Grace Of God And Flaws Of MenSýnishorn

Modern Day Idols 

Jacob was a man who had certain goals in mind, but we see how one Old Testament hero’s selfish ambition led to his downfall.  

For one thing, he wanted to have his old brother’s birthright and blessing. He was hungry for power. He chased it down, though it involved deception and even disguise.

He received both – temporarily. He then began pursuing the next thing – money. Jacob worked hard as a farmer. He was very successful and accumulated wealth. But then he needed to leave it behind.

Jacob’s relationship with the beautiful Rachel was the stuff of movies. He loved her from afar and worked hard to win her hand in marriage, only to be tricked into marrying her sister, Leah. 

Jacob couldn’t quite get his hands on any of his goals. When he did, they proved to be fleeting at best. They slipped out of his reach in a short while.

Jacob’s pursuits of his idols are similar to our own selfish ambitions. Money, power, sex and romance can be good things, but they are elusive and always leave us wanting more. Chasing after these idols is like grasping water in your hands. 

But then Jacob encounters God. When all his idols failed him and when he feared for his life, Jacob finally turned to God. In a mysterious yet beautiful passage of Scripture, Jacob spends one night wrestling with God in prayer – and finally wins God’s blessings.

Jacob was a man who could never fully grasp and hold on to his idols. Yet, ironically, he holds on to a Holy God and wrestles with Him. 

God feigned weakness and allowed Jacob to win that encounter. Jacob received his blessing.

That same God, allowed himself to be made weak and take our sin upon Himself on the Cross, so we could have a relationship with Him. 

Our idols elude us but God gives himself to us. He poured out Himself even unto death.

Who would you rather choose? Worthless and elusive idols or a holy God who gives Himself to us fully?

For more in-depth study of God's grace find Grace of God and Flaws of Men by Anand Mahadevan here: https://lifeway.in/grace-and-flaws/