I have been reading the account of Jacob, in Genesis. At a young age, his mother taught him deceit. She taught him how to plan the deceit. That started his downward spiral in life. The first step was selfishness when he sold a bowl of lentils to his brother for his birthright.
Then came the day when his mother taught him how to deceive his father and brother so that he would receive the blessing of the firstborn son, even though his brother was the firstborn. Jacob was afraid. But his mother told him she would take the curse that would come from it.
Not many days later, he was on the run to escape his brother's anger. His mother again lied to Isaac as to the reason Jacob was leaving the house. The stage has been set, and Jacob goes to his uncle's house. Laban then deceives Jacob my not giving him the daughter promised him.
At the end of Jacob's time with Laban, he then deceives Laban taking more livestock than right should have been his. For 20 years he hadn't seen his brother Isaac, yet he was still afraid. He knew he had to face him, but what he didn't know is that he would come face to face with God first.
The "thread" I see through all this is fear. The Bible says "what a man sows that he shall also reap." (Gal. 6:7) Sin follows us through our life until we confess and accept God's forgiveness and Grace. Life is miserable "on the run." We may think we are hiding or running away, but eventual there is a day of reckoning. Jacob's reckoning came on the banks of a river, God and him did battle. Jacob came out of the battle with a limp, but with a forgiven heart and trusting God.
Through the Bible God uses the title, "The God of Jacob." Amazing! After all Jacob did, God said He was the God of Jacob. And He longs to be the God of us. He longs to hold us, to bless us, to cover us with His Grace.
Have you met God at the river? Are you tired of running with fear? Freedom in Jesus is waiting for you, maybe you will have a limp but you will be free.
God bless you
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