Genesis 28 - 31

Jacob's Faith
The saga of Jacob continues in today's portion.  Jacob is admonished by his father Isaac to not marry a Canaanite women, but to marry someone from his family (28:1-2).  Isaac was concerned about preserving the Godly lineage. Esau, in vss. 6-9, openly defies the wishes of Isaac and marries a woman from Ishmael's lineage, thus interbreeding the hatred for Israel that still manifests today, and confirming his defiant attitude.

Jacob was an arduous worker and a clever business man.  His actions not only made him wealthy, but also were a financial blessing to Laban his father-in-law.  In spite of Laban's treachery with Leah and Rachel, and with his flocks, Jacob showed nothing but grace to Laban.  Perhaps because he was the recipient of grace from God. 

When we look at the patriarchs we can see that Abraham represented election - God called him from a heathen society based on election alone.  Isaac represented justification - God gave him his name even before he was born, he used Isaac to test Abraham's faith.  Jacob reprensented grace - The grace of God in allowing him to obtain the birthright and blessing.  The grace of God that allowed him to prosper, to face Esau when he returned to Canaan.  The grace of God to provide him with 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel.  And finally, Joseph represented perfection - as a perfect type of the life of Christ (more on this in a future posting).

In particular I feel that Christians can relate to Jacob.  The struggles he had, the problems he created for himself, yet somehow through it all, by the grace of the Almighty he perservered.

The covenant between Jacob and Laban in 31:51-55 is revealing of Jacob's attitude towards God.  In vs. 53 Laban  pronounces the covenant in the "name of the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father..." but Jacob swears by the God of Isaac (KJV).  He did not know the faith of Nahor or Nahor's father.  God called Abraham.  Abraham begat Isaac and Jacob knew the faith of Isaac.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.