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Person Of The Week: Jacob
Along with his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac, Jacob is the third patriarch of the Jewish nation. Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel (Genesis 32), and his 12 sons comprised the “twelve tribes of Israel,” the clans that are the genetic branches of the nation (Genesis 29-30).
As with Isaac, Jacob was the line through which the nation would develop as determined by God. Jacob had an older twin, Esau, but God did not choose him. This is noted by Paul in Romans 9 as evidence that God had the sovereign right to craft His plan of redemption as He saw fit; man’s designs had no role to play in this divine scheme of salvation.
Though chosen by God, Jacob was not a man who immediately believes in God. He had to be persuaded (Genesis 28-32). Jacob tried to gain advantage over Esau by ungodly scheming, but life soon taught him the lesson that everything was not under his control. He gradually realized his dependence upon God and sought God’s guidance later in life.
Jacob made many mistakes, but he continued to have faith in God through many trials and tribulations. He eventually died in Egypt, “not having received the promises but having seen them afar off” (Heb. 11:13).
