Bible Reading Blog
“Another Unlikely Inductee”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Hebrews 11.21
“By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.”
The life of Jacob was a colorful one. His early years were marked by trickery and manipulation. He took advantage of his brother Esau and deceived his father Isaac, gaining him firstborn status and blessings. But his deception caught up with him and was forced to flee to Haran to find a wife and escape Esau’s anger. Over the course of 21 years, he married two of his cousins and experienced plenty of family drama. Jacob notably had 12 sons (who became what we know as the 12 tribes of Israel), but there was strife among them because of Jacob’s favoritism towards Joseph. His own reflection upon his life was, “Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life” (Genesis 47.9).
And yet here is another unlikely inductee into the Hall of Faith. Not only that, but God’s people would assume his name (Israel) and he would be remembered for all time alongside both Abraham and Isaac (e.g., Genesis 50.34; Exodus 3.15; Acts 7.32). Why? We are directed to the end of Jacob’s life as he spoke to the sons of Joseph (see Genesis 48).
Jacob, although knowing he would die in Egypt, had faith that God would keep His promise and take his descendants into the Promised Land. Knowing this, he gave a blessing to his grandsons and then he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. Jacob worshiped God, knowing in his heart that the promised blessings given to Abraham and Isaac, and passed on to him would be fulfilled. Jacob’s faith is also seen in his last words to all his sons in Genesis 49.29-30, “I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah….in the land of Canaan [the Promised Land]”.
Jacob was a man of faith who struggled much of his life with the reality of faith. But when it came to die, Jacob looked back over his life and remembered God’s blessings, God’s promises, God’s leading, and God’s redemption (Genesis 48.3-4, 15-16). Despite (and often because of) struggles, his faith had grown and at the end his faith was strong and a living testimony that God’s promises are real and reliable.
With many in Hebrews 11 we are intended to see their unlikely inclusion as a statement from God. Faith doesn’t mean perfection. It doesn’t even mean getting it right the first time. Instead, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrew 11.1). Faith produces growth in our spirit to cling more firmly to the things promised and pass that along. Ultimately, faith is shown as an attitude of trust in God that develops over time and is deliberately communicated to others.
“Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.” (Genesis 48.21)
