Please note that there will be daily devotionals published Monday – Friday this week.
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Anne Haugan.
Jacob’s grandfather was Abraham who married Sara and they received a huge promise from God to have many descendants. Jacob was their grandson, son of Isaac and Rebekah who had twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob was afraid of his elder brother Esau and cheated him into giving up his inheritance as the elder twin and then gained his father’s blessing by pretending to be Esau. Esau hated Jacob and planned to kill him, but Jacob escaped North to be with his Uncle Laban. On his way Jacob had a dream. He saw a staircase reaching from Earth to Heaven with angels moving up and down it. God promised him and his descendants the land where he was sleeping. God said, “I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you.”
Jacob worked as a shepherd for Laban for twenty years. He loved Laban’s daughter Rachel, but was tricked into marrying her sister Leah. Jacob and Leah had eleven sons and one daughter. He waited years for his first son by Rachel and named the son Joseph.
Laban cheated Jacob. Jacob built up a large flock of goats and sheep and then with his two wives and his whole family returned to his home country. On the way he had a strange all-night wrestling match with an unknown man and would not let him go until he had been blessed. God gave him a new name, Israel, which means ‘the man who fights with God.’ Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face.”
Nearing home he prayed desperately for God’s help. It turned out that there was a friendly reunion with Esau. Hospitality, welcome and forgiveness are truly important. Jacob lived in Canaan until his old age when his son Joseph invited him to live in Egypt. Before Jacob died he blessed his sons; the ancestors of the tribes of Israel.
What is the everyday take-homes from this bible story?
Jacob struggled and wrestled. Just maybe, we too struggle to make important decisions and in our dreams wrestle with the options and God provides us with wisdom to make decisions.
Dear God of Wisdom, let us come to you in prayer when making decisions no matter how important these decisions in life are. When we are fearful, give us courage to trust in God who promises not to leave us. In your name, amen.