That name, Jacob, only furthers the obvious contraction within this man. Names were more important back in the time when Jacob was born. Most of us are familiar with the negative connotations of Jacob's name; but, it actually had both a positive side as well as a negative. The Jacob we're talking about today, however, was saddled with the negative part. I think of the second (and in that day, insignificant) of two twins, who came out of the womb holding on to his brother's heel. When I hear the name, I think of the one who faked his brother's countenance and smell and took advantage of his father's senility, stealing the birthright from his own sibling. I think of the man who was a coward and ran from his brother's wrath after it was discovered what he had done. There really is nothing flattering about the early days of this man's life.
Bear with me here because we're headed somewhere this morning. The name Jacob was not necessarily fraught with negative connotations. In many cases throughout scripture, the name (when used to denote someone other than this Jacob) was associated with the a verb tense that spoke directly of God: Jacob-El, meaning God rewards. Thus, the contradiction. In this man there was both a sovereign divine blessing and alongside it, a propensity to be everything that we think of when he hear the name associated with this figure in Hebrew scriptures.
In this I find great comfort because I can relate. When I read that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... notice, not Israel, but Jacob. Not, the Jacob-el, the one that God rewards or the one who follows hard after to serve or protect. No! He, meaning God, is over and over again named as the God of the heel grabber, the one who follows hard after with evil intent to harm or supplant. When I see this, it actually makes me hopeful!
Step with me for a moment into the New Testament. Paul is writing to the Corinthians, and things are not well. They are arguing over stupid stuff, they have forgotten where they came from, their being childish and immature, and all kinds of evil nasty stuff is happening in the church. This first letter to them was scathing at the very least; Paul dealt decisively with their sin and the disharmony and all the negative stuff and toxic people who were being allowed to wreak havoc on this church.
What I find interesting, however, is his opening remarks to them. He is just about to wield the sword and speak some very needed and uncomfortable correction into these people's lives. But, look at how he addresses them:
2 We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere—whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.1 Cor 1:2 (NLT)
Wait just a moment! The kind of sin that was permeating Corinth is of the kind that most churches never recover from. It's the kind that everyone in town knows about. This was that church; you know the one, the one everybody talks about and mostly, its true! Paul here identifies them as the church of God that was in Corinth. He wasn't talking to sinners, unredeemed, unbaptized people. He was talking to the church of God, period. In the King James, he further identifies them as the the ones who were sanctified, called aside, made holy, put back into their proper place, so to speak, in relationship with him.
This goes against the grain of Church Etiquette 101, right? Observe what Paul says to them right before he begins to levy discipline upon them:
8 He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
9 God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.1 Cor 1:8-9 (NLT)
Now, what does all this mean and how does it tie in to Jacob? Simple. We are not perfect. It really doesn't matter how long you've been in the church or been a Christian or a person of faith, fact is, we are all human. And as such, we hold within our own selves this very same dichotomy, contradiction, as Jacob's name denotes. Yet, we also hold within these earthen, imperfect (listen!) broken, untrustworthy, lost, blemished, soiled vessels, a treasure that speaks of better things than what we are or were.
I find it interesting that when Jacob wrestled with the Angel across the ford of Jabbok, his name was changed to Israel because the Angel said that he had wrestled with God and prevailed and had power with both man and God. Yet, at the very same time, he was afflicted with a hip disorder that plagued him his entire life. He limped, wasn't perfect anymore, his weaknesses and shame and affliction was all out there for everyone to see.
Here is when the "but" in my title comes in. I usually name my post after I've written them. However, this morning my wife and I were riding down the road talking about something that was rather unpleasant and uncomfortable. And, in the middle of it, I said "but....," and never really finished what I was saying. When I said that, I heard Paul writing to these very same Corinthians:
9 not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.1 Cor 6:9-11 (KJV)
All I could get out of my mouth was "but...," followed by, "and it's a very big BUT!" Yeah, I have been a heel grabber and a fraud and trusting me would burn you every time. I was a drug addict, an alcoholic, a fornicator, adulterer and unfaithful in every possible way. In fact, I read the list above and I find myself almost amused (cause there are just some things that you'd cry over if you didn't laugh) in some ways because because I make the whole list. It wasn't just one thing that drug me down into the pits of hell, it was all of it. Fact is, Jacob was and in many ways, still is, in my nature.
But! God, the treasure within me, the One whom Paul proclaims in another place to be rich in mercy (Eph 2:4), says that I am washed, set apart, justified, given a new name. Sure, my limp is never going to heal--here; I will always carry within me some semblance, if you will, of who I was. And, to be honest, I have resented that, because in my impatient, self-absorbed nature, when I change, by God I want you to know it. Look at me! I am new man....
As I reflect upon this semblance, this part of me that will never let me forget who I was, I begin to see why it's so important. The limp was the very grace of God in Jacob's life. It never allowed him to forget where he came from, who he was before that climactic encounter with God. I remember the void--the depths of despair and pain and I never want to be that man again. And while I would love to say that I am healed and perfect and every thing in my life and world is where it needs to be... fact is, that simply isn't the truth. There are days, hours, minutes, when Jacob rises to the surface and I am humbled by my own darkness and propensity to be someone, something, that I today, despise.
I limp, and I always will. But, it's in those times when I am blinded by my own folly, shame, and sin, and my limp is all I can see, it behooves me to remember, that He IS, and by His grace, always will be, the God of Abraham, Isaac, AND Jacob!
