How often have we relied upon deception instead of resting in the promises God has already made us? Some scholars have considered that this deception was done purposefully by Isaac as he made sure to seen at the window of the king caressing his wife. The result was a ruling from the king that no one was to harm Isaac or his wife. Isaac would then prosper greatly in the land. A man of faith yet also a man of deception. A man who saw the full plan of God when his father sought to sacrifice him yet years later would scheme to benefit himself materially even though God had already promised him great abundance and protection. Our God is the God of Abraham and Isaac. A God who seeks deep faith but understands that we war against our flesh.
Isaac would give birth to two sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob would wrestle with God and refuse to let go until he was blessed. When we say we serve the God of Jacob, we are talking about a God who expects that kind of perseverance from us as well. That we would consistently seek Him. That we would refuse to settle for less than the blessings God has for our lives. But Jacob was far from a perfect man. Jacob stole the birthright of his brother. He also stole the blessing of his brother from his dying father Isaac; taking advantage of his age and blindness. He deceived Laban and swindled great wealth from him. He practiced favoritism as a father, preferring Joseph over the other 10 sons, which would lead to great animosity and jealousy. The very name Jacob meant deceiver. But God had another plan for Jacob. God had another name for him.
Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Genesis 32: 26-28 (NIV)
Now, God knew his name. God wanted to make sure that Jacob knew who he was. He was a deceiver. He was a liar. Instead though, God had a new name for him. A name that literally means "struggled with God." Jacob would become Israel and he would father the 12 tribes of the soon to be nation of Israel. The God we serve today is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It is interesting that when referring to this in the key verses, God used the new name for Abraham yet the old name when referring to Jacob (God had changed Abraham's name from Abram). The God we serve is the God of Abraham. The God of promise towards us. The God who follows through on His promises despite our unfaithfulness. Despite our humanity.
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2Timothy 2: 11-13 (NIV)
The God we serve is the God of Isaac. He wants the acceptance of His plan that Isaac showed on Mount Moriah. But at the same time, He understands that we will war against the human urges to deceive and to get ahead of the plans and promises God has already given us.
Lastly, the God we serve is the God of Jacob. God making the reference in our key verses does not refer to him as Israel, but rather Jacob. God is the God of the deceiver. He is the God of the person who has so far to go. But God is in the name changing business. Traditional scholars agree that Jacob was simply not a nice guy. He was downright mean. Think about the entire scope of his meanness. He willfully swindles his brother's birthright. He willfully deceives his old and blind father to steal his brother's blessing! He lies to Laban and defrauds him out of great wealth! Where did God find you? What Jacob-like qualities did we possess before God saved us?
God is the God of Jacob for us today because we were Jacob before God found us. We were the deceiver. We were the liar. In us was no good thing before a holy God. But God had another plan for Jacob. He had another name for him. When God comes into our lives something better change! Who we were needs to change. Who we are going to become needs to change. We spend our lives wrestling with the notion of God in our lives. God is waiting for us to decide to not let go. Once that happens, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will change who we were into who He wants us to be. He is the God of the faithful and the faithless. He is the God of the truthful and the deceiver. He is the God of the no good low down Jacob we all once were and the overcoming Israel we all were meant to be. Praise Him for being the God for all of us; despite our imperfections. Despite our humanity.
Reverend Anthony Wade September 26, 2011
