Genesis
chapter 28 begins with Isaac finally accepting Jacob as God’s choice
as Rebekah had been insisting all along. We have to wonder if the
way Rebecca insisted hardened Isaac’s heart even more. Guys, we need
to listen to the council of our wives, but ladies, you need to honor
your husband. Ephesians 5:33 reminds husbands, “each
one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must
respect her husband“.
Isaac calls for Jacob and gives him a warning then finally blesses
him willingly. “Do
not marry a Canaanite women…take a wife from among the daughters of
Laban, your mother’s brother…May God Almighty bless you and make
you fruitful…May He give you and your descendents the blessing
given to Abraham so that you may take possession of the land“.
Even Esau makes an effort to be obedient and takes a non-Canaanite
wife in addition to he other wives. When everyone finally accepts
God’s will, things become peaceful. In Matthew 11:28 and 30 Jesus
declares, “you
will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light“.
Resisting God is hard.
On
the way to Paddan Aram, Jacob stops to spend the night. He puts a
stone under his head for a pillow. “He
had a dream in which he saw a ladder resting on the earth with it’s
top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and
descending on it“.
In John 1:51 Jesus refers to this image and tells the disciples He
is the Ladder, “you
shall see the heavens open, and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of Man“.
God speaks to Jacob in his dream and declares, “I
am the Lord the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac”
God reaffirms the same blessing He gave Abraham, “I
will give you and your descendants the land…your descendants will
be like the dust of the earth…all the peoples of the earth will be
blessed by your offspring“.
God’s promise is unconditional and Jacob knows he is completely
unworthy of the blessing. Our God specializes in using the unworthy
to accomplish His will. That is why Christ came to be our sacrifice.
Romans 3:23 declares “All
have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God“.
The only One declared worthy in all of scripture is Jesus Christ!
Romans 5:1 concludes,” having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ“.
Amazingly, when I accept Jesus as my Savior, God treats me Just- as-
if- I’d never sinned.
Jacob
makes the mistake many of us make when we have an experience with
God. Jacob says, “How
awesome is this place“.
He even marks this place and calls it Bethel (House of God). It is
not the place that is special, but God Himself. We need to continue
to grow spiritually, not remain stagnant hoping to repeat our
salvation experience. Jacob shows he is not yet submissive to God by
his “if-then” prayer. He says “If
God will be with me…give me food…clothes…safety… then the
Lord will be my God…and all that you give me I will give you a
tenth“.
Jacob is not yet submissive to God, but he will learn submission
through his dealings with Laban. Philippians 4:19 says, “And
my God will supply all your need according to His glorious riches in
Christ Jesus“.
Amen!