The God of Jacob.

"The God of Jacob is our refuge." Psalm 46:7

This divine title—"The God of Jacob"—is found at least fourteen times in the Old Testament; and in addition, three times we read of "The mighty God of Jacob." Such frequent repetition argues a deep significance, and suggests valuable lessons to be learned. We never read of the God of Moses, the God of Joshua—or the God of Solomon. Why then has God identified Himself with Jacob? What is there in the Lord's dealings with this man, which will suggest to us the import of this title? What is the particular significance of this expression which occurs and recurs through the Psalms like a familiar refrain?

1. The God of Jacob is the God of ELECTION. Jacob supplies us with the clearest and most unmistakable illustration of God's sovereign election to be met with in all the Bible. Whatever quibbles may be raised in reference to God's choice of Abraham to be the father of the faithful—or of the nation of Israel to be the recipients of His peculiar favors—there is no getting round God's election of Jacob. The case of Jacob gives the most emphatic refutation to the theory that God's choice is dependent upon something in the creature—something either actual or foreseen—and shows that the eternal election of certain individuals unto salvation—is due to no worthiness in the subjects—but results solely from God's sovereign grace. The case of Jacob proves conclusively that God's choice is entirely sovereign, wholly gratuitous, and based upon nothing but His own good pleasure. "Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by Him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.' " (Romans 9: 10-13)

The God of Jacob then, is the God who chooses one—and passes by another. He is the One who exercises and exhibits His own sovereign will. He is one who shows Himself to be the Most High God, ruling in heaven and earth and disposing of His creatures according to His own eternal purpose. He is the One who singles out the most unlikely and unworthy objects—to be fashioned into vessels of glory. Yet, He is the One who necessarily always acts in harmony with His own divine perfections.

Election is not as some have supposed—harsh and unjust—but is a most merciful provision on the part of God. Had he not from the beginning chosen SOME to salvation, ALL would have perished! Had he not before the foundation of the world chosen certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son—the death of Christ would have been in vain so far as the human race is concerned!

Reduced to its simplest terms, ELECTION means that God chose me before I chose Him. Said our Lord, "You have not chosen Me—but I have chosen you." (John 15:16) We love Him—because He first loved us. Election means that before I was born, yes, before the foundation of the world, I was chosen in Christ and predestined unto a place in God's family. Election means that we believed—because He made us willing in the day of His power. Election then, strips the creature of all merit, removes all ground of boasting, strikes us helpless in the dust, and ascribes all the glory to God!

2. The God of Jacob is the God of all GRACE. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . . so that no one may boast before Him." 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

If ever there was a man who illustrated in his own person, that God has chosen the foolish, the weak, the lowly, and the despised—it was Jacob. According to the flesh, there was nothing winsome or attractive about Jacob. Selfish, scheming, deceitful, treacherous, untruthful—he was a most unlovely character. What was there in him to attract the love of God? Absolutely nothing! We would have thought that Esau was a fitter subject for God's favors. Exactly! But God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways. Spiritual realities are hidden from the wise and prudent—and are revealed unto babes. Self-righteous Pharisees are passed by—while wicked publicans and harlots are constrained to partake of the Gospel banquet. The rich are ignored—while the Gospel is preached to the poor. Esau is hated—while the "worm Jacob" (Isaiah 41:14) is loved with an everlasting and unfathomable love!

The full force of this divine title, "The God of Jacob," can only be apprehended by a careful study of the patriarch's experiences. The first time we see God entering his life that memorable night at Bethel. A fugitive from his father's house, fleeing from his brother's wrath, with probably no thought of God in his mind at all, "When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep." (Genesis 28:11) As we see him there, asleep on the bare ground, we get a striking picture of man in his natural state. Man is never so helpless—as when asleep! It was while he was in this condition, that God appeared to him, and said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." The God of Jacob then, is the God who met Jacob while he had nothing, and deserved nothing but wrath—and who gave him everything. Happy indeed are they who have such a God for their God!

3. The God of Jacob is the God of Infinite PATIENCE. A careful study of the whole life of Jacob as it is recorded in Genesis, is necessary to discover the whole force of this fact. We can now only call attention to the leading events in that life, leaving our readers to work out the details for themselves. To say that Jacob was naturally a most despicable character, and that as a believer he lived a most God-dishonoring life, is only to state a fact which is well known to all Bible students. What we desire to particularly emphasize in this connection, is the continued and marvelous forbearance of God in dealing with His wayward child.

