1) A Maimed and Contrite spirit

The great exemplar of our Lord, shows that great things are required of those to whom much is given. The scriptures seem to indicate that the scars from the crucifixion will be evident in the kingdom. Paul was given a great gift to write much of the New Testament, yet was given a 'thorn in the flesh'. When he asked for it to be be removed he was told that God's grace was sufficient for him. His life in Christ left physical marks on him, from stoning, a memorial to Stephen, whom he had stoned, and also to his subsequent walk in Stephen's steps. It is as if great privilege might come with a high cost. One example that few might consider is that of Jacob's limp.

Whereas, Isaac lives a relatively uneventful life until Jacob grows up, his son Jacob's life from adulthood is one of trial. There is so much trial that Jacob without any irony or self pity says late in life, unto Pharaoh,

'The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. (Gen 47:9)

He may have called the days 'evil' as at the time he had only just been re-united with a beloved son, long thought dead. His father Isaac had lived to 180. Jacob's life took him into exile twice and had taken a very different course to Isaac's life which was in the land. Yet the 'evil days' of Jacob's life were given a very special commendation as an encouragement to every person who has sought to serve God. The inspired psalmist wrote,

Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: (Psalm 146:5)

The God of Jacob

Only Jacob is mentioned. Of all the faithful servants who had lived to the time of king David, Jacob is remembered. The Mighty One of the Universe and of Armies, who formed the ear and eye, was pleased to be called the God of the man Jacob.

Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psa 94:7-9)

The psalmist is not alone. Though all the fathers are precious, and the promises sure, Jacob is singled out when Yahweh speaks to his people,

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou may know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. (Isaiah 45:3-4)

We can confirm Isaiah is speaking of the man Jacob, rather than the nation, as Jacob was called the name 'Israel' by God. When speaking of the 'God of Israel', Israel seems to refer to the father of the nation. The nation is most often called the 'children of Israel.' In addition Yeshua proves this point as when he referred to the God of Jacob, it meant the God of the man Jacob,

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Mat 22:31-32, compare Exodus 3:6,14-16)

Jesus makes the point that he is the God of living because Jacob's resurrection to life eternal is sure. It was given as an unconditional promise when he went down into Egypt. Jacob was told would be brought up again to live in the land.

We have also remarkable testimony regarding Jacob in the book of Malachi,

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, (Malachi 1:2)

It is beyond the scope of the article to ponder why Jacob was so beloved by God. The point is established that he was so loved. Jacob's life was an example of how God helps people and is a refuge for them.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psa 46:5-7)

2) Jacob's trouble

In his life Jacob was in great trouble when he was to go back into the Promised Land. He was escaping his angry brother-in-law Laban, who was hoping to further exploit him, and he was going back to where his brother Esau had last indicated that he would kill him, for taking his blessing. This was a test of faith. Jacob was troubled and makes all forms of detailed preparations to appease Esau, and to reduce his risk if Esau was not appeased. He sent out messengers and he found that Esau was coming with a great force. Jacob feared. He sends his family over, possibly because he thought that Esau was most interested in harming him.

Then, for a reason we are not told, Jacob wrestles with a man. The first point is that the man was sent by God. It is possible he stood in Jacob's way. It seems that Jacob knows the man is an angel, as when the man says, 'let me go', Jacob replies,

I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. (Genesis 32:26)

Jacob had taken hold of his brother's heel at birth, he had bought his brother's birthright and by deception taken his brother's blessing. Yet the writer to the Hebrews points out that Isaac's one and only great work of faith was to give Jacob the blessing above Esau,

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (Hebrews 11:20)

When Jacob wrestled that night, there is no sense of divine disapproval, though Jacob's words indicated that he feared for his life. Instead, the exchange is a remarkable blessing,

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:27-30)

Though Jacob prevails due to strength and determination, the victory is not without cost,

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. (Gen 32:25)

The cost of the struggle for the blessing affects Jacob's strength.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. (Gen 32:31-32)

Jacob's limp & the staff of God's support

There is an impression that Jacob had all his life been a strong and able man, like David, very capable of dealing with threats to the flocks he tended. For 20 years he had worked hard, as Jacob proved when he spoke to Laban,

That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. (Gen 31:39-40)

All of the issues of Jacob's life to that time show him working for Laban out in the fields. But from the time he wrestles with the angel, he is shown as being at the camp. It seems the limp was evident for the rest of his life.

