“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” Genesis 32:1
Dear Ones:
In a vision that God gave to Zechariah concerning Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, the Lord of hosts gave him a “charge” with a promise: “…then thou shalt judge My house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” (3:7) One of the most significant aspects of the reward of obedient faith was the realization of true, spiritual fellowship with those of like mind and heart. It was a fellowship that Joshua’s predecessors knew, even in the presence of angels.
When we study the life of Jacob, we find a man who “needed a lot of work.” By this we mean that the Lord had a great deal of work to do in him to make him a man of faith. Entrusted with the covenant of Abraham, God would reveal Himself to him at different salient moments in his life, not only to give him a knowledge of the truth concerning Himself, but to bring him to intelligent faith. Even in a person like Jacob, whose character was initially far from being one of faith, and trustworthiness, God would reward him for obedience to the revealed will of God. After he had served Laban the Syrian for a number of years, being separated from his family, the Lord revealed Himself to him in a dream, telling him: “Return unto the land of thy fathers and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” (Genesis 31:4) Note that with the command came a promise. The command was essentially the call of God for Jacob to step out in faith, believing that God was faithful, and that He would be with him. Not only would God fulfill His word in being with him, but He would reveal Himself to Jacob as the God of Bethel, where Jacob had made a vow unto God. After a brief encounter with his father in law, which was potentially a very dangerous situation were it not for the intervention of God, Jacob and his family would continue on their journey towards the “promised land.” In route, as “Jacob went his way,” the angels of God met him. (32:1) So real and clear was the vision of meeting with the angels, that Jacob would declare: “This is God’s host.” There was the divine mark upon the revelation, and a clarity and conviction given as to where these angels were from. God, in response to Jacob’s obedience, chose to reveal Himself to Jacob. His invisible presence was substantiated by the revelation the host of the Lord, the angels. Most certainly God gave this vision to Jacob because of the coming meeting with his brother, Esau, who once had planned to kill him. The result of Esau’s soon approach, brought Jacob to the point of prayer and supplication, calling on the God who had revealed Himself to him. Jacob will obey the words of Christ’s command to return to his country, then take the promises as literally true. The first promise was: “…I will deal well with thee.” (32:9) The second promise is similar to the first, though amplified and explained: “And Thou saidst, ‘I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.” (v.12) What is Jacob doing here, and why is he praying in this manner? It has to do with the covenant that God had given to Abraham, and which had been passed down to Jacob. Now it is Jacob’s turn, not only to know the truths embedded in that covenant, but to believe God according to it. Herein is revealed the increasing revelation of God to the heart of Jacob. This is the great reward, to know this God who has called him. It is a reward that is both personal and individual, affecting a great many people. Jacob sought this blessing of God, and received it.
Dear Father, Give us abounding grace to believe Thee according to Thy promises when submitting to Thy commandments. Then we shall know communion with Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad