Relentless Grace

Jacob is one Biblical character that can inspire us because he had so many flaws, and yet God used him greatly. The name Jacob means heel-grabber and schemer, and he lived up to his name. He cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and his blessing. Jacob deceived both his father and his brother in an attempt to help God fulfill his plan for his life. The results of these actions incurred the wrath of his brother, who boasted of killing Jacob. He said he would wait until his father Isaac was dead, and then he would enjoy getting rid of his scheming brother.

Jacob fled from his father and mother to the land of his grandfather Abraham. It was his mother, Rebekah’s idea, to get him away and to get him a wife. Jacob had to make a long and difficult journey while dealing with the guilt and stupidity of his deceitful actions. He was miserable.  Jacob was now profoundly alone. He had no one to talk to, and he was in a dark wasteland full of danger. His loneliness was agonizing. Exhausted and full of despair, Jacob chose a stone pillow and fell asleep.

Jacob drifted off into fitful sleep as he pondered the mess he had made out of his life. He was running away from the people he loved. What would happen to him? As he fell asleep, he dreamed about a ladder that extended from the earth into heaven.  It was a ladder with angels. The angels were moving up and down the ladder, and there at the top of the ladder was God. God was communicating to Jacob that He was directing everything. Even though Jacob was unaware of it, there was heavenly activity in this desolate place on Jacob’s behalf. If we could see what Jacob saw that night, we too would see the sovereign hand of God directing heaven’s angels on our behalf (Gen 28:12-14).

God said to Jacob, “I will be with you, and that means my emissaries will be with you” (Gen 28:15).  I will be with you wherever you go, even on this long journey. I will be there in the land where you are going, and then I will bring you back. What a promise! What a God! What is so amazing about this encounter is that Jacob was not pursuing God. On the contrary, he was fleeing the consequences of his deceptive actions and stupidity. He never deserved an encounter with God, but God found him. It was relentless grace that pursued him in his loneliness. We need God’s grace more than anything in life. The wonderful thing is that God is pursuing us to tell us how much he loves us. John Newton’s hymn Amazing Grace expresses that thought:

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found

T’was blind but now I see

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come.

T’was grace that brought us safe thus far And grace will lead us home,

(Parenting with a Long View)  https://boydbrooks.com/