SUCCESS STORY?

blogging Genesis 32, 33

Jacob and his family were on their way.  They had cut the cord that bound them to Big Daddy Laban and his familia in Syria.  They had gotten out with their money and investments (sheep, oxen, cattle, camels, etc.).  Now they were on the way to Canaan, where Jacob would collect his inheritance and they would live the good life that God had promised.

On the way, a band of angels met Jacob.  It reminded him of the dream he’d had at Bethel when God had promised him land “to the west and the east, to the north and the south,” descendants as numerous “as the dust of the earth,” and a share in the destiny of Abraham that “in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed “ (Genesis 28:13-15).

It was a powerful moment for Jacob. When he’d left Canaan 20 years earlier he didn’t even have an extra bedroll to use as a pillow.  Now his family and possessions were twice the size of a typical caravan (Genesis 32:10).   “. . . And he called the name of that place Mahanaim” (Genesis 32:2). Mahanaim means double camp.

Jacob was so caught up in this double-sized moment because he sent riders 100 miles south to find Esau and describe how successful he had become.

You remember Esau, right?  The brother from whom Jacob had purchased, or extorted, or defrauded (depending on your perspective) of his birthright as firstborn.  Remember that the last time they’d seen each other 20 years earlier, he’d promised to murder Jacob?   Jacob the not-warrior leading a double-sized camp of women, children, and non-warrior goatherders sent servants to THAT Esau bragging about how rich he was and where his unprotected camp could be located. 

Clearly he didn’t think that through because when the messengers returned to inform him that yes, the brother who swore to kill you is on his way to your unprotected camp with 400 men, Genesis 32: 7 says “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.”

He thought about running.

“ . . . he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, ‘If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape’ “ (Genesis 32:7-8).

He tried praying.

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord . . .  Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. (Genesis 32:9-12).

He tried bribery.

“So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother. . . For he said, ‘I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.’ ” (Genesis 32:13-21). 

Night dragged on and Jacob sent his family away while he stayed where Esau knew to find him. He was waiting for Esau to kill him.  The attack came, but not from Esau. 

A Man, an angel, THE Angel wrestled with Jacob all night long (Genesis 32:24), and Job repeatedly lost, but he refused to tap out.

The “Man” dislocated Jacob’s hip but Jacob wouldn’t stop grappling.  He said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” The Angel replied, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:25-28).

The Angel could have dislocated Jacob’s shoulder or snapped his neck.  He could’ve just poof! disappeared.  Jacob didn’t “prevail” by winning.  He won by not giving up. 

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved^” (Matthew 24:13).

Now, compare your story to Jacob’s:

Has anyone believed greater for you than you believed for?  Don’t give up.

Have you gotten caught up in your family’s drama?  Don’t give up.

You ever been bullied?  Don’t give up.

Ever thought you were too smart to be played, but you weren’t?  Don’t give up.

Did you think they’d be happy for you, but realize they weren’t?  Don’t give up.

Ever press against God’s will even while you were praying for God to save you?  Left that one limping, didn’t you?  Get right.  Get humble.  But don’t give up.

You will face overwhelming odds.  You will be pressured to alter your path by people who don’t understand your destiny.  You will feel compelled to tell people what they want to hear.  Don’t give up.

Just keep going until all the world has been blessed by the life you live.

Oh, and don’t forget to praise God along the way.

“Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.” (Genesis 33:20)

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

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