THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #4 | JACOB: THE FATHER OF HOPE #1

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3685

THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #4

JACOB: THE FATHER OF HOPE #1

If Abraham is called the Father of Faith, Jacob can be dubbed the Father of Hope.

We have only a sketchy knowledge of Isaac. Genesis tells us little about Isaac who seems to be a replica of his father; but it has much to say about Isaac's son - Jacob who will later be called Israel. 

Jacob starts off as a most dislikeable character – selfish, treacherous, deceitful, acquisitive, proud and self-centered.

The disreputable Jacob tricks his brother Esau out of his birthright and his father’s blessing. 

Although Esau is magnanimous, forgiving, and noble in character, God, in His supreme and unfathomable sovereignty, has made Jacob the object of His special providence. 

Jacob may cheat his brother and outsmart his father-in-law Laban, but dishonest as he is, he is still the object of God’s loving covenant-promise.

Jacob’s morality is like that of any Middle-Bronze-Age sheik, but God takes him as he is, working with him and slowly transforming and educating him.

At a time of despair, Jacob has a dream at Bethel (Gen 28:I). God appears to him and renews the threefold promise made to Abraham.

Now Jacob can hope in the goodness of God. 

Assured of the Divine Presence, he journeys to his kinsmen in Haran where, through the providence of God, he acquires great wealth and two wives, and is enabled to return in safety to his own land. 

Again at Bethel, but now at a time of prosperity, he has another dream. 

Later at Mahanaim, He wrestles with the angel of God until daybreak, when he receives the angel’s blessing and a new name, “Israel,” indicating his new mission in life as the father of the chosen people.

Why do I call him the Father of Hope?

Because faith is the substance of things hoped for. And Jacob aligned himself to the future promises of God by returning from his exile to the Promised Land and insisting his sons bury him in Hebron and not Egypt. 

Jacob’s name, "deceiver," does seem to characterize much of Jacob’s life.

But he was also Israel, one to whom God made promises to which He remained faithful. 

God appeared to Jacob, and Jacob believed God’s promises. Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today. But for this, it is unlikely that we would know much about Jacob, who appears to be in the middle of events while the key players are those around him. 

There is no great wisdom or bravery in Jacob to speak of, and we are tempted to see him as little more than God’s passive instrument. If we are tempted to think that, because we aren’t in the spotlight performing great acts for God, we are unimportant to Him, then we should consider the life of Jacob and know that, in spite of our failings, God can and will still use us in His plan.

Jacob in short inspires us with hope for a better future in God.