At the lowest point of his life – he had nothing, a brother waiting to kill him, running to a faraway land – God appeared to Jacob at Bethel. God promises to bring him back to the same land and to be with him. (Gen 28:10-22)
Jacob returns to Bethel as God promised him. But this time he had great wealth, a family of his own, brother who had forgiven and embraced him. In fact, he himself was a changed man – from Jacob i.e. deceiver to Israel i.e. overcomer. (Gen 35)
What experiences must have help transform him from Jacob to Israel?
1. Feeling what he has caused others to feel
Jacob tricked Esau on two occasions:
- Jacob tricked Esau & took his birthright. He took advantage of Esau’s hunger. (Gen 25:27-34)
- Jacob cheated Esau & took the blessings that rightfully belonged to Esau. (Gen 27:1-41)
He got a taste of his own medicine when he was living with his uncle Laban.
- Laban tricked Jacob & gave him Leah in place of Rachel. He took advantage of Jacob’s love for Rachel. (Gen 29:14-30)
- Laban cheated Jacob & gave his sons the animals that rightfully belonged to Jacob as wages. (Gen 30:25-36)
Jacob previously deceived & took what was beneficial for him. Here in this new place, he experienced things being taken away from him. Experiencing what his actions caused Esau to feel was an eye opener for Jacob.
2. He experienced God as His Source
Even when Laban took away what rightfully belonged to Jacob as his wages, we see his wealth kept on increasing. God kept blessing him more and more.
Laban even changed Jacob’s wages 10 times! But God still blessed Jacob. (Gen 31:4-9)
It might have been a difficult situation for Jacob with Laban trying everything not to let him succeed and also being hostile to him. He did not argue with Laban nor try to cheat Laban like he might previously do. But in that situation Jacob learnt that man might be a channel for blessing, but the true source is God Himself.
3. He experienced God’s Care
In the first instance when he was running away from Laban, he does it without informing Laban. When Laban finds out, he pursues Jacob. But God appears to Laban in a dream and tells him not to harm Jacob. (Gen 31:22-29) Even though Laban had the power to harm Jacob, it is because of God’s intervention that Laban spared Jacob.
When Jacob heard that Esau was coming with 400 men, he did not know what to expect. He goes in prayer and places his fears in God’s hands (Gen 32:3-12). And when he meets Esau, the unexpected happens. Esau comes and embraces Jacob. (Gen 33:1-4)
He got to experience a God who looked out for him and made his journey smooth.
4. He Persisted
He persisted when he had to work 7 more years for Rachel.
He persisted when Laban kept changing his wages & when Laban’s attitude towards him changed.
He persisted even though he had a promise from God, and it took a long time from human perspective for it to be fulfilled.
He persisted till God blessed him at the ford of Jabbok. (Gen 32:22-32)
As a result of his persistence at Jabbok, he was blessed. The blessing being that he no longer shall be Jacob, but he shall be Israel.
Conclusion
There was a time where Jacob snatched every good thing, probably only thought of what was beneficial for him. He had to go through difficult times, he needed an experience of Paddan Aram, to mold him. An experience with God to shape him.
None of us will ever be too gone for God to transform us. Persist in the time molding, be an overcomer and God can use us for His great work.
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