Character Change
I believe it is possible for a person to have a character change, and Jacob is a good example. Every time I read the story of him wrestling with God in Genesis 32, I am amazed. Just think about it. The Lord Jesus appeared to him in bodily form in a pre-incarnation visit to this earth. That is how much he cared about Jacob and his family. They had a wrestling match, and Jacob was so determined that he would not let Him go until He blessed Him. Now, I know Jesus could have freed Himself, if He wanted to, but I believe He was so thrilled to have Jacob show His character. He was depending on God, not on deception. His basic character had changed over the years since he left his home and his brother, Esau. He had become a man of integrity, even though Laban, his father-in-law had treated him so badly. Therefore, Jesus changed his name to Israel, which means Prince of God. What a change! Jacob went from the tricky supplanter to the patriarch of God's people. Character change was necessary for that to happen.
Jacob struggled with God and with men and prevailed.(Genesis 32:28) He won the victory by living a life of dependence upon God and integrity after beginning his life in deception. We all need that type of character change in our lives. We all have that sinful nature, and we are drawn to lies and deception, until we come to trust Christ. Then, He leads us to become like Him. Jacob made it. I pray that we will all make it. It isn't easy. It is a struggle. In fact, after the wrestling match, Jacob limped the rest of his life to remind him of his encounter with God. We are not promised good health and no pain. We are promised the blessing of the Lord if we hang on to Him through it all. In the end we will be able to look back and see the drastic changes in our character that can only come from trusting God. Our lives will be so much better than anything we could have planned and worked out for ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 34-36.
Jacob struggled with God and with men and prevailed.(Genesis 32:28) He won the victory by living a life of dependence upon God and integrity after beginning his life in deception. We all need that type of character change in our lives. We all have that sinful nature, and we are drawn to lies and deception, until we come to trust Christ. Then, He leads us to become like Him. Jacob made it. I pray that we will all make it. It isn't easy. It is a struggle. In fact, after the wrestling match, Jacob limped the rest of his life to remind him of his encounter with God. We are not promised good health and no pain. We are promised the blessing of the Lord if we hang on to Him through it all. In the end we will be able to look back and see the drastic changes in our character that can only come from trusting God. Our lives will be so much better than anything we could have planned and worked out for ourselves.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 34-36.