That the children of Israel didn't eat the sinew, indicates that it was an ongoing limp. Also there is a comment given to us regarding the importance of Jacob's staff.

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21)

It is more than weakness. The implication was that for many years Jacob had leant on the staff, and it was a symbol also of his faith. As a strong man he had prevailed, but from that point on he was a limping man who leaned on a staff, which symbolised how he had at that time leaned on God.

The staff would be usual equipment for a shepherd to carry. Jacob had also been spiritually leaning on the 'staff' of the might of the Elohim for many years. But from that time of wrestling Jacob is not shown working in the fields, always he is at home. Joseph is sent out to see how the flocks are. The sons return to report Joseph is lost. In every incident Jacob is about the tent. When Jacob goes into Egypt his sons carry him,

And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. (Gen 46:5).

When Jacob is blessing his sons, to Joseph he speaks of the strength of the 'God of Jacob'. For many years Jacob had leaned on that strength. Joseph is blessed with the God of his father (Jacob) who would help him.

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Gen 49:24)

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (Genesis 49:25-26)

A Prince with God

Jacob also makes a comment that he could give to Joseph a great blessing on his head, because he, Jacob, had prevailed, in a way that exceeded even his fathers. Because Jacob had prevailed, he was to be a 'prince' and as a prince, could hand a princely inheritance to his family. There was to be power to the head of Joseph, and to another of the sons, who also prevailed as Joseph had, there would be a crown. It is to the house of another Joseph that that son,Yeshua, who was 'separate from his brethren' was born, who would inherit the promise of the crown.

Of all the blessings given to and by the fathers of Israel, it is Jacob's blessings that first mention royalty.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)

Because Jacob had prevailed, he was made a prince with El. But from that point on, Israel limped.

The royal son, David from the house of Judah, drew great strength in his trials in the wilderness, from knowing how his ancestor Jacob had prevailed.

<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. (Psa 20:1-3)

Again he speaks of strength,

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. (Psa 84:5-8)

It was when Jacob limped and was in affliction that he was a prince with El. According to Psalm 132, it was David's salvation from his afflictions that led him to vow to find a place for the mighty God of Jacob.

A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. (Psa 132:1-5)

The implication is that David felt he had been helped in affliction in the same way Jacob had been. Again the God of Jacob is equated with strength,

<To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.> Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. (Psa 81:1-4)

But there is more. Jacob prevailed to be a prince, or to have power. Yet as soon as he was called Israel he limped and lent on a staff and was carried by his sons. When was Jacob to benefit from prevailing? All could see that it was not to be in the time of his pilgrimage! It was to be in the future.

3) Strength in Infirmity

A descendant of Jacob, Paul, was shown why Jacob was made to limp, in a parallel experience. Paul when he was made weak was told by God,

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(2Co 12:9)

There was a spiritual principle established in the physical witness of the limp, and the Israelites not eating the sinew that shrank. Yahweh dwells everywhere, but he seeks people of a certain sort, such as Jacob was,

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite (or lamed) spirit, and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)

Jacob was physically lamed to show, or develop, an internal state of a lamed spirit.

In this state his whole life became a sacrifice that was not despised by God,

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psa 51:17)

Human strength does not impress God. How important is the lamed spirit? If a person wishes their prayers to be heard, and to be saved from their inevitable afflictions in life, a lamed, or even a broken spirit is crucial,

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:17-19)

At one point, all those such as Esau, who have caused the humble and broken in spirit to fear, will themselves be put in fear, because it has already been announced that the God of Jacob, who helps the humble who trust him and lean on him, such as Jacob did, will openly reveal his presence.

Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; (Psa 114:7)

Jacob, who for the majority of his life was caused to limp and lean on a staff, whose days were few and evil (when compared to his fathers), will be honoured in that time as a prince with the mighty ones. Already it is written that the great building from where teaching will come in the future in the place where Yahweh Elohim will put his name, will be called “the house of the God of Jacob.” It is so important a point that two prophets witness to it.

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Mic 4:2, cp Isaiah 2:3)

For more see To seek God's face

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