From Deceiver to Prince
As a young man who loved and feared God, Jacob nevertheless stooped
to conspire with his mother, Rebekah, to deceive his father and gain his
blessing. As a consequence, he started his adult life on the wrong path,
having to flee or, perhaps, face an early death. Rebekah told Jacob to “flee
thou to Laban . . . ; and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury
turn away; . . . then I will send, and fetch thee” (Gen. 27:43–45). Jacob
was actually gone for 20 years, and he never saw his mother’s face again.
Read Genesis 32:22–31. What happened here to Jacob, and what spiri-
tual lessons can we take from this story about God’s grace, even
when we make wrong decisions?
“Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful,
erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened
his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite
Love could not turn away the sinner’s plea. The error that had led to
Jacob’s sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud was now clearly set
before him. He had not trusted God’s promises, but had sought by his
own efforts to bring about that which God would have accomplished in
His own time and way. . . . Jacob had received the blessing for which
his soul had longed. His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been
pardoned.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 197, 198.
Read Genesis 49:29–33. Though Jacob no longer had any holdings
in Canaan, what instructions did he give his sons regarding his
burial? Who else is buried in that cave? Why do you think Jacob
made this request?
The Bible informs us that all three of the patriarchs and their wives are
buried in the same cave. Jacob’s trust in God was strong, and he considered
himself a stranger and pilgrim on the earth (see Heb. 11:13). Despite mis-
takes, he left home with nothing but came back to Canaan a wealthy man.
Despite our mistakes, God can still bless us. How much better,
however, to avoid the mistakes to begin with! What choices are
you now facing, and how can you avoid making the wrong ones?
