Hebrews 11:21 (NIV) By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Do you know what Jacob's name means? It means "supplanter" or Deceiver. Jacob is the second son of Isaac His older TWIN is Esau. Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, schemed to receive the blessing that Isaac was going to give to Esau
Jacob was a man who had the philosophy "Do something, even if it is wrong." We see this in his crazy schemes. We also see in his life that when we just act it probably is wrong. He was a man of ceaseless activity. Yet, in all of his activity There is a faith that underlies his activities.
I see a man who is properly motivated, at least in most of his life. He is sincere. Too often he is too smart for his own good. He would "out smart" himself. I'm sure he felt that he was fulfilling God's plan by tricking Isaac to give him the blessing. He may have said "After all it is God's will."
I also see him as a little fearful. As he and his mother discussed what Isaac was preparing to do. He began to fear that Esau would foil the plan of God. Fear caused him to resort to trickery.
Jacob's faith at times was ambivalent. It wasn't stable. He wanted to do the proper thing. However, his fear made him keep helping God out. His faith was INADEQUATE!
In his weaker moments he would stoop to deception He was like too many Christians, WEAK IN FAITH. Our flesh tells us that we must help God.
How many times have you felt you needed to help God? We all have been tempted to get in and do God's work! We have gotten ahead of God and in some cases caused a lot of confusion and destruction.
God gives us a promise and we rejoice, and rightly so. BUT, we begin to get concerned when we don't see it come to pass on our schedule.
Jacob was a lot like his grandfather Abraham. Abraham began to do God's part to fulfill the promise. We all know the mess he and Sarah made of things when Abraham tried to use Hagar to help God fulfill His promise. We are still paying for that mistake!
REMEMBER THIS - WE ARE NOT THE FULFILLER OF GOD'S PROMISES!!! God is well able to deliver on HIS promises. He provided for Abraham and MANY others!! It took Jacob several years to learn this lesson.
God can be trusted a relied upon. We can have confidence in HIM and His WORD. We must be careful how we set out to do God's work. God know how to accomplish His work - Let HIM! There is truth in the chorus: "In His Time..."
Jacob paid most of his life for his trickery and deception. His schemes turned against him. There is a law of God that says: "What we sow, we reap." We reap what we sow!! Usually, we reap more than we sow!
Laban played a cruel trick on Jacob. Jacob was afraid of Esau. When Jacob knew he was going to meet Esau, he was horrified. He sent his family ahead and he stayed back to pray! When he came out of that prayer meeting - He was changed. His name was changed from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel, (Prince of God). He was reconciled to his brother Esau. In that prayer meeting, Jacob was brought to a place of helplessness. He could no longer pull another trick out of the hat. He had to let God be God
God is not honored when we do His work. He is honored when we admit our limitations and allow Him to work. That does not mean we sit back and do nothing! We have plenty of mandates. We do, however, need to know when to allow God to accomplish His purposes. Are you trying to do God's work? Are you trying to save yourself?
To be saved, Put yourself in God's hands!!