Writings based on God’s Word

Light from the Word

The Faith of in waiting on God)2. God had thy father, and the God of : the Theme verse: “By faith Jacob, when already revealed His intentions to land whereon thou liest, to thee will I he was a dying, blessed both the sons Rebekah regarding her two sons, give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning “And the LORD said unto her, Two shall be as the dust of the earth, and upon the top of his staff.” 1 nations are in thy womb, and two thou shalt spread abroad to the west, Jacob had weaknesses that manner of people shall be separated and to the east, and to the north, and caused him many difficulties and from thy bowels; and the one people to the south: and in thee and in thy struggles throughout his spiritual shall be stronger than the other seed shall all the families of the earth journey. Nevertheless, as we study people; and the elder shall serve be blessed. And, behold, I am with the biblical accounts concerning the younger” 3. Their lack of belief thee, and will keep thee in all places him, it is evident that his faith at this point in their lives was in whither thou goest, and will bring emerged victorious in the end. direct contrast to the exemplary thee again into this land; for I will As Jacob’s faith grew he left us faith of Jacob’s grandfather not leave thee, until I have done that numerous lessons to apply to our , “He staggered not at the which I have spoken to thee of” 6. own growth in faith. promise of God through unbelief; Jacob’s response to this Jacob and his brother but was strong in faith, giving glory experience reveals his growing were twins born to Isaac and to God; And being fully persuaded faith: “And Jacob vowed a vow, Rebekah. Although Esau was that, what he had promised, he was saying, If God will be with me, and the first-born and should have able also to perform” 4. Jacob was will keep me in this way that I go, inherited a double portion, he soon to learn that interfering with and will give me bread to eat, and evidently did not hold his privilege God’s delivery of His promises raiment to put on, So that I come in high esteem; he sold it to his only brought trouble and sorrow again to my father’s house in peace; brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. upon him. then shall the LORD be my God: When Isaac was approaching As a result of his dishonesty, And this stone, which I have set for death and ready to pass on the Jacob was forced to leave his a pillar, shall be God’s house: and final blessings to his sons, Jacob, family to avoid Esau’s threats. His of all that thou shalt give me I will with the encouragement of his father sent him to Padanaram, surely give the tenth unto thee” 7. In mother, acquired the blessing a daunting distance of over 400 doing so, Jacob had established a intended for Esau by deceiving his miles through wilderness country. covenant with God by promising father Isaac. On the way, he had an amazing to serve Him after God first Ostensibly, Jacob and his vision, “And he dreamed, and promised to keep him and be mother were successful in their behold a ladder set up on the earth, with him wherever he went. endeavor. However, Jacob did not and the top of it reached to heaven: Furthermore, Jacob vowed to give receive the blessing because of his and behold the angels of God tithes of all that God gave him, deception. That which God had ascending and descending on it” 5. much as his grandfather Abraham promised would have been given During the dream, he received the did unto the priest Melchizedek. to Jacob if he and his mother had wonderful promise, “And, behold, Jacob did eventually find only possessed the faith to trust the LORD stood above it, and said, his way to Padanaram and Him patiently. (Note ’s faith I am the LORD God of Abraham

July 2019 SILVER LINING Continued Articles

The Faith of Jacob until receiving the blessing he east and west, and shall sit down — Continued desired. Because of his persistence, with Abraham, and Isaac, and the angel changed his name from Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven”.13 subsequently to the house of Jacob to Israel, “And he said, Thy Finally, many consider Jacob’s Laban, his mother’s brother. name shall be called no more Jacob prophecy of the “Prince of Peace” Jacob served Laban for twenty (Supplanter), but Israel (Prince descending from his son Judah as years; fourteen to marry his two of God): for as a prince hast thou the culmination of his faith, “The daughters and six more for his power with God and with men, and sceptre shall not depart from Judah, cattle. Laban and Jacob had a hast prevailed” 9. In essence, God nor a lawgiver from between his very strained relationship. Laban was telling Jacob, “Because thou feet, until Shiloh come; and unto changed his wages frequently, hast power with God, thou shalt him shall the gathering of the people and despite that, Jacob acquired also prevail with men”. His faith be”.14 In like manner as Jacob, we much of Laban’s flocks and herds. renewed, Jacob met his brother can overcome in our own trials by At length, God told Jacob, “… with miraculous results, “And Esau consistently seeking God’s help Return unto the land of thy fathers, ran to meet him, and embraced and grace through faith. We can and to thy kindred; and I will be him, and fell on his neck, and kissed also experience a lifelong journey with thee” 8. him: and they wept”.10 of growing in faith as we diligently As Jacob began his journey When facing his many pursue God.15 homeward, he was met by angelic struggles, Jacob learned to seek Endnotes: messengers, and subsequently a close fellowship with God11, 1 :21 sent his own messengers to and his faith grew until he 2 1 Samuel 24:10 Esau, seeking mercy. Upon the was transformed into a chosen 3 Genesis 25:23 messenger’s return, he was greatly instrument of the Lord. In 4 Romans 4:20-21 alarmed to learn that his brother fulfillment of God’s earlier 5 Genesis 28:12 was coming to meet him with promise, Jacob’s sons became the 6 Genesis 28:13-15 four-hundred men. Fearing the twelve tribes of Israel, “All these 7 Genesis 28:20-22 worst, Jacob first sought God in are the twelve tribes of Israel: and 8 Genesis 31:3 earnest prayer, and then prepared this is it that their father spake unto 9 Genesis 32:28 a gift of livestock with the hope them, and blessed them; every one 10 Genesis 33:4 of appeasing Esau’s wrath. That according to his blessing he blessed 11 James 4:8 night, Jacob had yet another awe- them”.12 In addition, referred 12 Genesis 49:28 inspiring experience. An angel to Jacob very favorably in the 13 Matthew 8:11 of God appeared to him, and he , “And I say unto 14 Genesis 49:10 wrestled all night with the angel you, That many shall come from the 15 Hebrews 11:6

SIILLVVEERS LIINNIINNGLR G July 2019