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If Abraham is considered the Father of all nations, then Jacob ought to be considered the Father of all swindlers. Even the name Jacob means deceiver. He has, to say the least, a colorful past. And lest you think it incidental it is not. Jacob’s reputation is built over decades and sustained by history. Jacob is to the biblical story what Al Capone is the American Story. Somewhat legendary – but none the less a crook!
That is until he reaches a river called Jabbok. At the river Jabbok, Jacob finds out his brother Esau is on his way to him with 400 armed men to kill him. Ringing in Jacob’s ears is the last words he shared with his brother – the promise of Jacob’s death. He can’t go back to his father-in-law Laban, Laban is as crooked as he is, and he can’t go forward because Esau is coming with an army. So, here Jacob sits on the banks of the Jabbok River.
To his credit, Jacob decides to spend a little time thinking about the mess he is in and sends his wives and children across the river without him. It is time to figure out what to do. Perhaps a little quiet time will bring clarity. You know, “Just a little talk with Yahweh makes it right.”
I don’t know if Jacob invented the phrase between a rock and a hard place. But that is where he found himself. Trapped and fighting with his past, his present, and his future. It is what we would call “a come to Jesus moment.” And fortunately, Jesus showed up. Jacob will later say he wrestled with God. Hosea will say Jacob wrestled with an angel of the Lord. But, Christian theologians will most often say, Jacob fought with the Son of Man & the Son of God.
Jacob wrestled with God all night. FACE TO FACE! According to Max Lucado, “On the banks of Jabbok, he rolled in the mud of his life. And because Jacob wanted it so badly, God honored his determination. God gave him a new name and a new promise and a limp.”
As a human being standing before God, as a church seeking to do God’s will, and as a nation trying to figure a lot of things out, we stand where Jacob stood. And it is “O.K.” to struggle with God. All of us, at one time or another, struggle with God. And it’s always an awkward encounter. When we are struggling with God, we can do one of two things: run or wrestle. Max Lucado challenges all of us when he says,
“Many choose to run. They brush it off with a shrug of rationalization.
Jacob finally figured that out and decided to face God and self.
As a result, his example is one worthy of imitation.
The best way to deal with our past is to hitch up our pants,
roll up our sleeves, and face it head-on
—no more buck-passing or scapegoating.
No more glossing over or covering up.
No more games.
We need a confrontation with our Master.”
So, my encouragement this morning is cross the creek and struggle with God. It will change your life!
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