At the hour of his birth, God made known the fact that Jacob was to have the firstborn's portion—yet, instead of waiting God's own good time and way to secure for him his inheritance, Jacob resorted to ignoble and underhanded methods to obtain it for himself. The picture presented in Genesis 27 is truly a pathetic one. In brief, the facts were as follows:

God announced to Rebecca, that Esau was to serve his younger brother, Jacob—which was the equivalent of saying that the place and portion of the firstborn, was promised by God to Jacob. Now Esau was Isaac's favorite son and he rebelled against the idea of Jacob being exalted above him. Isaac thereupon conceives a plot. In the time of his old age he calls Esau to him, speaks of his approaching death, bids his son prepare food for him, "so that I may give you my blessing before I die." The hurry and secrecy which marked his actions reveal a determined effort to thwart the purpose of God and to transfer the blessing to his older son. Though Esau must have been acquainted with the divine purpose and though he had actually sold his inheritance to Jacob at an earlier date—yet, seeing an opportunity to recover and regain his lost birthright, he readily falls in with his father's plan.

But Rebecca, with whom Jacob was the favorite, had overheard Isaac's plot, so she sets out to subvert it with a counter-plot. She is determined to preserve for Jacob, the blessing which Jehovah had promised him. She felt a great wrong was about to be done her favorite son; she imagined the purpose of God was in danger; she believed that wrong means would justify a right end. Having laid her plans, she takes Jacob into her confidence, and instructs him how to proceed in order to get the better of Esau. Now what ought Jacob to have done? Clearly, it was a great trial of faith. God's promise seemed about to fail; apparently His purpose was to be defeated. There was only one right course for him to follow, and that was to lay the whole matter before God and supplicate His aid. Man's extremities are God's opportunities! But God was not in his thoughts; he had more confidence in fleshly means, and therefore he agreed to carry out his mother's scheme.

It is important to note here, that Jacob's fall was no mere succumbing to a sudden and unexpected temptation. The twelfth verse of Genesis 27 unmistakably brings out the fact that the deception which Jacob practiced upon his father was a deliberate and premeditated act. He clearly saw the sin of it in the sight of God, and feared that he might bring down upon him the divine curse—yet, nevertheless, he defiantly complies with his mother's suggestions. His preparations were quickly and cleverly made, and the food which his mother had prepared, is brought to his father. He boldly declares that he is the firstborn, lie follows lie, Isaac is completely deceived—and Jacob obtains the blessing. The sequel is well known. The plot is uncovered, the deception is unveiled, Esau's anger is kindled—and Jacob flees for his life.

It is at this point that the marvelous grace and patience of our God comes out. On the first night of his absence from home, God reveals Himself in a vision to Jacob and promises Himself to be with the fugitive, to protect him wherever he went, and to bring him back again into the promised land. Jacob's response to these gracious declarations reveals the conditions of his heart: "Then Jacob made a vow, saying—If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God." (Genesis 28:20,21) This vow which Jacob made well reveals the bargaining spirit of the man, and shows how little he knew of the character of God.

Passing over the years which he spent upon the farm of his father-in-law, we note the next appearance of God to Jacob. "And the Lord said unto Jacob—Return unto the land of your father's, and to your kindred; and I will be with you." (Genesis 31:3) Years before, on the night when He was first revealed to him, God had promised to bring His erring child back again to the land of promise. No doubt an intense longing had filled Jacob's heart throughout his exile. The time had come for God to commence the fulfillment of His promise and to reveal to Jacob that it was now His will for him to start on his homeward journey—and once more God assures him that He will be with him.

What is Jacob's response to this? His first thought was to secure the wages which were due him from Laban—wages which were in the form of cattle and sheep, many of which had been gotten by a trick. His next thought was to steal away secretly. Instead of telling his father-in-law that God had commanded him to return to Canaan, "he stole away secretly" (Gen 31:20) taking with him "all the livestock he had acquired." (Gen 31:18) Confidence in God was altogether lacking; faith in His gracious promises was a negative quantity; and his conduct was most unworthy and unfitting in one so highly favored by Jehovah.

"As Jacob and his household started on their way again, angels of God came to meet him. When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, 'This is God's camp!' So he named the place Mahanaim." (Gen 32:1,2) This was one of God's tender mercies and provisions for the way. A long and difficult journey lay before Jacob, so the Lord assures His child that angels are his attendants. But no sooner have these heavenly visitants appeared and disappeared, than Jacob forgets all about them and acts as though they had no existence. "Jacob now sent messengers to his brother, Esau, in Edom, the land of Seir. He told them, "Give this message to my master Esau: 'Humble greetings from your servant Jacob! I have been living with Uncle Laban until recently, and now I own oxen, donkeys, sheep, goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform you of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to us." (Gen 32:3-5)

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