Driving a Hard Bargain

With which Bible character do you feel the most affinity? Abraham? John the Baptist? Paul? Mary? Moses? Elijah? The chances are pretty good that we admire these guys and gals and appreciate their faith and faithfulness. The chances are also pretty good that these aren’t not the Bible characters that we feel the most like. These guys and gals had a faith that at times seems superhuman. Sure, they give us a glimpse of their humanity as they stumble at times, but for the most point they are giants of faith and faithfulness.

Maybe we feel more in common with Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9). Mephibosheth basicaly was just lame. He sat at the table of the king and enjoyed the king’s blessings, but he never really accomplished that much other than to just be lame. Maybe we can relate to a Bible character like that much better than Moses or Elijah or Abraham.

Or maybe our hero should be Jacob. I’m not talking about Jacob the patriarch who wrestled with God and whose name was changed to Israel. No, I’m talking about the young Jacob who stole his brother’s birthright and tricked his blind father out of the firstborn’s blessing. No, we aren't as cunningly conniving or Machiavellian as Jacob, but maybe were are a lot like him in yesterday’s daily Bible reading from Genesis 28:20-22,

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this tone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Jacob has this vision of the throne of God and a ladder to heaven. He decided that this place, which he later names Bethel (“house of God”), was holy and he makes a vow to God. But notice the vow. If God will (1) is with him, (2) watches over his journey, (3) gives him food and clothes, (4) and allows him to return safely home, THEN (1) Jacob will allow God to be His God and (2) He will set up a stone and (3) he will tithe to God. If God will give Jacob everything he wants, then Jacob with serve and give God a tenth.

Can we relate to Jacob there— if God will only give me everything I want, then He can be my God! Fortunately, Jacob grew up in his faith. And so must we. I wonder at times how immature our faith must appear to our Father. And how selfish.