LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Why Jacob?
If we had been in God's place, surely we would never have chosen a man like Jacob to place a great honor on him. We would, perhaps, have considered the investment too high for such an unpromising case. And if we had chosen him, it would have been, perhaps, to exemplify in him, not the prototype of a man of God, but the figure of a malformed character, and the conduct of a reprobate. Or we might have chosen his brother Esau, who, in many respects, presents more attractive traits than Jacob from the moral point of view.
However, God did not think so when he chose Jacob. The choice of Jacob was to make clear, in the first place, the sovereignty of God in the choice of men. And, at the very least, it should also clearly establish some principles upon which he was to work in future ages with his servants.
The figure and life of Jacob is intimately linked to all of us, the children of God, because in him God wanted to represent, even in its smallest details, how God treats the natural man, that "I" that we all carry within us, who is usually very pious, and who strives to please God in his own strength.
The strength of the natural man must be broken and weakened in its fullest expression, if we are to collaborate with God in his eternal purpose. Since it is true that we have been chosen to collaborate with him in that purpose, the tools with which we will do so must not be natural resources, nor our good intentions, nor carnal jealousy "not according to knowledge", but the life of Christ in us, patiently forged by the discipline of the Holy Spirit. Christ is to be formed in us; but this will never be possible without our strength being drastically weakened.
Jacob is representative, then, of all of us. As God's chosen one, Jacob had his end assured; God's work in him had, beforehand, an entirely reliable seal. But what shall we say of the long process that was to follow until he reached that end? The early flight from his home under the threat of his brother, his anguish as a fugitive, his sufferings in the house of his uncle Laban, his long nights in the open as a shepherd, his fears at the reunion with Esau, the early death of his beloved wife, the disappearance of his favorite son, all conspired against him. However, everything was calibrated with special care by God to finally produce one of the most beautiful characters in the Bible.
What about us, will our situation be different? It behooves us to know God's ways with his servants so that we will not be surprised by the fire of trial that engulfs us, nor be discouraged by the difficulties that come our way.
God's sovereignty is the only explanation in the choice of Jacob. After God has chosen Jacob, there is hope for every man, however crafty and deceitful he may be! If God could make Jacob a vessel of honor, He can do it with anyone.