Recently while preparing to teach a small group lesson over Genesis 31, I did some background research and discovered that Jacob was around 80 years old when he arrived at his uncle's house in Haran. Over the next 20 years he married two women, fathered 12 children, and amassed a fortune through selective stock breeding. Not bad for a guy his age. What is even more amazing and encouraging is the personal and spiritual growth we see in Jacob.
Jacob left his home in Beersheba in a hurry. He had tricked his father in to giving away Esau's blessing and was under a death threat from his brother. Jacob's mother concocted a story to deceive Isaac about why she was getting Jacob out of the country.
But after 20 years of hard work and being deceived and cheated himself, Jacob transforms into a man of integrity and faith.
In Genesis 30, Jacob asks his uncle, Laban, permission to return to his home in Beersheba. Laban does not give that permission, but talks Jacob into another 6 years of work. During these years Jacob becomes "exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkey" through astute animal husbandry and God's provision. (Gen. 30:43)
Eventually God tells Jacob in a dream, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." (Gen. 31:3) At this point we see Jacob's spiritual growth.
Over the next six verses, Jacob repeatedly acknowledged God's protection and provision in his life. The self-serving, self-sufficient man of his former days is gone. He has become a man of faith who realized all he had become was a result of God's involvement in his life. Jacob's conniving resulted in being run out of town. His reliance on God resulted in prosperity and protection.
I have had several periods in my life where I was a "Jacob". Self involved. Manipulative. During these times I was number one. People were there to make my life better, to benefit me. Satan loves to drag my mind back to those times. Guilt about wasted years and damaged relationships can be tools he uses to create doubt, self-recrimination, and inaction.
But Jacob shows us that past does not determine future. What was does not have to be what is. God can, over time, change us. His love and wisdom and guidance will create within us the growth He desires. Jacob went from a fugitive to the father of a nation.
Jacob was close to 80 years old when the transformation started. He was pushing the century mark before he was ready. But God got him there. Through Jacob's obedience and God's love, he became the man he was destined to be.
It is never too late. We are never too old.
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