Jacob to Israel – A Life Transformed – 2

I have often wondered how Jacob approached Issac when he was called before his father to receive a blessing after he had deceived his father and robbed his brother of the birthright. He must have felt completely unworthy to kneel before his father, who had instigated and called him to come before him, Genesis 28:1. Jacob did not come pleading for forgiveness, it was Isaac who decided to forgive no questions asked. This is exactly how God deals with us, He calls us to Himself, Jesus says ‘no one comes to the Father except the Father call him‘. 

In calling Jacob to himself Isaac takes some control of his son’s situation, a situation that is in danger of ending Jacob’s life if his elder brother gets his way. Jacob finds himself in a situation that is brought about by his own selfish manipulation. God will always step into our messy situations and help us. God is in charge as Romans 8:28 says ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose‘. God will always provide the way of escape if we bow the knee and  repentant. We have just seen that Jacob came without argument to Isaac for the blessing and went without protesting to Padan-Aram.

However, if Jacob had not gone, Esau would have killed him, therefore, rendering God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac useless. God is in control of our lives not us.

Isaac’s words to Jacob are “don’t take a wife from here, arise, go to Padan-aram” Genesis 28:2. So Isaac created a way of escape from Esau:-

• From trouble and turmoil which would have hampered Jacob’s life so making God’s dealings with him limited. 
• Of buying time for Jacob so he could encounter God (Genesis 28:15-16) 
• So that Jacob would not be yoked or joined together with those who did not believe or trust the ONE TRUE GOD (2 Corinthians 6:14). 

God wants us to be wholly committed to Him and not joined or dragged down by distractions. Thank God for His great Mercy that reaches us where we are and provides the way of escape that we need.

Genesis 28:10-22

By the time we get to Genesis 28:10 we have witnessed Issac bestowing a blessing on Jacob and we have also witnessed Esau’s contempt and utter rebellion towards his father. We also find Jacob, running for his life yet, it would appear, not alone, God is with him. At sundown Jacob finds a place to rest for the night, a night that would change his life forever. 

This place of rest is where God meets Jacob.

Jacob describes the place where God met him as an “Awesome Place”  (Genesis 28:17)

Likewise the place that God meets us and we meet Him is an “‘Awesome Place”

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