137. JACOB'S EXILE AND RETURN
Esau was not humbled by his experience but threatened to kill Jacob when Isaac was dead. Rebekah was told of Esau's plans. Following her advice, Jacob fled north to Padan-aram where he would be able to find shelter and relatives.
In this lesson we learn how God prepared Jacob to be a father of many nations.
Genesis 28 - 32
ISAAC BLESSES JACOB
Before sending him away, Isaac gave Jacob the fulness of the Abrahamic promise (Gen. 28:3-4). This included:—
• God would bless him and make him fruitful;
• His seed would develop into a multitude of people;
• He would inherit the land wherein he was a stranger, "which God gave unto Abraham".
Like his fathers, Jacob died not having received the fulfilment of the promises. But God will be faithful to His Word. He will raise them from the dead and establish them in the land of promise: the land where they were strangers (Luke 13:28).
THE DREAM AT BETHEL (Gen. 28:12-22).
Though Jacob was separated from his mother and felt extremely lonely on his journey, God was with him. As he slept that night at Bethel, he had a most significant dream. It was the first occasion that Jacob heard the voice of God.
God assured Jacob that through His angels, He would be with him, and his seed:
• To fulfil the promises of Isaac and Abraham made to him; and
• To bring him again to his father's house.
Jacob was most impressed. He called the name of the place "Bethel" meaning "House of God" and declared his intention to serve God faithfully for the rest of his life (vv. 18-22).
JACOB IN EXILE (Gen. 29, 30).
Jacob finally reached Haran and settled in the house of Laban, his mother's brother. Jacob loved Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter and agreed to serve Laban for seven years as payment to have her for his wife.
After working for seven years for Rachel, Jacob was deceived by Laban and given the older daughter, Leah, in marriage. No doubt this reminded Jacob of his own part in deceiving his father, Isaac. Jacob had to learn how terrible his lie really was. By these trials and difficulties God wanted his character to be tested and develop to a whole hearted depen-dance on God. As he had deceived Isaac, so too Laban deceived him on many occasions. Seven days later, he was permitted to marry Rachel on condition that he work a further seven years for Laban. We should note that Jacob's stay at Haran was for a total of 40 years (ch. 31 v.38 — 20 years with Laban as a friend; ch. 31 v.41 — 20 years he served for wages). This 40 years time period is consistent with other features of Israel's history.
Jacob then settled down to building up his family and flocks. It is obvious from later events, that Jacob's mind remained centred upon God's promises to him. His mind was continually upon the day when he would return to the land. Gen. 31:36-42 reveals Jacob as an example to us all as a man who worked hard day and night and was faithful "even to bad masters".
JACOB RETURNS (Gen. 31:22-55).
Jacob's heart was in the land that God had promised him and he longed to return. Laban persuaded him to stay and work for wages, but after six years of this, Jacob determined to go (Gen. 31:3-5). God twice appeared to him and advised him to go, but Jacob knew that Laban would be angry for he was a greedy man.
One day while Laban was away with his sheep, Jacob left. He was well away before Laban found out that Jacob and his wives and sons had left. Laban quickly pursued after them, but during his pursuit God warned him not to harm Jacob or try to deceive him again. When he finally caught up with Jacob the two men made a covenant of peace and erected a monument of stones as a witness to their agreement.
Laban returned home, and Jacob turned again towards Canaan, conscious of another fear mounting within him: the threat of Esau!
JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU (Gen. 32:1-23).
God gave Jacob reason to trust in His protection for He sent a company of angels to meet Jacob. Yet that lesson was soon gone from Jacob's mind. He was utterly dismayed to learn that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men!
What could he do? Jacob, under pressure showed fear and distress working out ways and means to pacify his angry brother whilst praying to God to remember His promises to him. He divided his flocks sending some on ahead as gifts for Esau. Then he prayed earnestly to God for the deliverance which he knew God only could give (vv.7-12).
He then followed last with his family (v.22) and was about to follow them over the River Jabbok that night, when his attention was taken by "a man" (v.24).
JACOB WRESTLES WITH AN ANGEL (Gen. 32:24-32).
All night the angel sought to release Jacob's hold on him. Desperately Jacob hung on: He realised that to proceed without angelic help was useless. The angel revealed his superiority over flesh by putting Jacob's thigh "out of joint" at a touch. Still Jacob held on: "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." Jacob was alone and incapable of fleeing from the angel. In his weakness and anxiety for God's blessings through the angel, Jacob showed a faith purified by trial. The prophet Hosea says that was when Jacob was strong. God called him strong because his faith was now set in God alone. He had come to depend only on God and not on his own cunning (Hos. 12:3, 4).
Jacob had learned the lesson of complete trust in God. Now he would depend on God to deliver rather than depend on his own schemes. Therefore God blessed him and changed his name from Jacob ("sup-planter", or "heel-tripper"), to Israel ("a Prince or Ruler with God"). By Divine and not human help he would overcome all his afflictions (see Gen. 48:15-16; Hos. 12:4).
Jacob recognised that God had appeared to him through the Angel and so he named the place Peniel, "face of God". But he still had to face Esau with his 400 men. He placed his family behind him for safety and bowed to Esau seven times. To his great surprise Esau ran forward and embraced and kissed his brother. They both wept for joy. Esau too was very rich and did not need the gifts sent by Jacob, but he accepted them graciously and they became at peace with one another. The crisis over, Jacob moved on and arrived at Shechem in "peace". Note that in Gen. 33:18 "Shalem" means "peace" and should be so translated in this verse.
Thus God fulfilled the vow He had made to Jacob and became "his God" (see Gen. 28:16-22). Looking back on these events, Jacob could later say, "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil. . ." (Gen. 48:15, 16).
LESSONS FOR US:
• The story demonstrates God's love and protection for Jacob and his family. That same care is there for us too. God's guiding hand, although unseen, is directing our lives, just as it did for the people of God in the past. Let us show our love and dependence upon Him in return.
• Jacob's faithful attitude in exile brought blessings to both himself and Laban. He came to depend upon God for deliverance from present evils. His maturity and complete dependence upon God was shown when Jacob's faith triumphed in his struggle with the angel. Having admitted that he was unable to save himself from the crisis which faced him, Jacob desperately wanted God's help. We too need to put aside all schemes and plans of our own will and rather seek God's ways as our guide in life.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Story Of The Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Pp. 151-176
"Ways Of Providence" (R. Roberts)—Chapters 5-7
"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas)—Pp. 270-274
"Christadelphian Instructor"—Questions and Answers Nos. 139-145
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1. What vow did God make with Jacob at Bethel? How was it fulfilled?
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What lesson did Jacob learn from his suffering, toil and deception at the hand of Laban?
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a) Why did Jacob wrestle with the angel?
b) What does this incident reveal about Jacob's attitude to God?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
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Explain how Jacob learned to trust in God.
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How was Jacob deceived by Laban? What lessons can we learn from these experiences of Jacob?
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Describe Jacob wrestling with the angel and show why his name was changed to Israel.