Jacob is one of the great heroes of the Bible. He became Israel, the father of the nation. He was, however, greatly flawed. He is sometimes called a trickster but let’s not kid ourselves. Jacob was a liar and a cheat. In the USA we try to wrap the father of our nation, George Washington, in all virtues telling stories about chopping down cherry trees, for example. The Bible boldly confronts the human frailty that characterizes Jacob/Israel. Maybe the lesson we should take is not to diminish or dismiss our sinfulness. Facing it head on and dealing with its consequences (as Jacob had to do eventually) makes it possible for us to change and become the kind of people we are supposed to be.
JULY82017
By Church Staff