Some of us find it very easy to relate to Jacob. He was a man with obvious weaknesses of character, yet, he clearly loved the Lord. Even after some dramatic encounters with God, we find him falling back under pressure to old, ungodly habits. But Jacob gives us hope because, in spite of his failures, God didn't give up on him. He promised to transform him into a new man (Ge 32:28) and then kept working on him for the rest of his life until by his later years he truly became the spiritual man God intended. What's so comforting to us is that the changes in him weren't the result of getting his "act together," but of God patiently working on him. In this way, Jacob models how God still deals with people. Many of us continue to struggle with areas of weak character long after becoming Christians. Our heartfelt promises to get ourselves under control have failed so often we've stopped making such promises. Yet, frustrated lives that fail to change probably result more from our misguided attempts to change, than from lack of desire. Today we'll look at an event in Jacob's life and reflect on how God changes us.

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Of all the strange events in Jacob's life, this is by far the strangest. Left alone on the far bank of the Jabbok River, he ended up wrestling with a stranger in the dark of the night. During the course of the fight, Jacob began to realize he was grappling with no ordinary man. Though painfully injured, he refused to release his hold on the man until he "blessed" him. The request for a blessing in itself is surprising because Jacob was already a wealthy man with a large family. What more could he desire beyond what he already had? Yet, in the blessing God gave him, we discover the deep longing of Jacob's heart: he was tired of being Jacob. He was a self-reliant, competitive man, and he had stubbornly prevailed with everyone he dealt with, starting with his twin brother in the womb (Ge 25:21-24). Yet, something of blessing was missing inside his unsubmitted heart. He needed to walk with God at a new level, but he wasn't able to do so. This is what God saw and said He would grant him because he had not quit in his pursuit of God.

Many of us are strong-willed and find it hard to become dependant on God. From God's dealings with Jacob we will learn how to receive the gift of a changed nature.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

Though Jacob had enough faith to receive God's blessing, he was still very immature in his understanding of God. On his journey north to Haran, he fell asleep with a rock under his head. In a vision he saw the spiritual realities now surrounding him. God had prepared a pathway, allowing angels to constantly attend to him. And, he saw the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ watching over him and heard Him make the same promises He had made to his father and grandfather. But when Jacob awoke, he reacted strangely. He tried to bargain with God rather than thank Him for His gifts. It would take the next 20 years for him to grow up enough to appreciate what God had given him and respond appropriately. Unfortunately, some Christians still relate to God with the same immaturity evident in Jacob's younger years. Like him, we tend to bargain with God as an opponent rather than stand boldly on the promises He's made to us. To use Paul's words, we still think like slaves rather than God's children (Gal 3:26-4:7).