“The man asked him, ‘what is your name?’ ‘Jacob,’ he
answered”.
-Genesis 32:27
For the past
couple weeks my church’s college group has been studying the Bible through a
series called “Shadows”. The basic idea of the series to see how Old Testament
characters point to who Jesus is. Last week we learned about Jacob, and how he
is a shadow of Jesus. Today I will just talk about a few points, and end with
questions as always.
From birth, Jacob
was known as a deceiver. Jacob was the second son of Isaac, and the twin
brother of Esau. When Jacob was born, he was grasping the heel of his brother
Esau. Thus, his parents named him “Jacob”, which means “he grasps the heel”.
This certainly is a strange name to give your son, but it was a fitting name
for Jacob. The phrase “he grasps the heel” means “he who deceives”. Isaac and
Rebekah probably did not realize that Jacob would live up to his name
throughout his life, up until he wrestles with God.
I’ve written
about Jacob’s story in other posts in the Genesis Bible Academy series, so I
will only briefly summarize some important events in his life. One day Esau
comes to Jacob famished, and asks Jacob for some stew. Instead of simply saying
yes, Jacob realizes this is a chance to take advantage of his brother. Jacob
tells Esau to give Jacob his birthright, and only then will Jacob give him some
stew. Since Esau is very hungry, he quickly agrees to Jacob’s terms. Thus,
Jacob’s life as a deceiver begins.
When Isaac grows
old, he instructs Esau to go out into the field and catch him something to eat.
Rebekah uses this as an opportunity to let Jacob steal Esau’s blessing from
their father Isaac. Jacob poses as his brother Esau, and tricks his father into
giving him the blessing that was meant for the firstborn, Esau. Later in his
life, Jacob goes to his uncle Laban’s house in order to find a wife. Laban and
Jacob agree that if Jacob works for 7 years, Laban will give Rachel, his
daughter, as Jacob’s wife. However, Laban tricks Jacob after the 7 years, and
gives his daughter Leah instead of Rachel. Now Jacob is the one being deceived,
rather than being the deceiver.
After leaving
Laban, Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau. Jacob is terrified of Esau, because
he realizes that Esau must be very angry at Jacob for deceiving him multiple
times. Jacob divides his party into multiple groups, in an effort to save some
of them if Esau becomes hostile. At a point, Jacob finds himself alone, having
sent away everyone around him. It is here when God comes to Jacob in the form
of a man, and they begin to wrestle. They wrestle for a long time, and God
touches Jacob in the hip, causing his hip to become dislocated. Jacob still
hangs on to God, begging Him for a blessing.
The thing about
being a deceiver is that you feel like you are the one in control. You
manipulate people in order to get what you want. However, for the first time in
his life, Jacob is not in control. God could have easily destroyed Jacob in
their wrestling match, but He chooses to let Jacob hang on. Jacob had to hold
onto God, desperate for a blessing. Finally, God asks him “what is your name?”
Why did God ask him this? Why didn’t God just bless Jacob? God wanted Jacob to
own up to who he was. Jacob was not just a deceiver by name, but also by deed.
When Jacob replies that he is Jacob, the deceiver, God blesses him and changes
his name to Israel- he who struggles with God.
So how is Jacob a
shadow of Jesus? Throughout his life, Jacob lived up to being a deceiver. He
deceived his brother and father. In the same way, Jesus lived up to His name,
the Messiah, or Christ. In Mark 8, Jesus asks His disciples, “who do you say
that I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Messiah”. The Messiah was the promised
savior for the Israelites. Jesus truly lived up to His identity, by even dying
on the cross in order to become the true Messiah. When there was no on to
mediate between man and God, Jesus came an became the Christ.
You probably
already know this, or have figured it out by now. The term “Israelite” comes
from Jacob’s new name, Israel. God took Jacob and used him to become the father
of His chosen people, the Israelites. Through Jesus, we have the chance to
become the people of God. God used Jesus, the Christ, to allow those who
believe to become “Christians”. Jesus is the greater patriarch, because Jacob
could never bring his descendants salvation. Only Jesus could take a broken
sinner, and bring them into the family of God.
As usual, I will write
a couple questions for us to reflect.
- What is my identity? Who or what defines my identity?
- Do I believe that through Christ I have a new identity? What is stopping me from finding my identity in Christ?
- Do I believe that Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah?
- How can I live everyday as one of God’s people?
-Smart
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