This is the second of two installments concerning Jacob’s Dependent faith which I hope it has been especially meaningful to you. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21 Last week we saw that Jacob was a wretched man, examining who he was by way of name as well as the manner in which he was influenced by his upbringing and his home life. Before moving too far away from this point, let's explore an issue related to the direction our young people seem to be taking which may be beneficial to our discussion. Statistics show that over seventy percent of teenagers do not return to church after they graduate high school. Is this because they have suddenly become wretched little creatures who hate God? No! Might it be because they had just been "playing church" during their formative years and in their new found independence as young adults decide that they have the right to do whatever they wish? Likely not. Despite what we think the cause may be, the sad fact of the matter is that it is indeed occurring. Throughout America, and across the globe, there is a absence of Dependent Faith upon the Lord and our children become witnesses to this. Consequently, a spiritual chill develops which results in a wandering away from within the church and our congregations. What is the solution? Friends, we must give our children a Lord to follow rather than a list. Too often our youth are given lists of “Do’s” and “Don'ts” thinking that as long as they honor that list they will be "right with God". This could not be further from the truth. Beloved, our children need a Lord to follow and a personal relationship with the Son of God who suffered so horribly at Calvary and died on the cross for their sins. My own children have been taught that they can not piggyback on my or my wife's testimonies or upon our own intimate relationship with Christ. They know that this must be a personal decision that they will have to make upon conviction on their own. Even though they are saved, the testimony they posses must personal! I am convinced that Jacob’s desire to know God led him to a Dependent Faith upon his personal Lord. Although Jacob was wretched, his longing to know the Lord brought him to Wrestle. In Genesis 32:24-26, we are given the account of Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord as he proclaimed, “I will not let thee go”. Jacob was possessed by a hunger for the Lord and an unquenchable need to be blessed of God! This Angel of the Lord was none other than the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ who appeared as God, the Angel of Jehovah! Friend, God exhausted Jacob and brought him to his end to enable Jacob to overcome himself. That typically becomes the greatest problem and therein our solution. We must simply concede ourselves in order to have a dependent faith upon Jesus Christ. In this particular case, Jacob was brought to the end of himself through Seclusion. Returning to Genesis 32:24, we read that “... Jacob was left alone...”. People today do not like to be alone and as we preoccupy ourselves with busy schedules, we discover that we prefer the company of others and the stimulation of sounds. Most people do not like to sit alone quietly by themselves in a room without having a TV or radio on such is their need for company and the sounds of another's voice. People have developed an obsession with amusement. Etymology tells us that a breakdown of the word "amusement" reveals it as being quite negative with "a" being defined as "without" and "muse" meaning “thought". If the world today seeks to be amused, they are actually seeking to be "without thought". What are we afraid to think about? Why are we not willing to examine the deeper issues of life, such as our relationship with God? There should be a time during our day when we seek to be alone with God. Quiet time with God is it's own reward and will prove to be a precious and spiritually rewarding time that is sought for daily. Why? Because you will never be any better in public than you are in private. Jacob was also brought to the end of himself through Struggle and verse 24 of Genesis chapter 32 continues to tell us that Jacob "there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day". Before the sun began to rise, God had begun to mold something out of Jacob that brought him to Surrender after a night of exhaustive wrestling. Jacob would not give in or say "uncle". He wanted God, but he refused to surrender to God until he was touched. Jacob did everything he knew to do. He did everything on his own and then he came to God, wrestling with the Angel of the Lord. The Lord said, “let me go” yet Jacob refused. This reminds us of the day following the resurrection: "But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.” (Luke 24:29) When Jacob said, “I will not let go, except thou bless me”, he was not bargaining with the Lord as he did with his brother Esau. He was begging for the Lord's blessing which was what the Lord wanted. Jacob depended upon his own legs to prevail, yet when the Lord touched the hollow of his thigh, he had to depend upon Christ and he was left to lean completely upon the Lord. What do you have in your life that you are depending on? The Lord awaits your surrender and wants you to allow Him to take over. Jacob went from wretched to wrestling in order to Worship. Jacob now worshipped God, leaning upon Him for the rest of his life because he was now dependent upon the Lord. The Lord crippled him that he might crown him. One may say He broke him that he might bless him! If Jacob would have just been willing rather than wretched, he could have worshipped God without wrestling at all. In Genesis 32:27, God asked Jacob’s name to compel him to confess who and what he really was: a conniver, deceiver, liar…and a worm. Just as He had asked Adam where he was in the Garden, God only wanted them to confess where they were in their lives and if they were hiding from the Lord. Might you be wondering today why you are in the circumstance or situation you may be in? Yes? In the end, the Lord allowed Jacob to be with Laban so the cheater could be cheated. The con man was conned! Some of life’s most profound lessons are designed simply to learn that God is really in control and what it is that He desires from each one of us in this short life. He is not interested in a list, but rather being Lord of our lives. Beloved, it took 70 years to make Jacob a prince and leaning upon his staff, he learned that his failure was not his finale! (Read on in Genesis 32:28-30) We must learn to depend fully and faithfully in Christ alone. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Jacob worshipped God and leaned upon his staff. When it comes time to die, the only thing that will matter will be our relationship with the Lord. One day, at some appointed hour, each and every one of us will meet the Lord, not a list. Our relationship with Him is all that will matter. By faith Jacob...worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
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