Jacob, the sneaky, conniving, heel-grabbing trickster is the third and final patriarch included in the covenantal language of: אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Ex. 3:6; Matt. 22:32). Why?

When all of Jacob’s tricks ran out, and he must face his brother Esau, he calls out to the God of his father Abraham, and the God of his father Isaac, in a desperate attempt to find deliverance; only to attempt to assure his own deliverance by dividing his household. Self-reliance clothed in an outer garment of faith (Gen. 32).

Jacob, the one who grabbed, finding himself alone, was then grabbed, wrestled, touched, blessed, and changed by God. Only when Jacob was out of strength, ideas, tricks, and vitality could he move forward with God in faith.

Then, and only then, did the God of Abraham, and Isaac, become of the God of Jacob as well. As it was only when his self-reliance was used up, that he could then rely on God, and become Israel, “God governed.”

So how has the Lord touched you, in order that you, like Jacob, rely on Him, and His governance? What is the source of your limp? It is not a weakness as you might suppose; rather, it is the point where His strength works through you (II Cor. 12:8-10).

Be well. Shalom.