There are many titles for God given throughout his word. Some of these are "The Lord of Armies", "The Lily of the Valley", and "Everlasting Father", to name a few. Of all these titles my favorite is when he is referred to as the "God of Jacob." That's right, the God of Jacob. Why is this so significant to me? Because I can identify with Jacob.
I can understand God being called the God of Abraham and Isaac. They were pretty righteous men, for the most part. But Jacob was a conniving liar, thief, and flat out con artist. He had a lot of faults that most of us wouldn't want listed on a resume. I guess that is why I can identify with Jacob a little more than with his father and grandfather. We seem to have more in common. :) My life has been far less than perfect and I have done a few things I wish I could undo. Yes, I can identify with Jacob.
Yet Jacob, with all his faults, had something that God admired. He loved God and was always in pursuit of him. He loved the birthright that identified him as a Son of God as much as Esau despised it. This later moved God to say, "Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated" (Romans 9:13). God loved Jacob in spite of his faults. He loved Jacob because Jacob loved God. No, he wasn't perfect, but he never gave up trying.
Jacob had some of the most remarkable experiences with God in all the Bible. Jacob saw a vision of angels and had God appear to him and speak to him several times. The last was when he was afraid to go into Egypt after learning that Joseph was alive. God appeared to him, called him by name, and assured him that he would be with him and his seed in Egypt. He also promised to bring them out again. Yes, Jacob had a remarkable relationship with God.
The Psalmist David invoked the name of the God of Jacob in Psalm 20:1 with these words: "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee." The God of Jacob is to us the God of imperfect humanity. Do you feel like you have made too many mistakes to count? Wish you could erase something in your past? You are in good company. Jacob felt the same way when his brother Esau came after him for stealing his birthright. Be encouraged! The same God who helped Jacob make peace with his past can help you today with any situation you are facing. He is after all the God of Jacob!
Be Blessed,
Sullivan Jones
I can understand God being called the God of Abraham and Isaac. They were pretty righteous men, for the most part. But Jacob was a conniving liar, thief, and flat out con artist. He had a lot of faults that most of us wouldn't want listed on a resume. I guess that is why I can identify with Jacob a little more than with his father and grandfather. We seem to have more in common. :) My life has been far less than perfect and I have done a few things I wish I could undo. Yes, I can identify with Jacob.
Yet Jacob, with all his faults, had something that God admired. He loved God and was always in pursuit of him. He loved the birthright that identified him as a Son of God as much as Esau despised it. This later moved God to say, "Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated" (Romans 9:13). God loved Jacob in spite of his faults. He loved Jacob because Jacob loved God. No, he wasn't perfect, but he never gave up trying.
Jacob had some of the most remarkable experiences with God in all the Bible. Jacob saw a vision of angels and had God appear to him and speak to him several times. The last was when he was afraid to go into Egypt after learning that Joseph was alive. God appeared to him, called him by name, and assured him that he would be with him and his seed in Egypt. He also promised to bring them out again. Yes, Jacob had a remarkable relationship with God.
The Psalmist David invoked the name of the God of Jacob in Psalm 20:1 with these words: "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee." The God of Jacob is to us the God of imperfect humanity. Do you feel like you have made too many mistakes to count? Wish you could erase something in your past? You are in good company. Jacob felt the same way when his brother Esau came after him for stealing his birthright. Be encouraged! The same God who helped Jacob make peace with his past can help you today with any situation you are facing. He is after all the God of Jacob!
Be Blessed,
Sullivan Jones