Set a godly example

Jacob’s story is one of the real roller-coasters to be found in the word of God, and his family rides up and down with him. His name means “deceiver,” and his story proves its accuracy.

He is born the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, one of the greatest men in all of Scripture. But he plunges quickly into family deception. As a young man, he cheats his brother Esau out of his birthright and later deceives his blind and elderly father into giving him the blessing his brother deserves. As a result, he must flee for his very life and runs to his uncle in faraway Mesopotamia.

Now things move up, however. On his way to Canaan, God finds Jacob at a place called Bethel. The Lord reveals himself and promises to bless him and his posterity.

But soon he slides down again into the depths of deceit. His uncle deceives him into marrying both Leah and Rachel. In response, he tricks his uncle and increases his herds and possessions. Finally, he runs from his uncle as he ran from his brother.

But again God finds him, this time at a place called Peniel. He wrestles with Jacob until daybreak and changes his name from Jacob (“Deceiver”) to Israel (“One who wrestles with God”).

Now the descent begins again. His daughter Dinah is defiled by a man named Shechem; then his sons deceive the Shechemites and kill them all. Jacob says to them, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites” (Genesis 34:30). But they are only following their father’s example, going where he has led them.

Finally, Jacob returns to Bethel, where he first met God. Here he leads his family to rid themselves of their foreign gods, builds an altar to the Lord God, and worships him. And again, his family follows him.

Now Jacob’s son Joseph’s story begins. Is it any wonder that his brothers would enslave him and lie to their father? Any wonder that this family would spend twenty years in dysfunction and pain?

What their father was, they became. Where he led, they followed.

But God is good. He restores their family through Joseph and preserves Jacob’s nation and people. Along the way, he gives us an example we can learn from today.

Where the father goes, his children usually follow. What does this fact say to us today?

Would you want your kids to live like your example?

Do you want to be a better father than your father?