Genesis 28

Genesis 28

After all the confusion that arose in the previous chapter, Genesis 28 begins with Isaac officially sending Jacob to Laban to find a wife. Despite all the controversy that can arise over Jacob’s acceptance of the blessing, Isaac prayed that God would grant Jacob with the blessing that had passed from Abraham, to Isaac, and now on to Jacob. To keep with the terms of the covenant, Isaac strictly charged Jacob not to take a wife from the Canaanites (just as Abraham had done for Isaac). So Isaac traveled to Laban to find a wife from his mother’s family. The important thing to notice at this point is that everything was beginning to fall back into place once again, and God was using this messed up situation to continue to accomplish His will.

Yet there was Esau who was still bitter at Jacob’s receiving of the blessing. Esau had a right to harbor bitterness toward his brother. Jacob had taken was rightfully Esau’s. However, we later learn that this was God’s plan all along. So at this point, Esau is left with two choices. He can either move on from what had happened, forgetting about the blessing and choosing to follow the Lord, or he could continue to harbor bitterness and drift further away from the Lord. Sadly, Esau chose the latter option, wishing to do anything that would displease Isaac. Since Isaac had commanded Jacob to not take a Canaanite for a wife, Esau decided to go against his father’s wishes. But he took it one step further. He also found a wife that was a direct descendant of Ishmael (Abraham’s other son). Not only was this a slap in the face to Isaac, but also to God. When unfair situations arise in life it is easy to be bitter and try to get back at those who hurt us, but we are called to a higher standard of living. We are called to move on from that situation, continue to depend on God (trusting that He knows what He is doing), and continue to live for Him.

As Jacob made his way to Laban, he stopped for the night. On that night, God spoke with Jacob, revealing the same covenant He had given to both Abraham and Isaac before him. God promised to give him a large family and the inheritance of the Promised Land. Notice God does not say that if Jacob does certain things then these promises will come true. God made a promise here that He intended to keep no matter the circumstances. Jacob recognized the Lord’s presence and was rightfully frightened. After all that he had done to his brother Esau, he had a right to fear God. But this fear turned into worship, and as Genesis 28 comes to a close, Jacob begins creating a closer relationship with the Lord. I would say that at this point it does not appear as if Jacob has reached the level of faith that Abraham and Isaac had in the Lord. For instance, Jacob tells God that if God keeps His promises, then he will have no problem trusting in Him. In some ways Jacob appears to want to trust God immediately, but in other ways, there seem to be things in his life that are holding him back as well.

But what is important in the life of Jacob at this point is that he is growing. Does he have all the answers? Is he where he needs to be in his relationship with the Lord? No! But he is learning that God can be trusted. He is beginning to see firsthand how God cares for His children. Now that God has made the same promise to him that He had done with Abraham and Isaac, Jacob is beginning to realize that there is something to this faith. Although Jacob’s life is not much of a model for us to live by at this point in the story, there is one important application we can draw here. We must always be growing in Christ, for we will never be where we need to be this side of Heaven. We should never stop growing and learning in Christ.

Matt