Jacob — A Man of Great Destiny

The grandson of patriarch Abraham, was a man who was called to greatness. It would be the twelve sons of Jacob, that would bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. No doubt, this young man always felt his destiny lurking in the shadows. Yet, for many years, Jacob or should we say, “deceiver” lived in the shadow of his own destiny. He was a man who did things his own way, and was many times manipulating the situation to benefit his own needs. Jacob was a man who sabotaged his own life, through his continuous destructive behavior.

The heel supplanter came into this world clasping to the foot of his brother. In his ambitious ways, Jacob would later deceive his own brother into giving away his birthright. Yet, it wouldn’t stop there — Jacob would go along with the deceptive plan of his mother, to deceive his own father Isaac: wrongfully taking what was not his. Later we see, Jacob in his attempt to marry the love of his life, would be swindled by his own father in law Laban, and wound up marrying two of his daughters. Up to this point in Jacob’s life, we see a man who continuously did things his own way, only trusting in his own pernicious ways.

Years had passed, and the sabotaging, self destructing ways were catching up to him. Although Jacob had experienced a divine encounter with God at Bethel, he was still holding on to the old nature, and it was compiling interest to the point, he was a man on the run. When we get to Genesis 32, I believe we see a man at the end of his ropes — he got word that Esau was coming with 400 men, and it wasn’t to have a family reunion. Jacob was panicking, wondering how he was going to get himself out of this predicament. In his self-relying ways, he would send presents ahead of him to perhaps change the mind of his scorned brother, but no doubt this man was unraveling at the seems, and time was running out.

In a moment of despair, we come to Genesis 32:22 and see change begin to unfold, “And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

All alone, Jacob would have a wrestling match of a lifetime that would forever leave this God called man, changed and transformed. Scripture provides us with the most beautiful insight known to man. It is of no coincidence, he crossed over, “the ford Jabbok.” The word Jabbok in the Hebrew means, “place of emptying.” It would be over this ford, where Jacob would be launched into the destiny that was intended from birth. Yet, it was never going to happen until he came to the place of emptying; the place where he would surrender his own will and ways over to the master potter. Jacob was left all alone that night to face his greatest nemesis — the man in the mirror! It was there that night, he found himself wrestling a man until daybreak. Wrestle or we could say, “a dust up” took place. It was the place where his flesh, the essence of his human nature was being subdued. It was a place where Jacob said, I am not going to leave, until I walk away changed.

As men, we were created to have dominion in this life. Just as God gave dominion in the Garden of Eden, He has given it to us. Yet, just as dominion was usurped through sin, our own victory hinges on whether or not we are going to do things God’s way. We are destined for greatness, but until we subdue the man in the mirror, we will always sabotage our calling with our self sufficient, humanistic ways. We’re simply slaves in life, until we can learn to subdue the natural man, and hand over the reigns of our heart to God. Romans chapter Seven is about the wrestling match between flesh and spirit. The Apostle Paul alludes to the monster of our flesh, and reminds us, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Romans 7:19-21

That old self-destructive nature is always lurking in the shadows of our destiny. This is what Jacob encountered that night, and he refused to leave until transformation of the heart took place. He wanted a new name. He was tired and burdened down by his own behavior. Isn’t this where we can so easily find ourselves? Man is no more slave, than when he is slave to his own fleshly desires. We cannot handle the burden. We must have the Spirit of God leading us, and allow His Spirit to empower us to live above the bondage of the natural man. It’ll never happen until we conquer the man in the mirror. Accountability precedes triumph.

God was chasing Jacob his entire life, attempting to release his destiny, his calling. Yet, Jacob spent many years on the run. We all need those moments to where we cross our own “Ford Jabbok.” God said, my Spirit shall not always strive with man.” There is no guarantee that God is going to forever chase us in this life. We must make our minds up today, and decide, God I am not moving into tomorrow, until you bless me and change me today. Transformation will only occur when we are sick and tired of eating the fruit of our own doings. That night, Jacob decided God, I am not letting go of you until you bless me. It was out of desperation, that Jacob’s life would be forever changed.

PENIEL — The Face of God

“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

“And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:25-28, 29-30)

I believe PENIEL is a place where we come out from the shadows of who we truly are, remove the mask and truly allow God to search the deepest corridors of our heart. As in the words of the psalmist — “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV) PENIEL was a place where Jacob came to the end of himself, and finally surrendered the reigns of his heart over to God.

He left that night with a forever limp. He crossed over Jabbok Jacob, but he left PENIEL Israel. Men, this is the place we must desire, if we want God to release His calling and purpose in our life. As strong men, God wants to take that strength and use it for His kingdom and glory. We must first surrender before we can lead. Esau is coming, judgment is riding on a horse heading our way. It is time to face the man in the mirror. It is time to allow God to have His way, and change us into His image. Our world is desperate for men to rise in this critical hour, and live out our God called purpose.