gave him a purpose in
life. My mother knew he would be out for
revenge, so she convinced my father to send me on a 500 mile road trip to find
a wife among my relatives back in the old country of
About 70 miles into the journey something happened that I’ve
never forgotten. It says more about God
than it does me. After an exhausting day
of travel I fell asleep and the Lord came to me in a dream. I saw a ladder extended from earth to
heaven. It was crowded with angels going
up and coming down, and at the top was the Lord. He spoke to me that night and repeated the
promise that all nations would be blessed through me and the offspring that
would come from my line. He also gave me
the assurance that He would not leave me.
I called that place
I eventually made it to
It was at this time that I had my second great encounter with God. It was the one you heard at the beginning of this sermon. As I was working my way back home I knew that I’d eventually run into Esau, so I sent messengers ahead to let him know I came in peace.
Then I received word that Esau was coming to meet me. The fact that he had four hundred men with him seemed a bit excessive for a greeting party, and I feared he had other things on his mind. In a way I couldn’t blame him. Actions have consequences.
At any rate I divided my group into two with the thinking if one got attacked the other could get away. Then I prayed, thanking the Lord for his blessings and asking for His protection. After that I sent some of my people ahead with gifts for Esau, but I stayed back in the camp. That night transformed me.
While I was all alone I got into a wrestling match. I had no idea where this man came from or who he was. But we went at it all night long. It seemed like I was winning, but then he did something that dislocated my hip. I still wouldn’t let go, and told him that I wouldn’t until he gave me a blessing. I made this request because something told me this was no ordinary man. What happened next confirmed it.
He asked me my name.
I told him. Then he said: “Your
name will no longer be Jacob, but
I knew it before, but that night it became ever so clear. God was with me wherever I go. How do I know this was not a dream? To this very day I walk with a limp.
My meeting with Esau the next morning almost seemed – and indeed was – anticlimactic to what had just taken place. It went well. God had softened Esau’s heart and we made amends. Then he went his way and I went mine.
That’s as much of my story as I’m going to tell you. You can read the rest in the Book of Genesis. But before I go, there are a couple of important life lessons I have learned that I’d like to pass on to you…
#1: God loves – and uses – flawed human beings
for His purposes. His grace trumps our sins
and inadequacies. I’m living proof.
As you look back on your life maybe you can think of things you’ve done that you’re not proud of. Maybe you’ve learned that actions have consequences, sometimes bad ones.
Maybe you can think of missed opportunities where you could have made a difference, but didn’t. Maybe you can distinctly recall choosing the wrong path, and it still bothers you. Maybe it also bothers you that you get so worried and upset about things, and then when things don’t turn out like you feared, you wish you’d have been more trusting.
If any of those “maybes” fit you, welcome to my world. Here’s what I’ve learned. God is gracious and forgiving. Not only that, God transforms even the difficulties we bring upon ourselves into teaching tools as he shapes us and forms us into the people He would have us be.
This is our great blessing: We live simultaneously in the shadow of the cross and under the umbrella of Romans 8:28. The cross means forgiveness; Romans 8:28 means God redeems all things for our good and His purposes. So we’re in a pretty good place.
#2: Sometimes God allows us to wrestle with Him;
but He always blesses.
I know that “wrestling with God” has become a stock phrase in the Christian vocabulary and I am happy to be associated with that. The fact is sometimes we do struggle with the will of God or the ways of God in our life. Sometimes we may not always understand why He does what He does. I know. I’ve been there.
But this I have learned. God will never leave us or forsake us. He doesn’t owe us explanations because His love and grace makes explanations unnecessary.
And the highest example of His love came in my great-great-ancestor Jesus Christ. His life, His death, His resurrection makes us right with God forever. It also provides the perspective of love and care behind everything we go through on this side of heaven.
My name is Jacob. Though I am unworthy, God in His grace has counted me and my story among the “great cloud of witnesses” he has preserved for your sake. I hope you have gained from it and found it helpful, and I look forward to speaking with you personally in heaven. Amen.