This Week's Scripture Note

In my opinion, Jacob is a scheming jerk. Personally, his betrayal of his dad and brother feels unforgivable. As I read and reread this passage, I found myself questioning why God would choose Jacob and wishing I was assigned next week’s liturgy when Joseph enters the scene.

Yet, the Holy Spirit gave a metaphorical tap on my shoulder and I realized I relate to Jacob more than I care to admit. You see, I too struggle with helping God out. 

From the deception of his dad, to running away from Laban, to trying to bribe Esau’s forgiveness, Jacob assumes God can’t work without his help. He believes that God’s instruction to “return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you” is only possible if he plans and schemes to make sure God’s got it. 

Now, I’m a doer. My inherited immigrant hustle translates into give me a problem and I will somehow figure it out. Like Jacob, my biggest struggle is trusting in myself more than God.

That’s why the scene of Jacob wrestling all night until the angel cripples him is terrifying; that could be me. My get stuff done gumption could easily lead to a metaphorical struggle with God until my breaking point. For Jacob, it was his ability to flee, his default skill because if all else failed at least he could run away.

Yet, just as Jacob is renamed, I too am assured that “if anyone is in Christ, (s)he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” So rather than question God’s inclusion of Jacob in Israel’s patriarchs, I realize that if God can transform that scheming doer, there’s probably hope for you and me both; hopefully, without the hip casualties.