Comeback: Fraud to Faith (Jacob)

Can we ever change?  Are we fated to always be as we are, with no chance of development in faith and character?

We can. But it isn't easy.  The scriptures have great examples, and in our "Comeback" worship unit, we're going to see what we can learn from them.

Jacob is our first example.  He was always trying to gain an advantage over someone.  Even before birth.  He struggled in his mother's womb with his brother Esau to see who would be born first, gaining their father's birthright and blessing!  (Genesis 25:24-28).  

Esau emerged first, but right behind him was Jacob, holding on to his heel.  That's where he got his name.  Jacob means "he grabs your heel."  It had a double meaning because in those days, a person who grabbed your heel was someone who tried to take advantage of you, to trip you up!  Jacob lived up to his name.

First, he took advantage of his brother and got his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34).  Then, he and his mother tricked his father and got his blessing (Gen. 27:1-40).  Esau didn't take all this passively.  He decided to kill his brother soon after their father died!

At his mother's urging, Jacob fled to his uncle Laban, who lived in Haran.  On his way there, he had the first of two great spiritual experiences.  While he slept in the wilderness, he had a dream of a staircase between heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending.  In the dream, the Lord assured him that despite his circumstances, he was going to bless him.

After he arrived in Haran, Laban matched Jacob in guile.  He tricked Jacob into marrying his less than attractive daughter Leah and into giving him lots of free work.

Eventually, things went sour in Haran with Laban, so the Lord told Jacob to return home.  But waiting for him there was Esau.  

On the way back, he had his second great spiritual experience.  He was alone, and wrestled with God all night!  (God appearing in a human form!)  Jacob wouldn't let him go until he blessed him.  God finally did, giving him a new name: Israel.  It meant "he who struggles with God."  He gave it to him because he had struggled with God and people and won!

Thankfully, when he returned, Esau greeting him graciously.  Maybe Jacob wasn't the only one who changed.

Jacob's story tells us that we can change too, as we face life's challenges with faith in God!

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