Foreigners and Strangers on EarthSample

Jacob - I will watch over you wherever you go (Genesis 28:15)

PASSING THE BATON

The true blessing Jacob received from Isaac was not the one he stole by fraud (Genesis 27:27-29) but that of the farewell when he left for Paddan-Aram (Genesis 28:1-5). Isaac counseled Jacob not to marry a Canaanite. His brother Esau had already done this (Genesis 26:34,35) and then continued to show that he did not understand the importance of staying in the line of promise by marrying a daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:6-9). Jacob was to take possession of the land where he was living as an alien, thus continuing Abraham's blessing.

THE ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

Despite growing up in a family of promise, Jacob did not yet have a personal experience with God. His father's blessing was not sufficient; he had to meet God and receive the promise directly from Him (Genesis 28:10-15). It is significant that God promised Jacob the land where he was sleeping while he was leaving the country to escape from Esau. Just as in the case of his father, there were family disputes that required a separation between the line of promise and the line of flesh. He was both an outsider in the land and an outcast in his family. In addition to giving Jacob numerous descendants and blessing every family on earth (cf. Genesis 12:1-3), God also promised to protect him everywhere. The Lord's blessing is not tied to the territory, but rather to His presence.

JACOB'S COMMITMENT

Jacob was unaware that the Lord was there, and he gave the place the name of Bethel, or "house of God" (Genesis 28:16-18). But this was not the meaning of what he had been told. God is everywhere, and accompanies us (Psalm 121:7,8). His presence is not tied to the location, but to our obedience (2 Chronicles 15:1, 2; Jeremiah 29:11-14). Jacob responded to the promise with a somewhat questionable commitment (Genesis 28:20-22). His personal faith was still in its infancy. It would be more correct to translate the word "if" with "since", because Jacob was not questioning the promise of the Lord but was making a commitment on the basis of that promise.

LABAN'S HOUSEHOLD

Despite his double marriage, Jacob lived as a stranger among his relatives, suffering and being unfairly treated (Genesis 31:36-42). He experienced God's blessing in Paddan-Aram during his troubles and only went back to Canaan when the Lord told him to do so (Genesis 31:3-13). His wives also felt estranged in their father's household (Genesis 31:14-16). Jacob's inability to trust God caused him to plan a second escape instead of saying goodbye to his father-in-law (Genesis 31:26-28), but God kept His promise to protect him (Genesis 31:24,29).

MEETING WITH GOD AT PENIEL

Returning to the Promised Land meant not only turning away from Laban, but also approaching his brother Esau who had shown murderous intent (Genesis 27:41-45). Jacob had to learn that the protection he needed was not through diplomacy but from God's presence (Genesis 32:7-21). It took a new revelation of God that left him physically weaker but more dependent on God, and gave him a new name as a victor (Genesis 32:24-32).

FROM SHECHEM TO BETHEL

Even in the Promised Land, Jacob had to learn to be close to the Lord so that God would be close to him. Living near the city of Shechem led to Dina's rape and the slaughter carried out by Simeon and Levi as revenge. Thus, Bethel became the place where Jacob led his large family to worship his Lord (Genesis 35:1-7). God's promise was reaffirmed on that occasion, with the inclusion of a reference to kings among his offspring (Genesis 35:9-15).

GOING DOWN TO EGYPT

Jacob desired to see Joseph again, but before going to Egypt, he received a new revelation from the Lord (Genesis 46:1-5). God's promise was so certain that being present in the Promised Land wasn't necessary for it to be fulfilled. God had already told Abraham that this "going down to Egypt" would not be a flight, but part of God's plan (Genesis 15:13-16). Jacob had learned to move at the Lord's command and to fulfill his commitments. Despite being a stranger in Egypt, he was capable of blessing Pharaoh (Genesis 47:7-10). The blessing of the Lord accompanied him in his nomadic life.