The Necessary Sin: Part 5
(60 second quick read)
To end this meditation on the life of Jacob, we should look at how God changed his identity from “heel grabber / Jacob” to “triumphant in God / Israel”. But we shouldn’t stop there. We shouldn’t stop reading at the point where God transforms the life and identity of Jacob, and gives him a new name and a new life.
The real surprise comes when we read further. If you read beyond Genesis and get to Exodus, you’ll find a man called Moses standing in front of a burning bush and talking to God. And you know how God identifies himself?
He’s the God of Jacob too.
This is what God is saying to us today: if you want to know who I am, I’m the God of Jacob too. I’m the God of the part that you don’t want anyone else to see. I’m not the God only of your victories and your successes, I’m the God of your struggles and your defeats too. I’m the God of Jacob too.
He loves us just the way we are, and he gives us the freedom and peace we are looking for. We don’t have to hide. We can come to God just the way we are, because he’s the God of Jacob too.